Systems and methods for processing biological samples - Patents.com

Abstract

The present application provides a system for processing biological samples, and relates to the technical field of biological sample processing. The system includes a temperature control component for changing the temperature of the biological sample flowing therethrough, and a reactor array coupled to the temperature control component. The reactor array includes two or more reactors, each reactor being arranged to perform at least one treatment on the biological sample. The treatments are performed alternately in the two or more reactors, such that the time interval between the completion of the discharge of the treated biological sample from a first reactor and the start of the discharge of the treated biological sample from a second reactor immediately following the first reactor is less than a predetermined time period. The present application further provides a method for processing biological samples. The system of the present application accelerates the time of each reaction, thereby reducing the waiting time before discharging the biological sample after the reaction. In some cases, the reactor array as a whole can achieve continuous output of the treated biological sample without interruption.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a system and method for processing biological samples, and in particular to a processing system including multiple reactors and a method for controlling the same. [Background technology]

[0002] The reaction systems used in laboratory research and those used in industrial production have different requirements for parameters such as reactor volume, reaction time, and reaction efficiency. For example, in small-scale laboratory research, a 1.5 mL centrifuge tube can be used when performing pre-denaturation before mRNA capping, PCR (polymerase chain reaction) or reverse transcription reaction on nucleic acids (e.g., DNA or RNA), so that rapid temperature increase (e.g., when a metal bath or water bath is used, the temperature can be increased to a preset temperature within 5 minutes) and temperature decrease (e.g., when the centrifuge tube is placed in ice or a low temperature environment, the temperature can be decreased to a preset temperature within 5 minutes) can be achieved. However, the rate of temperature increase and decrease significantly decreases with the increase in reactor volume, so that as the reactor volume increases, it is difficult to achieve the above-mentioned rapid temperature increase and decrease effect achieved in laboratory scale. For example, a variable temperature reactor system that controls the temperature in a traditional way using a TCU-jacket / heating bracket usually requires 30 minutes to achieve temperature increase or decrease. This has a negative impact on the reaction system, for example, if the temperature decrease time is too long, DNA or RNA will reform secondary structures, affecting the reaction efficiency. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a system for processing a biological sample, comprising: a temperature adjustment component configured to change a temperature of a biological sample flowed therethrough; and a reactor array coupled to the temperature adjustment component, the reactor array comprising two or more reactors, each reactor in the reactor array configured to perform at least one process on the biological sample, each reactor having an input port configured to receive the biological sample and an output port configured to discharge the treated biological sample, wherein the processes are performed alternately in the two or more reactors such that a time interval between completion of discharge of the treated biological sample from a first reactor and start of discharge of the treated biological sample from a second reactor is less than a predetermined time period, the second reactor immediately following the first reactor in the reactor array.

[0004] In another aspect, the disclosure provides a method for processing a biological sample, comprising: changing a temperature of the biological sample to a first preset temperature using a temperature regulation component; flowing the biological sample from the temperature regulation component to a reactor array; subjecting the biological sample to at least one process in at least one reactor in the reactor array; discharging the treated biological sample from the reactor array to the temperature regulation component and changing a temperature of the treated biological sample to a second preset temperature using the temperature regulation component, wherein the reactor array comprises two or more reactors, each of the reactors having an input port configured to receive the biological sample and an output configured to discharge the treated biological sample, wherein the processes are performed alternately in the two or more reactors such that a time interval between completion of discharge of the treated biological sample from a first reactor and start of discharge of the treated biological sample from a second reactor is less than a predetermined time period, and the second reactor is immediately after the first reactor in the reactor array.

[0005] In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a system for processing a biological sample, comprising: a temperature adjustment component configured to change a temperature of a biological sample flowed therethrough; and a reactor array coupled to the temperature adjustment component, the reactor array comprising two or more reactors, each reactor in the reactor array configured to perform at least one process on the biological sample, each reactor having an input port configured to receive the biological sample and an output port configured to discharge the processed biological sample, wherein the processes in the two or more reactors are coordinated to provide a time interval between completion of the process in a first reactor and completion of the process in a second reactor that is less than a predetermined time period, the second reactor immediately following the first reactor in the reactor array.

[0006] In another aspect, the disclosure provides a method for processing a biological sample, comprising: changing a temperature of the biological sample to a first preset temperature using a temperature adjustment component; flowing the biological sample from the temperature adjustment component to a reactor array; subjecting the biological sample to at least one process in at least one reactor in the reactor array; discharging the processed biological sample from the reactor array to the temperature adjustment component; and changing a temperature of the processed biological sample to a second preset temperature using the temperature adjustment component, wherein the reactor array comprises two or more reactors, each reactor having an input port configured to receive the biological sample and an output configured to discharge the processed biological sample, wherein the processes in the two or more reactors are adjusted to provide a time interval between completion of the process in a first reactor and completion of the process in a second reactor that is less than a predetermined time period, and wherein the second reactor immediately follows the first reactor in the reactor array.

[0007] In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a system for processing a biological sample, comprising: a temperature adjustment component configured to change a temperature of a biological sample flowed therethrough; and a reactor array coupled to the temperature adjustment component, the reactor array comprising two or more reactors, each reactor having an input port configured to receive the biological sample and an output port configured to discharge the processed biological sample, wherein the processes are performed alternately in the two or more reactors, and each reactor in the reactor array is configured to perform at least one process on the biological sample within a predetermined time window of:

[0008] In another aspect, the disclosure provides a method for processing a biological sample, comprising: changing a temperature of the biological sample to a first preset temperature using a temperature adjustment component; flowing the biological sample from the temperature adjustment component to a reactor array; subjecting the biological sample to at least one treatment in alternating fashion in the two or more reactors; subjecting the biological sample to the at least one treatment in the at least one reactor within a preset time period; discharging the treated biological sample from the reactor array to the temperature adjustment component; and changing a temperature of the treated biological sample to a second preset temperature using the temperature adjustment component, wherein the reactor array comprises two or more reactors, each of the reactors having an input port configured to receive the biological sample and an output configured to discharge the treated biological sample.

[0009] Based on the following detailed description, other aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art, and exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will now be shown and described. It will be understood that the subject matter of the present disclosure may include other different embodiments, and that some details may be modified in several obvious ways, all of which do not depart from the subject matter of the present disclosure. Correspondingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not restrictive.

