Multi-well tray and rack therefor

• US 9,718,059 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2014
• Issued: 08/01/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gen-Probe Incorporated (Hologic Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Gen-Probe Incorporated (Hologic Incorporated)
• Inventors: Buse, David, Groeli, Julian, Knight, Byron J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Alexander, Lyle
• Assistant Examiner(s): KILPATRICK, BRYAN T
• Application Number:
  US14/210,105
• Publication Number:
  US 20140271360A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,237 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/02 Adapting objects or devices to another
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/025 Align devices or objects to ensure defined positions relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/026 Fluid interfacing between devices or objects, e.g. connectors, inlet details
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0668 Trapping microscopic beads
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0689 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/141 Preventing contamination, tampering
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/142 Preventing evaporation
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/16 Reagents, handling or storing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/042 Caps; Plugs
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/044 pierceable, e.g. films, membranes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/046 Function or devices integrated in the closure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/047 Additional chamber, reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/048 enabling gas exchange, e.g. vents
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0609 Holders integrated in container to position an object
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0829 Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0832 cylindrical, tube shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0838 Capillaries
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0851 Bottom walls
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0858 Side walls
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/12 Specific details about materials
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0406 : capillary forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502 : with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures centrifugal-type cuvettes G01N21/07; analysis by separation into components G01N30/00; automatic analysers G01N35/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5082 : Test tubes per se
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50825 : Closing or opening means, corks, bungs closures for containers B65D; means for removing stoppers B67B7/02
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5085 : for multiple samples, e.g. microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50853 : with covers or lids
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50855 : using modular assemblies of strips or of individual wells
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/523 : with means for closing or opening
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/527 : for a plurality of reagents
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 69/00 : Unpacking of articles or materials, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/0207 : characterised by material, e.g. composition, physical features
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/34 : Trays or like shallow containers B65D81/3813 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/36 : with moulded compartments or partitions
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 17/50 : Non-integral frangible members applied to, or inserted in, preformed openings, e.g. tearable strips or plastic plugs B65D53/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2539/003 : provided with sealing flanges or ribs
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 39/0017 : Injection-molded plastic closures for "Champagne"- or "Sekt"-type bottles
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 39/0029 : Plastic closures other than those covered by groups B65D39/0011 - B65D39/0023
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/686 : Polymerase chain reaction [PCR]
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00287 : movable lid/cover for sample or reaction tubes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/6091 : Cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/0099 : comprising robots or similar manipulators robots per se B25J
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/026 : having blocks or racks of reaction cells or cuvettes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/10 : Devices for transferring samples or any liquids to, in, or from, the analysis apparatus, e.g. suction devices, injection devices G01N35/0099 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1002 : Reagent dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1079 : with means for piercing stoppers or septums
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 : Automated chemical analysis

Abstract

System, apparatuses, and methods for performing automated reagent-based analysis are provided. Also provided are methods for automated attachment of a cap to a reaction receptacle, and automated removal of a cap from a capped reaction receptacle.

Claims

1. A multi-well tray for use in an automated process comprising:

a base;

a card insert removably securable to the base;

one or more sets of wells, wherein each set comprises;

a receptacle cap well formed in the base and configured to receive a receptacle cap;

a receptacle well formed in the base and configured to receive a receptacle; and

a reagent well formed in the card insert and containing a lyophilized reagent;

a receptacle disposed in at least one of the receptacle wells; and

a cap disposed in at least one of the receptacle cap wells, wherein the cap is configured for locking attachment to the receptacle.

2. The multi-well tray of claim 1, wherein the wells of each set of wells are disposed in alignment with each other.

3. The multi-well tray of claim 1, wherein the reagent well of each set of wells is sealed with a frangible seal.

4. The multi-well tray of claim 1, further comprising one or more locking arms disposed on the card insert for locking engagement with the base.

5. The multi-well tray of claim 1, further comprising a protrusion extending from a bottom wall of the receptacle cap well of each set of wells.

