MULTI-WELL ROTARY SYNTHESIZER

• US 20130164196A1
• Filed: 02/25/2013
• Published: 06/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mcluen Design Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mcluen Design Incorporated
• Inventors: Hanney, Richard J., Hugens, Daniel W., McLuen, Gary R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,747,780 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/554
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/00 Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/0046 Sequential or parallel reactions, e.g. for the synthesis of polypeptides or polynucleotides; Apparatus and devices for combinatorial chemistry or for making molecular arrays synthesis methods per se C40B50/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00286 Reactor vessels with top and bottom openings
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00308 interchangeably mounted in racks or blocks
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00326 Movement by rotation
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00351 Means for dispensing and evacuation of reagents
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00353 Pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00423 using filtration, e.g. through porous frits
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00585 Parallel processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0059 Sequential processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00596 Solid-phase processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00689 using computers
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0072 Organic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 60/14 for creating libraries
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/025 having a carousel or turntable for reaction cells or cuvettes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 Automated chemical analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/111666 Utilizing a centrifuge or compartmented rotor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/113332 with conveyance of sample along a test line in a container or rack
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/114165 with step of insertion or removal from test line
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/114998 with treatment or replacement of aspirator element [e.g., cleaning, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25375 : Liberation or purification of sample or separation of material from a sample [e.g., filtering, centrifuging, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/255 : including use of a solid sorbent, semipermeable membrane, or liquid extraction
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25625 : Dilution
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 : Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

An apparatus for synthesizing polymer chains includes a controller, a plurality of precision fit vials circularly arranged in multiple banks on a cartridge, a drain corresponding to each bank of vials, a chamber bowl, a plurality of valves for delivering reagents to selective vials, and a waste tube system for purging material from the vials. A purging operation can be selectively performed on one or more of the banks of vials. The plurality of vials are stored in the cartridge and are divided among individual banks wherein each bank of vials has a corresponding drain. There is at least one waste tube system for expelling the reagent solution from vials within a particular bank of vials when the waste tube system is coupled to the corresponding drain. The cartridge holding the plurality of vials rotates relative to the stationary banks of valves and the waste tube system.

Claims

1-34. -34. (canceled)

35. A vial comprising:

a. a top opening having a circumference;

b. a bored interior to hold a frit for retaining material within the vial above the frit;

c. a solid support retained within the vial above the frit after a flushing procedure; and

d. a protruding support that extends along the entire circumference of the top opening of the vial and is configured to form a pressure tight seal directly between the vial and a cartridge when the vial is placed in the cartridge.

36. The vial of claim 35 wherein the bored interior has a consistent dimension.

37. The vial of claim 35 wherein a consistent flow is maintained through the bored interior during the flushing procedure by only forming a pressure differential to expel material from the vial.

38. The vial of claim 35 wherein the bored interior linearly tapers from the top opening to the frit.

39. The vial of claim 35 further comprising a bottom opening of a diameter to retain material within the bored interior.

40. The vial of claim 35 wherein the solid support comprises controlled pore glass beads.

41. A vial comprising:

a. a frit;

b. a solid support; and

c. a body comprising;

i. a bored interior to hold the frit for retaining the solid support above the frit, wherein the solid support and material formed on the solid support is retained above the frit, within the vial, during a flushing procedure;

ii. a top opening having a circumference through which material is dispensed into the bored interior;

iii. an exterior support that extends along the entire circumference of the top opening of the vial and is configured to form a pressure tight seal directly between the vial and a cartridge when the vial is placed in the cartridge.

42. The vial of claim 41 wherein the bored interior has a consistent dimension.

43. The vial of claim 41 wherein a consistent flow is maintained through the bored interior during a flushing procedure by only forming a pressure differential to expel material from the vial.

44. The vial of claim 41 further comprising a bottom opening of a diameter to retain material within the bored interior when no pressure differential is applied and through which material is flushed during the flushing procedure.

45. The vial of claim 41 wherein the vial forms a pressure-tight seal directly between the vial and the cartridge when the vial is inserted into a receiving hole of the cartridge.

46. The vial of claim 41 wherein the bored interior linearly tapers from the exterior support to the frit.

47. The vial of claim 41 wherein the solid support comprises controlled pore glass beads.

48. The vial of claim 41 wherein the material dispensed into the bored interior comprises a reagent solution.

49. A vial comprising:

a. a top opening having a circumference;

b. a bottom opening;

c. an interior that holds a frit;

d. a solid support within the vial that is retained above the fit;

e. a support that extends along the entire circumference of the top opening of the vial and is configured to form a pressure tight seal directly between the vial and a cartridge when the vial is placed in the cartridge.

50. The vial of claim 49 wherein the interior has a consistent dimension.

51. The vial of claim 49 wherein a consistent flow is maintained through the interior during a flushing procedure by only forming a pressure differential to expel material from the vial.

52. The vial of claim 49 wherein the interior linearly tapers from the support to the frit.

53. The vial of claim 49 wherein the solid support comprises controlled pore glass beads.

54. The vial of claim 49 wherein material is dispensed through the top opening into the interior.

55. The vial of claim 54 wherein the material dispensed into the interior comprises a reagent solution.

56. A cartridge comprising:

a. one or more receiving holes; and

b. one or more vials each comprising;

i. a top opening having a circumference;

ii. a bored interior to hold a frit for retaining material within the vial above the frit;

iii. a solid support retained within the vial above the frit after a flushing procedure; and

iv. a protruding support that extends along the entire circumference of the top opening of the vial and is configured to form a pressure tight seal directly between the vial and the cartridge when the vial is placed in one of the receiving holes of the cartridge.

57. The cartridge of claim 56 wherein the bored interior has a consistent dimension.

58. The cartridge of claim 56 wherein a consistent flow is maintained through the bored interior during the flushing procedure by only forming a pressure differential to expel material from the vial.

59. The cartridge of claim 56 wherein the bored interior linearly tapers from the top opening to the frit.

60. The cartridge of claim 56 further comprising a bottom opening of a diameter to retain material within the bored interior.

61. The cartridge of claim 56 wherein the solid support comprises controlled pore glass beads.

62. A cartridge comprising:

a. one or more receiving holes; and

b. one or more vials each comprising;

i. a frit;

ii. a solid support; and

iii. a body comprising;

A. an interior to hold the frit for retaining the solid support above the frit, wherein the solid support and material formed on the solid support is retained above the frit, within the vial, during a flushing procedure;

B. a top opening having a circumference through which material is dispensed into the bored interior; and

C. an exterior support that extends along the entire circumference of the top opening of the vial and is configured to form a pressure tight seal directly between the vial and the cartridge when the vial is placed in one of the receiving holes of the cartridge.

63. The vial of claim 62 wherein the interior has a consistent dimension.

64. The vial of claim 62 wherein a consistent flow is maintained through the interior during a flushing procedure by only forming a pressure differential to expel material from the vial.

65. The vial of claim 62 wherein the interior of each of the vials linearly tapers from the exterior support to the frit.

66. The vial of claim 62 wherein the solid support comprises controlled pore glass beads.

67. The vial of claim 62 wherein the material dispensed into the interior comprises a reagent solution.