[0010] The novel features of the present disclosure are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. A better understanding of the features and advantages of the present disclosure can be obtained by reference to the following detailed description set forth in illustrative embodiments, in which the principles of the disclosure are utilized, and the drawings in which: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a system for processing a biological sample according to the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a system for processing a biological sample according to the present disclosure. [Figure 3A] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a further exemplary embodiment of a system for processing a biological sample according to the present disclosure. [Figure 3B] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating yet a further exemplary embodiment of a system for processing a biological sample according to the present disclosure. [Figure 4] 1 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method for processing a biological sample according to the present disclosure. [Diagram 5] 1 illustrates a computer system programmed or otherwise configured to implement methods for processing biological samples provided by the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] While various embodiments of the present disclosure have been shown and described herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that these embodiments are provided by way of example only. Numerous changes, modifications and substitutions may occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the present disclosure. It should be understood that various alternative methods of the embodiments of the present disclosure described herein may be used.

[0013] As used in this specification and claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural referents unless the context dictates otherwise. For example, the term "a cell" includes a plurality of cells, including mixtures thereof.

[0014] As used herein, the term "amplification" generally refers to generating one or more copies of a nucleic acid or an "amplified product." The term "DNA amplification" generally refers to generating one or more copies of a DNA molecule or an "amplified DNA product." The term "reverse transcription amplification" generally refers to generating deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) from a ribonucleic acid (RNA) template by the action of the enzyme reverse transcriptase.

[0015] As used herein, the term "denaturation" generally refers to the complete or partial unwinding of the helical structure of double-stranded nucleic acids, and in some cases, the unwinding of the secondary structure of single-stranded nucleic acids. Denaturation can include the inactivation of pathogen cell walls or viral shells, and the inactivation of inhibitor proteins. The conditions under which denaturation occurs include "denaturation temperature" and "denaturation duration," where "denaturation temperature" generally refers to the temperature at which denaturation occurs, and "denaturation duration" generally refers to the time allotted for denaturation to occur.

[0016] As used herein, the term "extension" generally refers to the template-guided incorporation of nucleotides into a nucleic acid. Extension can occur with the aid of an enzyme, such as, for example, a polymerase or reverse transcriptase. The conditions under which extension occurs include an "extension temperature" and an "extension duration," where "extension temperature" generally refers to the temperature at which extension occurs, and "extension duration" generally refers to the time allotted for extension to occur.

[0017] As used herein, the term "nucleic acid" generally refers to a polymeric form of nucleotides of any length (deoxyribonucleotides (dNTPs) or ribonucleotides (rNTPs)) or their analogs. Nucleic acids can have any three-dimensional structure and can perform any known or unknown function. Non-limiting examples of nucleic acids include DNA, RNA, coding or non-coding regions of a gene or gene fragment, one or more loci determined by linkage analysis, exons, introns, messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA, ribosomal RNA, short interfering RNA (siRNA), short hairpin RNA (shRNA), microRNA (miRNA), ribozymes, cDNA, recombinant nucleic acids, branched nucleic acids, plasmids, vectors, isolated DNA of any sequence, isolated RNA of any sequence, nucleic acid probes and primers. Nucleic acids can contain one or more modified nucleotides, such as methylated nucleotides and nucleotide analogs. Modifications to the nucleotide structure, if present, can be made before or after assembly of the nucleic acid. The nucleotide sequence of a nucleic acid may be interrupted by non-nucleotide components. The nucleic acid can be further modified after polymerization, for example, by coupling or conjugation with a reporter agent.

[0018] As used herein, the term "primer extension reaction" generally refers to the denaturation of double-stranded nucleic acid, binding of a primer to one or both strands of the denatured nucleic acid, and subsequent extension of the primer.

[0019] As used herein, the term "target nucleic acid" generally refers to a nucleic acid molecule having a particular nucleotide sequence in a starting population of nucleic acid molecules, the presence, amount and / or sequence of which, or one or more changes therein, need to be measured. The target nucleic acid may be any type of nucleic acid, including DNA, RNA and analogs thereof. As used herein, "target ribonucleic acid (RNA)" generally refers to a target nucleic acid that is RNA. As used herein, "target deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)" generally refers to a target nucleic acid that is DNA.

[0020] As used herein, the term "biological sample" generally refers to any sample obtained from a target location in a subject. Non-limiting examples of biological samples include blood (or components of blood such as white blood cells, red blood cells, platelets, etc.) from any anatomical location of a subject (tissue, circulatory system, bone marrow, etc.), cells from any anatomical location of a subject, skin, heart, lung, kidney, exhaled breath, bone marrow, feces, semen, vaginal fluid, interstitial fluid from tumor tissue, breast, pancreas, cerebrospinal fluid, tissue, throat swab, biopsy, placental fluid, amniotic fluid, liver, muscle, smooth muscle, bladder, gallbladder, colon, intestine, brain, luminal fluid, sputum, pus, micropiota, meconium, breast milk, prostate, esophagus, thyroid, serum, saliva, urine, gastric and digestive fluids, tears, ocular fluids, sweat, mucus, earwax, oil, glandular secretions, spinal fluid, hair, nails, skin cells, plasma, nasal swabs or nasopharyngeal washings, spinal fluid, umbilical cord blood, and / or other excretions or bodily tissues. Non-limiting examples of biological samples further include proteins and nucleic acid molecules synthesized in vivo or in vitro. Non-limiting examples of biological samples further include artificially synthesized nucleic acid molecules.

[0021] As used herein, the term "reactor" generally refers to a device in which reactants undergo chemical or biological reactions during production or experimentation. Reactors can be characterized by various condition parameters during the reaction process, such as pressure, temperature, volume, residence time, concentration of each reactant, reaction rate, heat transfer coefficient, agitation rate, etc. Examples of reactors may include, but are not limited to, fermentation tanks, incubation tanks, etc.

[0022] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system for processing biological samples according to the present disclosure. In some exemplary embodiments, the system for processing biological samples may include a temperature adjustment component 101 and a reactor array 102 coupled to the temperature adjustment component 101. The temperature adjustment component is configured to change the temperature of a biological sample flowing therethrough. A separate temperature adjustment component may be provided for each reactor in the reactor array, or a common temperature adjustment component may be provided for multiple reactors in the reactor array. The temperature adjustment component may receive a biological sample (e.g., a liquid feedstock having nucleic acids, which may include messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA)) from a sample source (e.g., a feeder) and perform a first temperature adjustment process on the biological sample. The temperature adjustment component may receive a biological sample after a predetermined process from the reactor array and perform a second temperature adjustment process on the biological sample after the predetermined process. In one example, the first temperature adjustment process includes a heating process, and the second temperature adjustment process includes a cooling process. The reactor array is in fluid communication with the temperature control component and can receive biological samples that have been subjected to at least one temperature control treatment from the temperature control component. Each reactor in the reactor array can perform at least one treatment (e.g., nucleic acid denaturation) on the biological sample. Optionally, the biological sample after reaction in the reactor can be returned to the temperature control component for further temperature control. In one embodiment, at least one reactor in the reactor array includes an incubator.

