MICROPLATE HANDLING SYSTEMS AND RELATED COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS AND METHODS

• US 20100070069A1
• Filed: 09/16/2009
• Published: 03/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ibis Biosciences Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ibis Biosciences Incorporated
• Inventors: Smith, Jeffrey C., Miller, Robert D., Oberkramer, Kevin S., Hofstadler, Steven A., Drader, Jared J., Gutierrez, Jose R., Bare, Rex O., Gleason, Paul J., Bergold, Ronald K.
• Granted Patent: US 8,534,447 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/214
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0425 Stacks, magazines or elevators for plates
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/0095 introducing urgent samples with priority, e.g. Short Turn Around Time Samples [STATS]
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/028 having reaction cells in the form of microtitration plates

Abstract

Systems, computer program products, and methods useful for handling or managing microplates are provided.

Claims

1. A microplate handling system, comprising:

at least first and second non-priority microplate storage units that each store two or more microplates;

at least one priority microplate storage unit that stores at least one microplate;

at least one microplate processing area;

at least one non-priority microplate holding area;

at least one microplate transport mechanism configured to transport one or more microplates between the first and second non-priority microplate storage units, the priority microplate storage unit, the microplate processing area, and/or the non-priority microplate holding area; and

,

at least one controller operably connected at least to the microplate transport mechanism, which controller is configured to selectively direct the microplate transport mechanism to;

(a) transport a non-priority microplate from the first non-priority microplate storage unit to the microplate processing area;

(b) position the non-priority microplate while in the microplate processing area;

(c) transport the non-priority microplate from the microplate processing area to the non-priority microplate holding area when a priority microplate is stored in the priority microplate storage unit;

(d) transport the priority microplate from the priority microplate storage unit to the microplate processing area;

(e) position the priority microplate while in the microplate processing area;

(f) transport the priority microplate from the microplate processing area to the second non-priority microplate storage unit or to the priority microplate storage unit;

(g) transport the non-priority microplate from the non-priority microplate holding area to the microplate processing area; and

(h) transport the non-priority microplate from the microplate processing area to the second non-priority microplate storage unit.

2. The microplate handling system of claim 1, wherein the first and second non-priority microplate storage units each store two or more stacked microplates.

3. The microplate handling system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to selectively direct the microplate transport mechanism to execute (c) prior to (d) and/or (f) prior to (g).

4. The microplate handling system of claim 1, comprising at least one barcode reader or radio frequency identification (RFID) reader configured to read barcodes or radio frequency tags disposed on microplates when the microplates are disposed in or proximal to the first non-priority microplate storage unit, the second non-priority microplate storage unit, the priority microplate storage unit, the microplate processing area, and/or the non-priority microplate holding area.

5. The microplate handling system of claim 1, comprising at least one material transfer component configured to transfer material to and/or from selected wells disposed in at least one microplate when the microplate is disposed in the microplate processing area.

6. The microplate handling system of claim 5, wherein the material transfer component is configured to transfer fluidic material.

7. The microplate handling system of claim 5, comprising at least one magnetically responsive particle source, wherein the material transfer component is configured to aspirate an aliquot of magnetically responsive particles from the magnetically responsive particle source prior to or after aspirating an aliquot of material from a selected well of the microplate when the microplate is disposed in the microplate processing area.

8. The microplate handling system of claim 5, comprising at least one wash station configured to wash the material transfer component or a portion thereof.

9. The microplate handling system of claim 5, wherein the material transfer component comprises at least one gantry.

10. The microplate handling system of claim 5, comprising at least one sample processing component, wherein the material transfer component is configured to transfer the material from the selected wells disposed in the microplate to the sample processing component.

11. The microplate handling system of claim 10, wherein the sample processing component comprises a desalting station.

12. The microplate handling system of claim 5, wherein the material transfer component comprises at least one gantry head.

13. The microplate handling system of claim 12, wherein the material transfer component comprises one or more needles.

14. The microplate handling system of claim 1, wherein the first and second non-priority microplate storage units each comprise a support structure that defines a cavity that is configured to store two or more stacked microplates.

15. The microplate handling system of claim 14, wherein at least a lower surface of the support structure comprises an opening that communicates with the cavity, wherein dimensions of the opening are sufficient to accommodate microplates moving into or out of the cavity.

16. The microplate handling system of claim 14, comprising at least one retaining mechanism operably connected to the support structure, which retaining mechanism is configured to reversibly retain at least one microplate in the cavity.

17. The microplate handling system of claim 1, wherein the priority microplate storage unit comprises a support structure that defines a cavity that is configured to store the microplate.

18. The microplate handling system of claim 17, comprising at least one movement mechanism operably connected to the support structure, which movement mechanism is configured to move the support structure relative to the first and second non-priority microplate storage units.

19. The microplate handling system of claim 17, wherein at least a lower surface of the support structure comprises an opening that communicates with the cavity, wherein dimensions of the opening accommodate microplates moving into or out of the cavity.

