Sample processing device for pretreatment and thermal cycling

• US 9,662,652 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2012
• Issued: 05/30/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Roche Molecular Systems Inc (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: CHEN Ching-Too
• Inventors: Chen, Shuqi
• Primary Examiner(s): HOBBS, MICHAEL L
• Application Number:
  US13/438,291
• Publication Number:
  US 20120276532A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,883 Days
• Field of Search: 435 912, 4352873, 4352887, 4353031, 4353042, 435809
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/027 for microfluidic devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/10 Integrating sample preparation and analysis in single entity, e.g. lab-on-a-chip concept
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0832 cylindrical, tube shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0874 Three dimensional network
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1822 using Peltier elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1861 using radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0421 electrophoretic flow
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0481 squeezing of channels or chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0655 pinch valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5027 by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip B01L3/5023 takes precedence; micromixers B01F33/30; microreactors for synthesis B01J19/0093; microcapillary devices in general B81B1/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5082 Test tubes per se
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 7/52 with provision for submitting samples to a predetermined sequence of different temperatures, e.g. for treating nucleic acid samples amplification or hybridisation processes per se C12Q1/68; controlling sequential reactions for synthesis B01J19/0046
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1002 Reagent dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

Provided herein is a sample processing apparatus including a sample-containing vessel and a thermal cycling apparatus, wherein the vessel has at least 3 fluidically isolated segments that are each thermally conductive, compressible, and expandable. The thermal cycling unit is capable of amplifying extracted nucleic acid and has at least a first processing station and a second processing station, each processing station defining a temperature zone, wherein thermal cycling is performed by alternatively transferring the contents of the sample vessel between the at least two processing stations.

Claims

1. A sample processing apparatus, comprising:

(a) a sample-containing vessel comprising;

an opening to receive at least one sample;

a tubule which comprises opposing walls constructed of a flexible material permitting substantial flattening of a selected section of the sample-containing portion;

at least 3 segments within the tubule, the at least 3 segments comprising;

a first segment adjacent to the opening and capable of accepting a sample;

a second segment adjacent to the first segment and distal to the opening, and containing a nucleic acid extraction agent; and

a third segment adjacent to the second segment and distal to the first segment, and containing a PCR reagent;

wherein each segment is fluidically isolated at least in part from an adjacent segment by a pressure gate comprising portions of the opposing walls directly bonded to one another, and wherein the pressure gate is opened by application of fluid pressure on a segment that is fluidically isolated in part by the pressure gate and each segment is so thermally conductive as to permit the transfer of thermal energy to and from the contents of each segment, so compressible as to permit opposing wall portions of each segment to touch one another when each segment is compressed, and so expandable as to receive a volume of fluid expelled from another segment when not so compressed; and

a cover for closing the opening; and

(b) a thermal cycling unit capable of amplifying extracted nucleic acid, the thermal cycling unit having at least a first processing station and a second processing station, each processing station defining a temperature zone, wherein thermal cycling is performed by alternatively transferring the contents of the sample vessel between the at least two processing stations.

2. The sample processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vessel has a filter contained therein structured to separate selected components of a sample material from other components of the sample material.

3. The sample processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the nucleic acid extraction reagent is a cell lysis reagent.

4. The sample processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the PCR reagent comprises at least one nucleotide, an enzyme, a DNA polymerase, a template DNA, an oligonucleotide, a primer, a dye, a marker, a molecular probe, a buffer, and a detection material.

5. The sample processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vessel contains a micro-array bio-chip for analyzing the sample.

6. The sample processing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an opening to receive at least one sample containing vessel; and

a detection unit capable of detecting a signal from amplified nucleic acid.

7. The sample processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vessel includes a self-sealing injection channel formed therein, the self-sealing injection channel being capable of fluid communication with the sample material in the sample-containing vessel.

8. The sample processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the walls comprise at least two layers.

9. The sample processing apparatus of claim 8, wherein the walls comprise a first layer having a first permeability;

and a second layer exterior to the first layer and having a second permeability lesser than the first permeability.

10. The sample processing apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first layer is constructed of biocompatible material.

11. The sample processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the walls are optically transmissive over a selected wavelength range.

12. The sample processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises a reservoir.

13. The sample processing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a sampling instrument attached to the cover.

14. The sample processing apparatus of claim 13, wherein the sampling instrument is selected from one of a pipette, a needle, a stick, and a tweezer.

15. The sample processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the segments form a substantially linear array.

16. The sample processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the segments form a contiguous array.

17. The sample processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said sample containing vessel further comprises a fourth segment adjacent to the third segment and distal to the second segment, wherein the fourth segment contains a PCR reagent.

18. The sample processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one pressure gate extends substantially across the entire width of sample-containing vessel.

19. The sample processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said sample containing vessel further comprises a handling portion coupled to the sample containing vessel, the handling portion having a generally rigid construction to facilitate handling of the sample processing apparatus.