[0023] In some embodiments, the temperature adjustment component may include a first temperature adjustment device 1011 for performing a heating process on the biological sample and a second temperature adjustment device 1012 for performing a cooling process on the biological sample. As described above, a single first temperature adjustment device and a single second temperature adjustment device may be provided for each reactor in the reactor array. Alternatively, a common first temperature adjustment device and a common second temperature adjustment device may be provided for multiple reactors in the reactor array. In one example, the first temperature adjustment device is configured to increase the temperature of the biological sample to a first preset temperature within a first time period. The first time period may be 10 seconds, 20 seconds, 30 seconds, 40 seconds, 50 seconds, 60 seconds, 1 minute, 1.5 minutes, 2 minutes, 2.5 minutes, 3 minutes, 3.5 minutes, 4 minutes, 4.5 minutes, 5 minutes, 5.5 minutes, 6 minutes, 6.5 minutes, 7 minutes, 7.5 minutes, 8 minutes, 8.5 minutes, 9 minutes, 9.5 minutes, 10 minutes, 10.5 minutes, 11 minutes, 11.5 minutes, 12 minutes, 12.5 minutes, 13 minutes, 13.5 minutes, 14 minutes, 14.5 minutes, 15 minutes, 16 minutes, 17 minutes, 18 minutes, 19 minutes, 20 minutes, 21 minutes, 22 minutes, 23 minutes, 24 minutes, 25 minutes, 26 minutes, 27 minutes, 28 minutes, 29 minutes, or 30 minutes. The first time period may be a value between any two of the time periods listed above. In one example, the first time period is 5 minutes or less. The first preset temperature may be at least 5°C, 10°C, 15°C, 20°C, 25°C, 30°C, 35°C, 40°C, 45°C, 50°C, 55°C, 60°C, 65°C, 70°C, 75°C, 80°C, 85°C, or 90°C. The first preset temperature may be a value between any two of the temperatures listed above. In one example, the first temperature regulator can increase the temperature of the biological sample from room temperature to at least 65°C within 5 minutes. In some cases, the first temperature regulator can heat the biological sample by stepwise heating. For example, the first temperature regulator can include multiple heating modules arranged to be connected in series, and each heating module is configured to heat the biological sample independently.Each heating module may be individually configured to increase the temperature of the biological sample a predetermined temperature difference from an initial temperature within a predetermined time period.

[0024] In one example, the second temperature regulator is configured to reduce the temperature of the biological sample to a second preset temperature within a second time period. The second time period may be 10 seconds, 20 seconds, 30 seconds, 40 seconds, 50 seconds, 60 seconds, 1 minute, 1.5 minutes, 2 minutes, 2.5 minutes, 3 minutes, 3.5 minutes, 4 minutes, 4.5 minutes, 5 minutes, 5.5 minutes, 6 minutes, 6.5 minutes, 7 minutes, 7.5 minutes, 8 minutes, 8.5 minutes, 9 minutes, 9.5 minutes, 10 minutes, 10.5 minutes, 11 minutes, 11.5 minutes, 12 minutes, 12.5 minutes, 13 minutes, 13.5 minutes, 14 minutes, 14.5 minutes, 15 minutes, 16 minutes, 17 minutes, 18 minutes, 19 minutes, 20 minutes, 21 minutes, 22 minutes, 23 minutes, 24 minutes, 25 minutes, 26 minutes, 27 minutes, 28 minutes, 29 minutes, or 30 minutes. The second time period may be a value between any two of the time periods listed above. In one embodiment, the second time period is 5 minutes or less. The second preset temperature may be at least 1°C, 5°C, 10°C, 15°C, 20°C, 25°C, 30°C, 35°C, 40°C, 45°C, 50°C, 55°C, 60°C, 65°C, 70°C, 75°C, 80°C, 85°C, or 90°C. The second preset temperature may be a value between any two of the temperatures listed above. In one embodiment, the second temperature adjustment device can reduce the temperature of the biological sample from at least 65°C to 2-8°C within 5 minutes. In some cases, the second temperature adjustment device can reduce the temperature of the biological sample by stepwise temperature reduction. For example, the second temperature adjustment device may include a plurality of temperature reduction modules arranged to be connected in series, and each temperature reduction module is configured to reduce the temperature of the biological sample independently. Each temperature reducing module may be configured to reduce the temperature of the biological sample by a predetermined temperature difference from an initial temperature within a predetermined time period.

[0025] In some embodiments, the first temperature adjustment device may include a tubular heat exchanger, such as a heated capillary heat exchanger. The liquid heat transfer medium is heated and the heated heat transfer medium is caused to flow through the capillary of the first temperature adjustment device. The biological sample is heated when it comes into contact with the wall of the capillary. In some embodiments, the second temperature adjustment device may include a tubular heat exchanger, such as a cooled capillary heat exchanger. The liquid heat transfer medium is cooled and the cooled heat transfer medium is caused to flow through the capillary of the second temperature adjustment device. The biological sample is cooled when it comes into contact with the wall of the capillary. In some other embodiments, the first temperature control device may include a heating device such as a resistive heater (e.g., using Joule heat generated by a current flowing through a conductor as a heat source), a radiative heater (e.g., using infrared radiation as a heat source), or a combination thereof, and the second temperature control device may include a thermoelectric cooler (e.g., utilizing the Peltier effect), a heat sink (e.g., metal fins), a tube cooler, a plate cooler, an air-cooled cooler, or the like, or a combination thereof.

[0026] In the case of the temperature adjustment component, a temperature control unit (TCU) may be provided to control the operation of the first temperature adjustment device and the second temperature adjustment device to control at least one operation parameter (e.g., flow rate of the heat transfer medium, operation mode, etc.) thereof, thereby controlling the parameters such as the first time period, the first preset temperature, the second time period, and the second preset temperature. For example, in some cases, the first temperature adjustment device or the second temperature adjustment device may perform a heating or cooling process continuously, and in other cases, the first temperature adjustment device or the second temperature adjustment device may perform a heating or cooling process intermittently. In some embodiments, the temperature control unit may include a first temperature control unit for controlling the operation of the first temperature adjustment device and a second temperature control unit for controlling the operation of the second temperature adjustment device. In this way, the first temperature adjustment device and the second temperature adjustment device can be controlled respectively quickly and precisely. The temperature adjustment component may include a human interface such as a control panel or a software interface. An operator of the biological sample processing system according to the present disclosure can set, confirm and change at least one operating parameter of the temperature adjustment component via the human interface.

