Integrated sample processing devices

Abstract

Sample processing devices may include compression structures that provide for the transfer of force from a platen to a platform such as a thermal block on which the sample processing device is located during processing. The sample processing devices may include a fill reservoir structure with various features such as arcuate edges, radially aligned exit channels, support structures, and selectively variable heights with a corresponding variable volume distribution.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 325,723, filed Dec. 19, 2002, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND[0002]Modem scientific investigations frequently involve the use of large number of chemical reactions. For efficient implementation, these reactions are preferably run using systems that minimize setup times and cost while ensuring the quality of their results.[0003]In many cases, a multiplicity of reactions are performed on systems in which a small set of reactants are combined with a much larger set of reactants. For example, a single biological sample may be subjected to a multiplicity of polymerase chain reactions, each of which address the expression level of a single gene.[0004]Many different chemical, biochemical, and other reactions are also sensitive to small temperature variations. The reactions may be enhanced or inhibited based on the temperatures of the materials invol...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0016]A further advantage of the present invention may come from more precise control of fill port locations. The use of multiple fill ports on a sample processing device is particularly advantageous if the fill ports are compatible with standard laboratory robotic equipment for liquid dispensing. For example, eight or more micropipettes are frequently arranged in a linear array with uniform spacing to efficiently fill standard microplates. Use of such micropipette arrays to fill particular embodiments of the present invention could provide a significant benefit to users requiring highly automated laboratory operations using existing equipment.

[0017]Use of the present invention with such automated operations is further facilitated if the particular embodiment complies with the standardized form-factor for microplates. In such cases, the handling of the microplate subsequent to loading can be performed by commonly available robotic equipment.

[0018]Finally, because many of the reactants used with the present invention are often expensive and available only in small quantities, it is important to utilize sample processing devices which minimize the amounts of samples necessary to achieve satisfactory results. In particular, this requires loading mechanisms which efficiently distribute the sample to each of the reaction chambers and that reduce the risk of spillage during loading and handling of the devices.

[0019]In some embodiments, the sample processing devices may include multiple parallel fill reservoirs that are in fluid communication with each other through a fluid path.

[0020]Methods of using such sample processing devices may include occluding those fluid paths to isolate the fill reservoirs after manufacturing the sample processing devices. The fill reservoirs may preferably have fill ports proximate the outermost edges of the sample processing device such that a sample processing device including fill reservoirs filled with sample materials may be stood on edge without leaking the sample materials from the fill reservoirs.

[0021]The sample processing devices of the present invention may also include deformable seals to occlude channels used to distribute sample materials from the fill reservoirs to the process chambers. Deformable seals may also provide for isolation of the process chambers located along the channels, such that chemical cross-contamination (e.g., migration of reagents or reaction products between process chambers after introduction of sample material) may be reduced or eliminated, particularly during sample processing, e.g. thermal cycling. Deformable seals may also provide the opportunity to tailor the devices for specific test protocols by closing the channels leading to selected process chambers before distributing sample materials. Alternatively, some deformable seals may be closed to adjust for smaller sample material volumes reducing the number of process chambers to which the sample materials are distributed.

Problems solved by technology

This situation is encountered when performing “end-point reads” following thermal-cycling on Peltier blocks that do not provide for real-time monitoring of the processing, e.g., PCR.

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