Instrument for cassette for sample preparation

• US 9,745,615 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2016
• Issued: 08/29/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Luminex Corporation (DiaSorin S.p.A.)
• Original Assignee: Luminex Corporation (DiaSorin S.p.A.)
• Inventors: Yu, Steve Jia Chang, Ching, Jesus, Lee, Phillip You Fai, Hu, David Hsiang
• Primary Examiner(s): Wecker, Jennifer
• Application Number:
  US15/232,980
• Publication Number:
  US 20160348154A1
• Time in Patent Office: 384 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7174 using pistons, plungers or syringes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/025 Align devices or objects to ensure defined positions relative to each other
• 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 2200/16 Reagents, handling or storing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/023 Sending and receiving of information, e.g. using bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0609 Holders integrated in container to position an object
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0672 Integrated piercing tool
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/18 Means for temperature control
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0478 pistons
• 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 3/502707 characterised by the manufacture of the container or its components by shaping or joining plastic parts B29C59/00, B29C65/00; by laminating B32B37/00; manufacture of microstructural devices in general B81C
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502715 characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces
• 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: C12N 15/1013 by using magnetic beads
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/6806 Preparing nucleic acids for analysis, e.g. for polymerase chain reaction [PCR] assay C12Q1/6804 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00356 Holding samples at elevated temperature (incubation)
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00366 Several different temperatures used
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00544 using fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00574 Means for distributing beads
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00801 : Holders for sample carriers, e.g. trays, caroussel, racks
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00811 : consumable or exchangeable components other than sample carriers, e.g. detectors, flow cells
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00881 : network configurations
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0091 : GUI [graphical user interfaces]
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0412 : Block or rack elements with a single row of samples
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0415 : moving in two dimensions in a horizontal plane
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00871 : Communications between instruments or with remote terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/0098 : involving analyte bound to insoluble magnetic carrier, e.g. using magnetic separation magnetic particles used in immunoassays G01N33/54326; magnetic separation in general B03C
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/026 : having blocks or racks of reaction cells or cuvettes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/028 : having reaction cells in the form of microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/04 : Details of the conveyor system G01N35/021 - G01N35/028 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/08 : using a stream of discrete samples flowing along a tube system, e.g. flow injection analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 436/807 : Apparatus included in process claim, e.g. physical support structures
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/10 : Composition for standardization, calibration, simulation, stabilization, preparation or preservation; processes of use in preparation for chemical testing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 : Automated chemical analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/113332 : with conveyance of sample along a test line in a container or rack
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/115831 : Condition or time responsive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25 : including sample preparation

Abstract

A parallel preceding system for processing samples is described. In one embodiment, the parallel processing system includes an instrument interface parallel controller to control a tray motor driving system, a close-loop heater control and detection system, a magnetic particle transfer system, a reagent release system, a reagent pre-mix pumping system and a wash buffer pumping system.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a plurality of stackable enclosures stacked one on top of the other, wherein each stackable enclosure of the plurality of stackable enclosures comprises;

(i) at least one opening configured to receive one or more cassettes,

(ii) at least one actuator assembly, said actuator assembly comprising a plurality of plungers configured to be movable between a first position and a second position such that the plurality of plungers are configured to engage a surface of the one or more cassettes when the plurality of plungers are moved from the first position to the second position; and

(iii) at least one sub-system computer;

a system controller module comprising a single, touch-panel display and a main computer configured to communicate with the single, touch-panel display and the sub-system computer in the plurality of stackable enclosures.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a cassette disposed within at least one of the plurality of stackable enclosures.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the cassette contains a sample of cells.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the cassette contains a cell lysis solution.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the single touch-panel display is a liquid crystal display (LCD).

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a networking peripheral device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein each stackable enclosure of the plurality of stackable enclosures has two openings configured to receive one or more cassettes.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a tray driving motor system.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein each stackable enclosure has a first opening and a second opening configured to receive one or more cassettes, and further wherein the tray driving motor system comprises:

(i) an alignment plate;

(ii) a first drive shaft retention block coupled to the alignment plate;

(iii) a second drive shaft retention block coupled to the alignment plate;

(iv) a load driving shaft;

(v) a main driving motor coupled with the load driving shaft via the first drive shaft retention block and the second drive shaft retention block;

(vi) a first parallel shaft;

(vii) a second parallel shaft;

(viii) a first parallel linear drive movably coupled to the first parallel shaft,

(ix) a second parallel linear drive movably coupled to the second parallel shaft;

(x) a first load resistance tray configured to receive the one or more cassettes;

(xi) a first door configured to cover the first opening;

(xii) a second load resistance tray configured to receive the one or ore cassettes; and

(xiii) a second door a second door configured to cover the second opening.

10. The system of claim 1 further comprising a heater and temperature sensor assembly, the heater and temperature sensor assembly comprising a plurality of heaters and temperature sensors.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein each stackable enclosure of the plurality of stackable enclosures comprises at least two actuator assemblies, each actuator assembly comprising a plurality of plungers configured to be movable between a first position and a second position such that the plurality of plungers are configured to engage a surface of the one or more cassettes when the plurality of plungers are moved from the first position to the second position.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the main computer communicates with the sub-system computer via a universal asynchronous receiver-transmitter (UART).

17. A method for processing a sample of cells comprising:

adding a sample of cells to a cassette containing a lysis solution and a wash buffer;

inserting the cassette in one of the plurality of stackable enclosures of the system of claim 1; and

selecting a protocol for processing the sample in the stackable enclosure using the single, touch-panel display of the system of claim 1.

18. The method of claim 17 comprising:

adding a plurality of samples of cells to a plurality of cassettes containing a lysis solution and a wash buffer;

inserting the plurality of cassettes in the plurality of stackable enclosures of the system of claim 1; and

selecting a protocol for processing the plurality of samples in the plurality of stackable enclosures using the single, touch-panel display of the system of claim 1.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprising inserting the cassette in a magazine prior to inserting the cassette in the stackable enclosure.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising inserting the plurality of cassettes in a plurality of magazines prior to inserting the plurality of cassettes in the plurality of stackable enclosures.

13. A system comprising:

a plurality of stackable enclosures stacked one on top of the other, wherein each stackable enclosure of the plurality of stackable enclosures comprises;

(i) at least one opening configured to receive one or more cassettes,

(ii) at least on actuator assembly, said actuator assembly comprising a plurality of plungers configured to be movable between a first position and a second position such that the plurality of plungers are configured to engage a surface of the one or more cassettes when the plurality of plungers are moved from the first position to the second position;

(iii) at least one heater and temperature sensor assembly; and

(iv) at least one sub-system computer;

at least one cassette containing a sample of cells disposed within each stackable enclosure of the plurality of stackable enclosures; and

a system controller module comprising a single display and a main computer configured to communicate with the single display and the sub-system computer in the plurality of stackable enclosures.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the system further comprises a networking peripheral device.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the main computer communicates with the sub-system computer via a universal asynchronous receiver-transmitter (UART).

16. The system of claim 13, wherein each stackable enclosure of the plurality of stackable enclosures has two openings configured to receive one or more cassettes.