[0027] In some embodiments, the reactor array 102 may include two or more reactors, such as a first reactor 1021, a second reactor 1022, and optionally an Nth reactor 102n. The two or more reactors in the reactor array may have the same capacity. The two or more reactors in the reactor array may also have different capacities from each other. The volume of at least one reactor in the reactor array may be 100L, 90L, 80L, 70L, 60L, 50L, 40L, 30L, 25L, 20L, 15L, 10L, 9.5L, 9.0L, 8.5L, 8.0L, 7.5L, 7.0L, 6.5L, 6.0L, 5.5L, 5.0L, 4.5L, 4.0L, 3.5L, 3.0L, 2.9L, 2.8L, 2.7L, 2.6L, 2.5L, 2.4L, The volume of at least one reactor in the reactor array may be less than or equal to 2.3L, 2.2L, 2.1L, 2.0L, 1.9L, 1.8L, 1.7L, 1.6L, 1.5L, 1.4L, 1.3L, 1.2L, 1.1L, 1.0L, 0.9L, 0.8L, 0.7L, 0.6L, 0.5L, 0.4L, 0.3L, 0.2L, 0.1L, 0.09L, 0.08L, 0.07L, 0.06L, 0.05L, 0.04L, 0.03L, 0.02L, or 0.01L. The volume of at least one reactor in the reactor array may be a value between any two volumes listed above. In one example, the volume of the reactor may be 1.5L. The reactors are connected in parallel to each other and communicate with the fluid of the temperature regulation component through a common or separate conduit, so that the biological sample can be transferred from the temperature regulation component to at least one reactor in the reactor array and / or from at least one reactor in the reactor array to the temperature regulation component. The reactors can independently receive and discharge the biological sample. In one example, the reactors in the reactor array have an input port configured to receive the biological sample and an output port configured to discharge the processed biological sample. In another example, the input port and the output port can be the same port, which is used as an input port in a first time period and as an output port in a second time period by time division multiplexing.

[0028] The transfer of the biological sample between the temperature regulation component and at least one reactor in the reactor array can be accomplished by a pumping system. The pumping system is configured to perform at least one of the following operations: (i) transfer the biological sample from the biological sample source to the temperature regulation component, (ii) transfer the biological sample from the temperature regulation component to at least one reactor in the reactor array, and (iii) transfer the biological sample from at least one reactor in the reactor array to the temperature regulation component. The pumping system may include at least one pump. Examples of pumps include, but are not limited to, centrifugal pumps, diaphragm pumps, piston pumps, peristaltic pumps, gear pumps, and the like. The pumping system can transfer the biological sample at a fixed flow rate or an adjustable flow rate. At least one pump in the pumping system has a pumping rate (e.g., volume of liquid discharged from the pump per unit time) of at least 0.001 L / s, 0.002 L / s, 0.003 L / s, 0.004 L / s, 0.005 L / s, 0.006 L / s, 0.007 L / s, 0.008 L / s, 0.009 L / s, ... The pumping rate of at least one pump in the pumping system may be a value between any two of the flow rates listed above. The pumping system may be configured to (i) transfer the biological sample from the biological sample source to the temperature regulation component, (ii) transfer the biological sample from the temperature regulation component to at least one reactor in the reactor array, and (iii) transfer the biological sample from at least one reactor in the reactor array to the temperature regulation component within a predetermined or adjustable time period.The time period may be at most 30 minutes, 25 minutes, 20 minutes, 15 minutes, 14.5 minutes, 14 minutes, 13.5 minutes, 13 minutes, 12.5 minutes, 12 minutes, 11.5 minutes, 11 minutes, 10.5 minutes, 10 minutes, 9.5 minutes, 9 minutes, 8.5 minutes, 8 minutes, 7.5 minutes, 7 minutes, 6.5 minutes, 6 minutes, 5.5 minutes, 5 minutes, 4.5 minutes, 4 minutes, 3.5 minutes, 3 minutes, 2.5 minutes, 2 minutes, 1.5 minutes, 1 minute, 30 seconds, 10 seconds, or 1 second. The time period may be a value between any two of the time periods listed above.

[0029] The reactors in the reactor array are configured to perform at least one process on the biological sample. In some embodiments, the at least one process may include nucleic acid denaturation. The biological sample after processing by the system for processing biological samples according to the present disclosure is provided to a thermal cycler (e.g., a PCR thermal cycler) to amplify and modify a nucleic acid of interest in the sample and detect the amplification or modification product. For example, the thermal cycler can perform a temperature increase and decrease operation on the biological sample after processing by the system for processing biological samples according to the present disclosure, and perform a polymerase chain reaction on the reaction mixture in the vessel containing the biological sample. In some other embodiments, the at least one process may include nucleic acid amplification. For example, a target nucleic acid can be amplified in at least one reactor of the reactor array to generate an amplification product. The target nucleic acid may be a target RNA or a target DNA. In some embodiments, the target RNA is a viral RNA. In some embodiments, the target DNA is a viral DNA.

[0030] In some embodiments, at least one reactor in the reactor array is configured to perform at least one treatment on a biological sample within a preset treatment window, which may be 100 minutes, 90 minutes, 80 minutes, 70 minutes, 60 minutes, 50 minutes, 40 minutes, 30 minutes, 29 minutes, 28 minutes, 27 minutes, 26 minutes, 25 minutes, 24 minutes, 23 minutes, 22 minutes, 21 minutes, 20 minutes, 19 minutes, 18 minutes, 17 minutes, 16 minutes, 15 minutes, 14 minutes, 13 minutes, 12 minutes, 11 minutes, 10 minutes, 9 minutes, 8 minutes, 7 minutes, 6 minutes, 5 minutes, 4 minutes, 3 minutes, 2 minutes, 1 minute, 50 seconds, 40 seconds, 30 seconds, 20 seconds, 10 seconds, or 1 second or less. The window may be less than or equal to a value between any two of the above listed time windows. In one example, at least one reactor in the reactor array is configured to complete at least one process on a biological sample within a processing window of 5 minutes or less.

[0031] In some embodiments, at least one reactor in the reactor array is configured to process the biological sample at a preset processing temperature. In some cases, the preset processing temperature may be the same as the temperature of the biological sample discharged from the temperature adjustment component after the temperature adjustment processing. In other cases, the preset processing temperature may be different from the temperature of the biological sample discharged from the temperature adjustment component after the temperature adjustment processing. A temperature adjustment device may be installed in at least one reactor in the reactor array to adjust the processing temperature of the biological sample in the reactor. For example, a heater configured to heat, warm or cool the biological sample in the reactor to maintain a preset reaction temperature in the reactor may be installed in the reactor. In one embodiment, the heater may include a resistive heater, a radiative heater, or a combination thereof.

