System and method including analytical units

• US 8,956,570 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2013
• Issued: 02/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Beckman Coulter Incorporated (Danaher Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Beckman Coulter Incorporated (Danaher Corporation)
• Inventors: Wilson, Brian D., Anderson, David L., Erickson, Matthew D., Johnson, Alan N., Rosen, Michael J., Schmidt, Daniel R., Wiltsie, Joshua D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Jill
• Assistant Examiner(s): TAVARES, JULIE L
• Application Number:
  US13/747,801
• Publication Number:
  US 20130209334A1
• Time in Patent Office: 755 Days
• Field of Search: 422/63, 422/65, 422/554
• US Class Current: 422/65
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/025 Align devices or objects to ensure defined positions relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0642 Filling fluids into wells by specific techniques
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0668 Trapping microscopic beads
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/12 Specific details about manufacturing devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/147 Employing temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/021 Identification, e.g. bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/022 Transponder chips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/024 Storing results with means integrated into the container
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/042 Caps; Plugs
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/044 pierceable, e.g. films, membranes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/045 whereby the whole cover is slidable
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/046 Function or devices integrated in the closure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0654 Lenses; Optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0851 Bottom walls
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/123 Flexible; Elastomeric
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/18 Means for temperature control
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1822 using Peltier elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1827 using resistive heater
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/043 magnetic forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/021 Pipettes, i.e. with only one conduit for withdrawing and redistributing liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0275 : Interchangeable or disposable dispensing tips
• 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 3/50851 : specially adapted for heating or cooling samples laboratory heating apparatus B01L7/00; incubators C12M
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/52 : Containers specially adapted for storing or dispensing a reagent B01L3/02 takes precedence; containers for medical or pharmaceutical purposes A61J1/00; containers in general B65D; storing or dispensing test elements G01N33/4875; automated reagent dispensing G01N35/1002
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/545 : for laboratory containers
• 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: C12M 41/12 : of temperature controlling the temperature of chemical or physical processes B01J19/0013, heating or cooling apparatus for laboratory use B01L7/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 19/34 : Polynucleotides, e.g. nucleic acids, oligoribonucleotides
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/68 : involving nucleic acids
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/686 : Polymerase chain reaction [PCR]
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 3/00 : Condition responsive control processes apparatus therefor C12M1/36; controlling or regulating in general G05
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/24 : by measuring variations of resistance of resistors due to contact with conductor fluid
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/26 : by measuring variations of capacity or inductance of capacitors or inductors arising from the presence of liquid or fluent solid material in the electric or electromagnetic fields
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/31 : Apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/38 : Diluting, dispersing or mixing samples
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00435 : Refrigerated reagent storage
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00752 : bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00851 : process control parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0413 : moving in one dimension
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0415 : moving in two dimensions in a horizontal plane
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0436 : with pre-packaged reagents, i.e. test-packs
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0465 : Loading or unloading the conveyor
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0475 : electric, e.g. stepper motor, solenoid
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/1013 : Confirming presence of tip
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/1025 : Fluid level sensing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/1048 : using the transfer device for another function
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/1051 : for transporting containers, e.g. retained by friction
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/1076 : plurality or independently movable heads
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00732 : Identification of carriers, materials or components in automatic analysers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/0092 : Scheduling
• 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 35/04 : Details of the conveyor system G01N35/021 - G01N35/028 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1002 : Reagent dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1011 : Control of the position or alignment of the transfer device
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1016 : Control of the volume dispensed or introduced
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1081 : characterised by the means for relatively moving the transfer device and the containers in an horizontal plane G01N35/1011 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/02 : electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/0205 : not using a model or a simulator of the controlled system
• CPC Class Codes: G16B 25/20 : Polymerase chain reaction [PCR]; Primer or probe design; Probe optimisation
• CPC Class Codes: G16B 99/00 : Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/113332 : with conveyance of sample along a test line in a container or rack

Abstract

Systems and methods for processing and analyzing samples are disclosed. The system may process samples, such as biological fluids, using assay cartridges which can be processed at different processing locations. In some cases, the system can be used for PCR processing. The different processing locations may include a preparation location where samples can be prepared and an analysis location where samples can be analyzed. To assist with the preparation of samples, the system may also include a number of processing stations which may include processing lanes. During the analysis of samples, in some cases, thermal cycler modules and an appropriate optical detection system can be used to detect the presence or absence of certain nucleic acid sequences in the samples. The system can be used to accurately and rapidly process samples.

Claims

1. A cartridge loading unit for loading assay cartridges onto an automated system, comprising:

a DNA assay cartridge, wherein the DNA assay cartridge includes a reaction well and a reagent compartment, the reagent compartment containing a reagent used for DNA extraction from a sample;

a presentation lane including a carriage to receive the DNA assay cartridge, the presentation lane configured to transport the DNA assay cartridge into the automated system for processing;

a first loading lane including a cavity to receive the DNA assay cartridge and transfer the DNA assay cartridge to the carriage of the presentation lane; and

a controller configured to cause the first loading lane to receive the DNA assay cartridge and transfer the DNA assay cartridge to the carriage of the presentation lane and to cause the presentation lane to transport the assay cartridge into the automated system,

wherein the presentation lane comprises a presentation guide that comprises a gap configured to allow a pipettor to access the DNA assay cartridge when the DNA assay cartridge is in the presentation lane.

2. The cartridge loading unit of claim 1, further including an RNA assay cartridge and a second loading lane configured to transfer the RNA assay cartridge to the presentation lane, wherein the RNA assay cartridge includes a reaction well and an RNA reagent compartment, the RNA reagent compartment containing a reagent used for RNA extraction from the sample.

3. The cartridge loading unit of claim 1, wherein the reaction well of the DNA assay cartridge is asymmetrical and includes an endwall having a tapered segment, the tapered segment having a radius profile to create a frusto-conical surfaced culvert directed to the bottom of the reaction well.

4. The cartridge loading unit of claim 1, wherein the reagent is one of a wash buffer, an elution buffer, a magnetically responsive microparticle, and a binding buffer.

5. The cartridge loading unit of claim 2, wherein the reagent used for DNA extraction from a sample is one of a wash buffer, an elution buffer, a magnetically responsive microparticle, and a binding buffer.

6. The cartridge loading unit of claim 1, wherein the DNA assay cartridge further includes a pipette tip and a reaction vessel.

7. The cartridge loading unit of claim 6, wherein the reaction vessel is configured to receive the extracted DNA from the sample and an amplification reagent.

8. The cartridge loading unit of claim 7, wherein the amplification reagent is not contained in the DNA assay cartridge.

9. The cartridge loading unit of claim 1 wherein the cartridge loading unit further includes an identification bar, the DNA assay cartridge further including a keying feature, wherein the identification bar is arranged in the first loading lane to correspond with the keying feature of the DNA assay cartridge to prevent loading of an RNA assay cartridge.

10. The cartridge loading unit of claim 1, wherein the first loading lane includes a pusher that impels the DNA assay cartridge from the first loading lane to the presentation lane.

11. The cartridge loading unit of claim 1 wherein the presentation lane comprises a presentation rail.

12. The cartridge loading unit of claim 11 wherein the presentation lane is oriented perpendicular to the first loading lane.

13. The cartridge loading unit of claim 1 wherein the presentation lane is oriented perpendicular to the first loading lane.