20. The microplate handling system of claim 17, comprising at least one retaining mechanism operably connected to the support structure, which retaining mechanism is configured to reversibly retain at least one microplate in the cavity.

21. The microplate handling system of claim 1, comprising a support base on which the first and second non-priority microplate storage units, the priority microplate storage unit, the microplate processing area, and the non-priority microplate holding area are disposed.

22. The microplate handling system of claim 21, wherein the non-priority microplate holding area comprises at least one non-priority microplate holding component that is structured to hold one or more non-priority microplates above the support base.

23. The microplate handling system of claim 21, wherein at least the first and second non-priority microplate storage units are detachable from the support base.

24. The microplate handling system of claim 23, wherein the first and/or second non-priority microplate storage unit comprises a handle.

25. The microplate handling system of claim 1, wherein the microplate transport mechanism comprises:

at least one platform that is structured to support one or more microplates;

at least a first linear motion component operably connected to the platform, which first linear motion component selectively moves the platform along a first axis; and

,

at least a second linear motion component operably connected to the platform, which second linear motion component selectively moves the platform along a second axis.

26. The microplate handling system of claim 25, wherein the platform comprises a nest.

27. The microplate handling system of claim 25, wherein the first linear motion component is configured to selectively raise and lower the platform.

28. The microplate handling system of claim 25, wherein the first linear motion component comprises a stepper motor.

29. The microplate handling system of claim 25, wherein the second linear motion component is configured to selectively move the platform between the first non-priority microplate storage unit, the second non-priority microplate storage unit, the priority microplate storage unit, the microplate processing area, and/or the non-priority microplate holding area.

30. The microplate handling system of claim 25, wherein the second linear motion component is configured to move the platform beneath the first non-priority microplate storage unit, the second non-priority microplate storage unit, and the priority microplate storage unit.

31. The microplate handling system of claim 25, wherein the second linear motion component comprises at least one gantry.

32. The microplate handling system of claim 25, wherein the second linear motion component comprises at least one encoder and at least one stepper motor.

33. A microplate storage unit, comprising:

a support structure that defines a cavity that is configured to store two or more stacked microplates, which support structure comprises a top end and a bottom end;

a base structure operably connected to the bottom end of the support structure, wherein an opening is disposed through the base structure and communicates with the cavity, wherein dimensions of the opening are sufficient to accommodate microplates moving into or out of the cavity, and wherein the base structure is configured to detachably engage a support base of a microplate handling system;

at least one retaining mechanism operably connected to the support structure and/or to the base structure, which retaining mechanism is configured to reversibly retain at least one microplate in the opening and/or in the cavity; and

,

at least one handle that is pivotally attached to the support structure and/or to the base structure, which handle pivots between an open position and a closed position, wherein the top end of the support structure accommodates microplates moving into or out of the cavity when the handle is in the open position.

34. The microplate storage unit of claim 33, comprising at least one alignment member operably connected to at least one surface of the support structure, which alignment member is configured to align microplates when the microplates are disposed in the cavity.

35. The microplate storage unit of claim 33, comprising a cover member that is configured to cover microplates when the microplates are disposed in the cavity.

36. The microplate storage unit of claim 33, wherein the handle comprises a swing arm having ends that are pivotally attached to the base structure.

37. The microplate storage unit of claim 36, wherein the ends of the swing arm extend through the base structure and are configured to align the base structure relative to the support base of the microplate handling system, when the handle is in the closed position and the support structure engages the support base of the microplate handling system.

38. The microplate storage unit of claim 36, wherein one or more slots are disposed in or through the support structure and wherein the swing arm comprises one or more sliding members that slide in the slots.

39. A computer program product, comprising a computer readable medium having one or more logic instructions for directing a microplate transport mechanism of a microplate handling system to:

(a) transport a non-priority microplate from a first non-priority microplate storage unit of the microplate handling system to a microplate processing area of the microplate handling system;

(b) position the non-priority microplate while in the microplate processing area;

(c) transport the non-priority microplate from the microplate processing area to a non-priority microplate holding area of the microplate handling system when a priority microplate is stored in a priority microplate storage unit of the microplate handling system;

(d) transport the priority microplate from the priority microplate storage unit to the microplate processing area;

(e) position the priority microplate while in the microplate processing area;

(f) transport the priority microplate from the microplate processing area to a second non-priority microplate storage unit of the microplate handling system or to the priority microplate storage unit;

(g) transport the non-priority microplate from the non-priority microplate holding area to the microplate processing area of the microplate handling system; and

,

(h) transport the non-priority microplate from the microplate processing area to the second non-priority microplate storage unit.

40. The computer program product of claim 39, wherein the computer readable medium comprises one or more logic instructions for directing a material transfer component to transfer material to and/or from selected wells disposed in at least one microplate when the microplate is positioned in the microplate processing area.