[0032] In some embodiments, the system for processing biological samples according to the present disclosure further includes a sensing system coupled to the reactor array. The sensing system is configured to sense at least one parameter of at least one reactor in the reactor array. The sensing system may include at least a thermometer configured to measure the temperature of the biological sample in at least one reactor in the reactor array. The sensing system may include at least a pressure gauge configured to measure the pressure in at least one reactor in the reactor array. The sensing system may include at least a weighing device configured to measure the weight of the biological sample in at least one reactor in the reactor array. The sensing system may further include at least a sensor such as a pH value measuring device, a turbidity measuring device, etc. At least one parameter of at least one reactor in the reactor array measured by the sensing system is transmitted in real time to a controller of the system for processing biological samples according to the present disclosure, and can be compared with a set threshold value to monitor and control the reaction in the reactor. In some embodiments, the system for processing biological samples according to the present disclosure further includes a waste liquid container coupled to the reactor array. The waste container is used to store reactor waste from the reactor array, such as wash fluid after washing the reactors.

[0033] In some embodiments, the processing of two or more reactors in the reactor array is coordinated and controlled such that the time interval (t2~t1) between the completion time t1 of discharging a predetermined processed biological sample from a first reactor 1021 and the start time t2 of discharging a predetermined processed biological sample from a second reactor 1022 is less than a predetermined time period, the second reactor immediately following the first reactor in the reactor array. The predetermined time period may be less than 15 minutes, 14 minutes, 13 minutes, 12 minutes, 11 minutes, 10 minutes, 9 minutes, 8 minutes, 7 minutes, 6 minutes, 5 minutes, 4.5 minutes, 4 minutes, 3.5 minutes, 3 minutes, 2.5 minutes, 2 minutes, 1.5 minutes, 1 minute, 55 seconds, 50 seconds, 45 seconds, 40 seconds, 35 seconds, 30 seconds, 25 seconds, 20 seconds, 15 seconds, 10 seconds, 9 seconds, 8 seconds, 7 seconds, 6 seconds, 5 seconds, 4 seconds, 3 seconds, 2 seconds, or 1 second. The predetermined time period may be less than a value between any two of the time periods listed above. The "time interval between the completion time of discharging a biological sample having a predetermined process from a first reactor and the start time of discharging a biological sample having a predetermined process from a second reactor immediately following the first reactor is less than a predetermined time period" as described in the present disclosure can be achieved by adjusting and controlling at least one of the parameters such as the capacity of each reactor in the reactor array, the time required to complete a reaction preset in the reactor (e.g., control of reaction environment parameters of the reactor such as temperature, pressure, etc.), the time required to completely transfer the biological sample to each reactor (e.g., the time required to completely transfer a predetermined amount of the biological sample from a temperature control part into the reactor, which can depend on the pumping speed of the pumping system), the time required to completely transfer the biological sample from each reactor to another part (e.g., the time required to completely eject a biological sample having a predetermined reaction from the reactor, which can depend on the pumping speed of the pumping system), and the time required to perform other processes in the reactor (e.g., the time required to wash the inside of the reactor after each reaction).

[0034] In one example, as shown in FIG. 2, the reactor array in the system for processing biological samples according to the present disclosure may include two reactors, C1 and C2. The biological sample to be processed is transferred from the biological sample source H to the two reactors through the first temperature adjustment device EH1 in the temperature adjustment component by a pumping system (e.g., M1 in the pumping system) (hereinafter also referred to as "input"), and a predetermined reaction is carried out in the two reactors (hereinafter also referred to as "reaction", e.g., incubation). The biological sample after the reaction is completed is transferred from the two reactors to the biological sample collector E through the second temperature adjustment device EH2 in the temperature adjustment component by a pumping system (e.g., M2 in the pumping system) (hereinafter also referred to as "output"). The first temperature adjustment device EH1 may be, for example, a temperature rise device, and the temperature controller TCU1 may be installed in the temperature rise device. The second temperature adjustment device EH2 may be, for example, a temperature fall device. The temperature controller TCU2 may be installed in the temperature fall device.

[0035] In one embodiment, the process timing of the input, reaction and output operations for the two reactors is shown in Table 1.

[0036] [Table 1]

[0037] In one example, each of the time periods T0, T1, T2... may be, for example, 5 minutes. As can be seen from the operation timing in Table 1, except for the two initial time periods T0 and T1, the first reactor and the second reactor repeat "output + input" and "reaction" at adjacent times, respectively. The time required to complete a preset reaction (e.g., incubation) in the first reactor / second reactor is 5 minutes. In some cases, the pumping system can be set to completely transfer the biological sample after incubation from the first reactor / second reactor for 2.5 minutes, and completely transfer the biological sample waiting to be incubated into the first reactor / second reactor for 2.5 minutes. In this way, the incubation is completed alternately in the first reactor and the second reactor, and the time interval between the completion time of discharging the incubated biological sample from the first reactor and the start time of discharging the incubated biological sample from the second reactor is 2.5 minutes. In other words, in this case, the reactor array as a whole outputs the incubated biological sample every 2.5 minutes for 2.5 minutes. In some other cases, the pumping system can be set so that the time required to completely transfer the incubated biological sample from the first reactor / second reactor is 3 minutes, and the time required to completely transfer the incubated biological sample into the first reactor / second reactor is 2 minutes. In this way, the incubation is completed alternately in the first reactor and the second reactor, and the time interval between the completion time of discharging the incubated biological sample from the first reactor and the start time of discharging the incubated biological sample from the second reactor is 2 minutes. In other words, in this case, the reactor array as a whole outputs the incubated biological sample every 2 minutes for 3 minutes.In a further case, the pumping system can be set so that the time required to completely transfer the incubated biological sample out of the first reactor / second reactor is 4 minutes, and the time required to completely transfer the incubation-ready biological sample into the first reactor / second reactor is 1 minute. In this way, the incubation is completed alternately in the first reactor and the second reactor, and the time interval between the completion time of discharging the incubated biological sample from the first reactor and the start time of discharging the incubated biological sample from the second reactor is 1 minute. In other words, in this case, the reactor array as a whole outputs the incubated biological sample every other minute for 4 minutes.

[0038] In another embodiment, the process timing of the input, reaction and output operations for the two reactors is shown in Table 2.