6. The multi-well tray of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of tabs protruding from a side wall of the receptacle cap well of each set of wells.

7. The multi-well tray of claim 1, further comprising a through-hole extending from an inner surface of the receptacle well and defining an annular ledge at the perimeter of the through-hole.

8. The multi-well tray of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of legs protruding from a side wall of the receptacle well.

9. The multi-well tray of claim 1, wherein the reagent well is defined by a side wall and a bottom wall, and wherein the receptacle well further comprises one or more features selected from the group consisting of a plurality of bumps, a concave groove, a convex ridge, and a set of grooves and/or ridges comprising a crisscross pattern formed in a surface of the bottom wall.

10. The multi-well tray of claim 1, wherein the reagent well further comprises a plurality of rigid guides radially protruding from a side wall thereof toward a center thereof.

11. The multi-well tray of claim 1, wherein the reagent well further comprises one or more retention features selected from the group consisting of a tapered ring insert, a collar, and a fingered collar, wherein the one or more retention features are disposed within the well and are sized to retain the lyophilized reagent within the well.

12. The multi-well tray of claim 11, wherein the one or more retention features define an opening therethrough that is too small to permit the lyophilized reagent to pass through the opening.

13. The multi-well tray of claim 1, wherein the reagent well further comprises an annular ring or a screw thread formed in an inner wall thereof, wherein the annular ring or screw thread is sized to retain the lyophilized reagent within the well.

14. The multi-well tray of claim 1, wherein the reagent well is sealed by a frangible foil.

15. The multi-well tray of claim 1, further comprising one or more locking fingers disposed on a side surface of the base for releasably engaging a rack for holding a plurality of multi-well trays.

16. The multi-well tray of claim 1, wherein the base and the card insert are formed from plastic.

17. The multi-well tray of claim 16, wherein the card insert is formed of a plastic having lower permeability to moisture than the plastic forming the base.

18. The multi-well tray of claim 1, comprising a plurality of sets of wells and wherein at least one reagent well contains a lyophilized reagent that is different from the lyophilized reagent contained in at least one other reagent well.

19. The multi-well tray of claim 1, wherein the reagent well further comprises a capillary insert, wherein the lyophilized reagent is retained within a capillary channel of the capillary insert.

20. An assembly for use in an automated process comprising:

a rack comprising;

a chassis having a top surface and first and second opposing ends, the chassis including locking members;

a plurality of machine readable indicia including data disposed on the chassis; and

a handle disposed on the first end surface of the chassis;

two or more multi-well trays supported on the chassis of the rack, each multi-well tray comprising;

a base including locking features;

a card insert removably securable to the base; and

one or more sets of wells, wherein each set comprises;

a receptacle cap well formed in the base and configured to receive a receptacle cap;

a receptacle well formed in the base and configured to receive a receptacle; and

a reagent well formed in the card insert and containing a lyophilized reagent;

wherein the locking members of the rack are operatively engaged with the locking features of the each multi-well tray to secure the multi-well tray to the chassis of the rack;

a receptacle disposed in at least one of the receptacle wells;

a cap disposed in at least one of the receptacle cap wells, wherein the cap is configured for locking attachment to the receptacle; and

a fluid cartridge comprising;

a liquid chamber and a liquid reservoir in fluid communication with the liquid chamber, the liquid chamber and the liquid reservoir containing a reconstitution solution for reconstituting the lyophilized reagent, and

a frangible seal covering the liquid chamber and the liquid reservoir of the fluid cartridge.

21. The assembly of claim 20, wherein the rack comprises multiple positions for receiving a tray and the locking members are disposed on opposite sides of each position and are configured to be engaged by a flexible locking finger located on opposite sides of a tray.

22. The assembly of claim 21, including at least one machine readable indicia associated with each position for receiving a tray.

23. The assembly of claim 20, wherein the machine readable indicia comprises identifying information regarding at least one of (1) the trays attached thereto, and (2) the cartridge rack.