41. The computer program product of claim 39, wherein the computer readable medium comprises one or more logic instructions for directing a barcode reader or radio frequency identification (RFID) reader of the microplate handling system to read barcodes or radio frequency tags disposed on microplates when the microplates are disposed in or proximal to the first non-priority microplate storage unit, the second non-priority microplate storage unit, the priority microplate storage unit, the microplate processing area, and/or the non-priority microplate holding area.

42. The computer program product of claim 39, wherein the logic instructions are configured to direct the microplate transport mechanism to execute (c) prior to (d) and/or (f) prior to (g).

43. The computer program product of claim 39, wherein a controller of the microplate handling system comprises the logic instructions.

44. The computer program product of claim 43, wherein the controller comprises or is operably connected to a database comprising one or more microplate descriptors.

45. A method of handling a priority microplate in a microplate handling system, the method comprising:

(a) placing the priority microplate in a priority microplate storage unit of the microplate handling system;

(b) transporting a first non-priority microplate from a microplate processing area of the microplate handling system to a non-priority microplate holding area of the microplate handling system using a microplate transport mechanism of the microplate handling system;

(c) placing the first non-priority microplate onto a non-priority microplate holding component disposed in the non-priority microplate holding area using the microplate transport mechanism;

(d) transporting the priority microplate from the priority microplate storage unit to the microplate processing area using the microplate transport mechanism;

(e) transferring material to and/or from one or more selected wells of the priority microplate using a material transfer component of the microplate handling system, and;

(f) transporting the priority microplate from the microplate processing area to a second non-priority microplate storage unit of the microplate handling system or to the priority microplate storage unit using the microplate transport mechanism, thereby handling the priority microplate in the microplate handling system.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein one or more wells of the priority microplate comprise nucleic acid molecules and wherein the method comprises amplifying one or more target regions of the nucleic acid molecules prior to (a).

47. The method of claim 45, comprising transporting the first non-priority microplate from a first non-priority microplate storage unit of the microplate handling system to the microplate processing area using the microplate transport mechanism prior to (b).

48. The method of claim 45, comprising removing material from one or more selected wells of the first non-priority microplate using the material transfer component prior to (b).

49. The method of claim 45, comprising loading a plurality of non-priority microplates in a selected order into the first non-priority microplate storage unit.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein one or more wells of the plurality of non-priority microplates comprise nucleic acids and wherein the method comprises amplifying one or more target regions of the nucleic acids prior to loading the plurality of non-priority microplates into the first non-priority microplate storage unit.

51. The method of claim 45, comprising transporting the first non-priority microplate from the non-priority microplate holding area to the microplate processing area using the microplate transport mechanism.

52. The method of claim 51, comprising transferring material to and/or from one or more selected wells of the first non-priority microplate using the material transfer component.

53. The method of claim 52, comprising transporting the first non-priority microplate from the microplate processing area to the second non-priority microplate storage unit using the microplate transport mechanism.

54. The method of claim 53, comprising transporting a second non-priority microplate from the first non-priority microplate storage unit to the microplate processing area using the microplate transport mechanism.

55. The method of claim 52, wherein the material transfer component comprises one or more needles and wherein the method comprises aspirating one or more aliquots of magnetically responsive particles into the needles from a magnetically responsive particle source prior to or after transferring the material from the selected wells of the first non-priority microplate.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein the material comprises a fluidic material and wherein the method comprises aspirating one or more aliquots of the fluidic material into the needles from the selected wells of the first non-priority microplate.

57. The method of claim 56, comprising transferring the aliquots of magnetically responsive particles and fluidic material to a container of a sample processing station to form a mixture in which the magnetically responsive particles capture at least a first component of the mixture.

58. The method of claim 57, comprising moving and/or retaining the magnetically responsive particles proximal to a surface of the container using a magnetic field and removing at least a second component of the mixture from the container.

59. The method of claim 58, comprising eluting the captured first component from the magnetically responsive particles and detecting a molecular mass of the first component.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein the first component comprises a nucleic acid molecule and wherein the method comprises determining a base composition of the nucleic acid molecule from the molecular mass of the nucleic acid molecule.

61. The method of claim 45, wherein the material transfer component comprises one or more needles and wherein the method comprises aspirating one or more aliquots of magnetically responsive particles into the needles from a magnetically responsive particle source prior to (e).

62. The method of claim 61, wherein the material comprises a fluidic material and wherein (e) comprises aspirating one or more aliquots of the fluidic material into the needles from the selected wells of the priority microplate.

63. The method of claim 62, comprising transferring the aliquots of magnetically responsive particles and fluidic material to a container of a sample processing station to form a mixture in which the magnetically responsive particles capture at least a first component of the mixture.

64. The method of claim 63, comprising moving and/or retaining the magnetically responsive particles proximal to a surface of the container using a magnetic field and removing at least a second component of the mixture from the container.

65. The method of claim 64, comprising eluting the captured first component from the magnetically responsive particles and detecting a molecular mass of the first component.

66. The method of claim 65, wherein the first component comprises a nucleic acid molecule and wherein the method comprises determining a base composition of the nucleic acid molecule from the molecular mass of the nucleic acid molecule.