[0039] [Table 2]

[0040] In one example, each of the time periods T0, T1, T2... may be, for example, 5 minutes. As can be seen from the operation timing in Table 2, except for the initial time period T0, the first reactor and the second reactor repeat "input + reaction" and "output" at adjacent times. In some cases, the time required to complete a preset reaction (e.g., incubation) in the first reactor / second reactor may be, for example, 3 minutes. The pumping system can be set so that the time required to completely transfer the biological sample waiting to be incubated into the first reactor / second reactor is 2 minutes, and the time required to completely transfer the biological sample after incubation is completed from the first reactor / second reactor is 5 minutes. In this way, the incubation is completed alternately in the first reactor and the second reactor, and the time interval between the completion time of discharging the incubated biological sample from the first reactor and the start time of discharging the incubated biological sample from the second reactor is zero. In other words, in this case, the reactor array as a whole outputs the incubated biological sample continuously without interruption. For example, within each time period starting from T1, the first reactor and the second reactor alternately discharge the reacted biological sample.

[0041] In one example, as shown in FIG. 2, a system for processing biological samples according to the present disclosure can be used for pre-denaturation treatment before nucleic acid capping.

[0042] In one example, as shown in FIG. 3A or 3B, a reactor array in a system for processing biological samples according to the present disclosure may include three reactors, C1, C2, and C3. In the example shown in FIG. 3A, a single biological sample source, a single pumping system, and a single biological sample collector are provided for each of the three reactors. For example, a single pump M3 and a pump M6 are provided for the reactor C1. The biological sample to be processed is transferred from the biological sample source H3 to the reactor C1 via the first temperature adjustment device EH1 in the temperature adjustment component by the pump M3 (hereinafter also referred to as "input"), and a predetermined reaction is performed in the reactor C1 (hereinafter also referred to as "reaction", for example, incubation). After the reaction is completed, the biological sample is transferred from the reactor C1 to the biological sample collector E3 via the second temperature adjustment device EH6 in the temperature adjustment component by the pump M6 (hereinafter also referred to as "output"). The first temperature adjustment device EH1 may be, for example, a temperature increase device, and the second temperature adjustment device EH6 may be, for example, a temperature decrease device. Temperature controllers TCU1 to TCU6 may be provided for the temperature adjustment devices EH1 to EH6, respectively. In the example shown in FIG. 3B, a common biological sample source, a common input pump, a single output pump, and a single biological sample collector are provided for the three reactors of the reactor array. For example, for the reactor C1, the biological sample to be processed is transferred from the common biological sample source H to the reactor C1 via the first temperature adjustment device EH1 in the temperature adjustment component by the common input pump M1, and a predetermined reaction is carried out in the reactor C1. The biological sample after the reaction is completed is transferred from the reactor C1 to the biological sample collector E3 via the second temperature adjustment device EH6 in the temperature adjustment component by the pump M4. The first temperature adjustment device EH1 may be, for example, a temperature raising device, and the second temperature adjustment device EH6 may be, for example, a temperature lowering device. Temperature controllers TCU1 to TCU6 may be provided for the temperature adjustment devices EH1 to EH6, respectively.Although Figures 3A and 3B show a single first temperature control device and a single second temperature control device for each of the three reactors, as described above, a common first temperature control device and a common second temperature control device can be provided for the three reactors, or a common first temperature control device and a common second temperature control device can be provided for any two of the three reactors.

[0043] In one embodiment, the processing timing of the input, reaction and output operations for the three reactors is shown in Table 3.

[0044] [Table 3]

[0045] In one example, each of the time periods T0, T1, T2... may be, for example, 5 minutes. As can be seen from the operation timing in Table 3, except for the two initial time periods T0 and T1, the first reactor, the second reactor, and the third reactor repeat "input", "reaction" and "output" at adjacent times. The time required to complete a preset reaction (e.g., incubation) in the first reactor, the second reactor, and the third reactor may be 5 minutes. The pumping system can be set so that the time required to completely transfer the biological sample waiting for incubation into the first reactor, the second reactor, or the third reactor is 5 minutes, and the time required to completely transfer the biological sample after the incubation is completed from the first reactor, the second reactor, and the third reactor is 5 minutes. In this way, the first reactor, the second reactor, and the third reactor complete incubation alternately, and the time interval between the completion time of discharging the incubated biological sample from the first reactor and the start time of discharging the incubated biological sample from the second reactor is zero, the time interval between the completion time of discharging the incubated biological sample from the second reactor and the start time of discharging the incubated biological sample from the third reactor is zero, and the time interval between the completion time of discharging the incubated biological sample from the third reactor and the start time of discharging the incubated biological sample from the first reactor is zero. In other words, in this case, the reactor array as a whole outputs the incubated biological sample continuously without interruption. For example, within each time period starting from T2, the first reactor, the second reactor, and the third reactor alternately discharge the reacted biological sample.

[0046] In one embodiment, after discharging the biological sample that has completed the previous reaction from the reactor, the inside of the reactor needs to be washed in order to input the next biological sample. Washing the inside of the reactor may include washing the inside of the reactor with a liquid or gas (e.g., an inert gas). The processing timing of the input, reaction, output, and washing operations for the three reactors are shown in Table 4.

[0047] [Table 4]

[0048] In one embodiment, each of the time periods T0, T1, T2, ... may be, for example, 5 minutes. As can be seen from the operation timing in Table 4, except for the two initial time periods T0 and T1, "input", "reaction" and "output + cleaning" are repeated at adjacent times in the first reactor, the second reactor and the third reactor, respectively. The time required to complete a preset reaction (e.g., incubation) in the first reactor, the second reactor and the third reactor may be 5 minutes. The pumping system may be set so that the time required to completely transfer the biological sample waiting to be incubated into each of the first reactor to the third reactor is 5 minutes, and the time required to completely transfer the biological sample after the incubation is completed from each of the first reactor to the third reactor is 4 minutes. The time required to clean each of the first reactor to the third reactor may be 1 minute. In this way, the incubation is completed alternately in the first reactor, the second reactor and the third reactor, and the time interval between the completion time of discharging the incubated biological sample from the first reactor and the start time of discharging the incubated biological sample from the second reactor is 1 minute, the time interval between the completion time of discharging the incubated biological sample from the second reactor and the start time of discharging the incubated biological sample from the third reactor is 1 minute, and the time interval between the completion time of discharging the incubated biological sample from the third reactor and the start time of discharging the incubated biological sample from the first reactor is 1 minute. In other words, in this case, the reactor array as a whole outputs the incubated biological sample every minute for 4 minutes.

[0049] In another embodiment, when the inside of the reactor needs to be cleaned in order to input the next biological sample after discharging the biological sample that has completed the previous reaction from the reactor, the processing timing of the input, reaction, output, and cleaning operations for the three reactors is further shown in Table 5.

[0050] [Table 5]

[0051] In one example, each of the time periods T0, T1, T2... may be, for example, 5 minutes. As can be seen from the operation timing in Table 5, except for the two initial time periods T0 and T1, the first reactor, the second reactor, and the third reactor repeat "cleaning + input", "reaction", and "output" at adjacent times. The time required to complete a preset reaction (e.g., incubation) in the first reactor, the second reactor, and the third reactor may be 5 minutes. The pumping system may be set so that the time required to completely transfer the biological sample waiting to be incubated into each of the first reactor to the third reactor is 4 minutes, and the time required to completely transfer the biological sample after the incubation is completed from each of the first reactor to the third reactor is 5 minutes. The time required to wash each of the first reactor to the third reactor may be 1 minute. In this way, the incubation is completed alternately in the first reactor, the second reactor and the third reactor, and the time interval between the completion time of discharging the incubated biological sample from the first reactor and the start time of discharging the incubated biological sample from the second reactor is zero, the time interval between the completion time of discharging the incubated biological sample from the second reactor and the start time of discharging the incubated biological sample from the third reactor is zero, and the time interval between the completion time of discharging the incubated biological sample from the third reactor and the start time of discharging the incubated biological sample from the first reactor is zero.In other words, in this case, the reactor array as a whole outputs the incubated biological sample continuously.

[0052] In a further embodiment, after discharging the biological sample that has completed the previous reaction from the reactor, the inside of the reactor needs to be cleaned in order to input the next biological sample, and the processing timing of the input, reaction, output, and cleaning operations for the three reactors are further shown in Table 6.

[0053] [Table 6]

[0054] In one embodiment, each of the time periods T0, T1, T2, ... may be, for example, 5 minutes. As can be seen from the operation timing in Table 6, except for the two initial time periods T0 and T1, the first reactor, the second reactor, and the third reactor repeat "input", "reaction", "output", and "cleaning" at adjacent times. The time required to complete a preset reaction (e.g., incubation) in the first reactor, the second reactor, and the third reactor may be 5 minutes. The pumping system can be set so that the time required to completely transfer the biological sample waiting to be incubated into each of the first reactor to the third reactor is 5 minutes, and the time required to completely transfer the biological sample after the incubation is completed from each of the first reactor to the third reactor is 5 minutes. The time required to clean each of the first reactor to the third reactor may be 5 minutes or less. In this way, the incubation is completed alternately in the first reactor, the second reactor and the third reactor, and the time interval between the completion time of discharging the incubated biological sample from the first reactor and the start time of discharging the incubated biological sample from the second reactor is zero, the time interval between the completion time of discharging the incubated biological sample from the second reactor and the start time of discharging the incubated biological sample from the third reactor is zero, and the time interval between the completion time of discharging the incubated biological sample from the third reactor and the start time of discharging the incubated biological sample from the first reactor is 5 minutes. In other words, in this case, the reactor array as a whole continuously outputs incubated biological samples every 5 minutes for 15 minutes.

[0055] Referring to the examples in Tables 5 and 6, if additional processing (e.g., cleaning as described above, or detection and confirmation of reaction environment parameters in the reactor) is required, the additional processing can be combined with any one of the three basic processings of "input", "reaction" and "output", or can be processed alone, to achieve the "time interval between the completion time of discharging a predetermined processed biological sample from a first reactor and the start time of discharging a predetermined processed biological sample from a second reactor immediately after the first reactor is less than a predetermined time period" as described in the present disclosure.

[0056] In one example, the reactor array in the system for processing biological samples according to the present disclosure may include four reactors. A single biological sample source, a single pumping system, and a single biological sample collector may be provided for each of the four reactors. A common biological sample source, a common pumping system, and a common biological sample collector may also be provided for the four reactors. In one embodiment, the processing timing of the input, reaction, and output operations for the four reactors is shown in Table 7.

[0057] [Table 7]

[0058] In one embodiment, each of the time periods T0, T1, T2, ... may be, for example, 5 minutes. As can be seen from the operation timing in Table 7, except for the three initial time periods T0 to T2, the first to fourth reactors repeat "input", "1 / 2 reaction time", "full reaction time" and "output" at adjacent times. The time required to complete a preset reaction (e.g., incubation) in the first to fourth reactors may be 10 minutes. The pumping system can be set so that the time required to completely transfer the biological sample waiting to be incubated into each of the first to fourth reactors is 5 minutes, and the time required to completely transfer the biological sample after the incubation is completed from each of the first to fourth reactors is 5 minutes. In this way, the incubation is completed alternately in the first reactor to the fourth reactor, and the time interval between the completion time of discharging the incubated biological sample from the first reactor and the start time of discharging the incubated biological sample from the second reactor is zero, the time interval between the completion time of discharging the incubated biological sample from the second reactor and the start time of discharging the incubated biological sample from the third reactor is zero, the time interval between the completion time of discharging the incubated biological sample from the third reactor and the start time of discharging the incubated biological sample from the fourth reactor is zero, and the time interval between the completion time of discharging the incubated biological sample from the fourth reactor and the start time of discharging the incubated biological sample from the first reactor is zero. In other words, in this case, the reactor array as a whole outputs the incubated biological sample continuously without interruption. For example, within each time period starting from T3, the first reactor, the second reactor, the third reactor and the fourth reactor alternately discharge the reacted biological sample.

[0059] In one example, the reactor array in the system for processing biological samples according to the present disclosure may include five reactors. A single biological sample source, a single pumping system, and a single biological sample collector may be provided for each of the five reactors. A common biological sample source, a common pumping system, and a common biological sample collector may also be provided for the five reactors. In one embodiment, the processing timing of the input, reaction, and output operations for the five reactors is shown in Table 8.

[0060] [Table 8]

[0061] In one embodiment, each of the time periods T0, T1, T2, ... may be, for example, 2 minutes. As can be seen from the operation timing in Table 8, except for the three initial time periods T0 to T3, the first to fifth reactors repeat "input", "1 / 3 reaction time", "2 / 3 reaction time", "full reaction time" and "output" at adjacent times. The time required to complete a preset reaction (e.g., incubation) in the first to fifth reactors may be 6 minutes. The pumping system can be set so that the time required to completely transfer the incubation-ready biological sample into each of the first to fifth reactors is 2 minutes, and the time required to completely transfer the incubation-completed biological sample from each of the first to fifth reactors is 2 minutes. In this way, the incubation is completed alternately in the first reactor to the fifth reactor, and the time interval between the completion time of discharging the incubated biological sample from the first reactor and the start time of discharging the incubated biological sample from the second reactor is zero, the time interval between the completion time of discharging the incubated biological sample from the second reactor and the start time of discharging the incubated biological sample from the third reactor is zero, the time interval between the completion time of discharging the incubated biological sample from the third reactor and the start time of discharging the incubated biological sample from the fourth reactor is zero, the time interval between the completion time of discharging the incubated biological sample from the fourth reactor and the start time of discharging the incubated biological sample from the fifth reactor is zero, and the time interval between the completion time of discharging the incubated biological sample from the fifth reactor and the start time of discharging the incubated biological sample from the first reactor is zero. In other words, in this case, the reactor array as a whole outputs the incubated biological sample continuously without interruption. For example, within each time period starting from T4, the first reactor, the second reactor, the third reactor, the fourth reactor and the fifth reactor alternately discharge the reacted biological sample.

[0062] As can be seen with reference to the illustrative examples described in Tables 1 to 8 above, by adjusting the preset reaction time (e.g., reaction start time, end time) in each reactor in the reactor array, the time interval between the completion times of the preset reactions in two closely adjacent reactors can be made less than a predetermined time period. For example, by alternately performing preset reactions in each reactor and alternately discharging the biological samples after the reactions, it is possible to achieve the "time interval between the completion time of discharging the predetermined processed biological sample from the first reactor and the start time of discharging the predetermined processed biological sample from the second reactor immediately after the first reactor is less than a predetermined time period" described in the present disclosure. This can be achieved by adjusting and controlling at least one of the parameters such as the capacity of each reactor in the reactor array, the time required to complete the preset reaction in the reactor, the time required to completely transfer the biological sample to each reactor, the time required to completely transfer the biological sample from each reactor to other parts, and the time required to perform other processes in the reactor.

[0063] Compared with a conventional system having a large-volume reactor (e.g., 10 L), the system for processing biological samples according to the present disclosure has two or more small-volume reactors (e.g., 1.5 L). The timing of performing (e.g., starting and completing) a preset reaction in each reactor of the system according to the present disclosure is coordinated and controlled to alternately perform and complete the preset reaction in each reactor, and alternately discharge the biological samples after the reaction. Taking the incubation reaction in the system as an example, the time required to perform temperature increase and decrease operations on a small amount of biological samples is much smaller than the time required to perform the same operation on a large amount of biological samples, so the system according to the present disclosure accelerates the time of each cycle of temperature increase-reaction-temperature decrease, thereby reducing the waiting time before discharging the biological samples after the reaction. In some cases, the reactor array as a whole can achieve continuous output of incubated biological samples without interruption.

[0064] FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method for processing a biological sample according to the present disclosure. In step 401, a temperature adjustment component is used to change the temperature of the biological sample to a first preset temperature. This can be accomplished by using a pumping system to flow the biological sample to be processed from a biological sample source to a heating device of the temperature adjustment component. For example, the heating device of the temperature adjustment component heats the biological sample to be processed to a first preset temperature (e.g., 65° C.) within a predetermined time period (e.g., less than 10 seconds) under the control of the temperature controller. In step 402, the heated biological sample is flowed from the temperature adjustment component to a reactor array. The reactor array may include two or more reactors, which may be arranged to be connected in parallel. Each reactor has an input port configured to receive the biological sample and an output end configured to discharge the processed biological sample. In some cases, the input end and the output end may be the same port, which is used as an input port in a first time period and an output port in a second time period by time division multiplexing.

[0065] In process 403, the biological sample is subjected to at least one process in at least one reactor in the reactor array. In one example, the at least one process includes incubation. In some cases, the reactor reaction conditions (e.g., reactor volume, temperature, pressure, etc.) can be adjusted to allow the biological sample to complete the at least one process within a time period less than a preset time period. The preset time period can be 5 minutes or less. In process 404, the treated biological sample is discharged from the reactor array to a temperature adjustment component, and the temperature adjustment component is used to change the temperature of the treated biological sample to a second preset temperature. This can be accomplished by using a pumping system to flow the treated biological sample from the reactor to a temperature reduction device of the temperature adjustment component. For example, the temperature reduction device of the temperature adjustment component can reduce the temperature of the treated biological sample to a second preset temperature (e.g., 2-8°C) within a predetermined time period (e.g., less than 10 seconds) under the control of the temperature control device. As described above, by alternately reacting in each reactor in the reactor array and alternately discharging the biological sample after reaction, it can be achieved that the time interval between the completion time of discharging the biological sample after predetermined processing from the first reactor and the start time of discharging the biological sample after predetermined processing from the second reactor immediately after the first reactor is less than a predetermined time period.In some cases, as described above in the present disclosure, it can be achieved that the reactor array as a whole outputs the biological sample after incubation continuously without interruption.

[0066] An exemplary method of processing a biological sample according to the present disclosure shown in FIG. 4 can be performed by a computer system. The present disclosure further provides a computer system programmed to perform the methods of the present disclosure subject matter. FIG. 5 shows a computer system 501 programmed or otherwise configured to perform the sample collection method or sample processing method provided by the present disclosure. The computer system can coordinate aspects of the methods of the present disclosure subject matter. The computer system 501 can be a computer system of a user's electronic device or a remote positioning with respect to the electronic device. The electronic device can be a mobile electronic device.

[0067] The computer system 501 includes a central processing unit (CPU, also referred to herein as "processor" and "computer processor") 505, which may be a single-core or multi-core processor or multiple processors for parallel processing. The computer system 501 further includes a memory or memory location 510 (e.g., random access memory, read-only memory, flash memory), an electronic storage unit 515 (e.g., hard disk), a communication interface 520 (e.g., network adapter) for communicating with one or more other systems, and peripherals 525, such as cache memory, other memory, data storage, and / or electronic display adapters. The memory 510, storage unit 515, interface 520, and peripherals 525 communicate with the CPU 505 via a communication bus (solid lines), such as a motherboard. The storage unit 515 may be a data storage unit (or data memory bank) for storing data. The computer system 501 may be operably coupled to a computer network ("network") 530 with the aid of a communication interface 520. Network 530 may be the Internet, an Internet and / or an extranet, or an intranet and / or an extranet in communication with the Internet. In some cases, network 530 may be a telecommunications and / or data network. Network 530 may include one or more computer servers that enable distributed computing, such as cloud computing. In some cases, network 530 may implement a peer-to-peer network with the help of computer system 501, whereby devices coupled to computer system 501 may function as clients or servers.

[0068] The CPU 505 may execute a series of machine-readable instructions, which may be embodied in a program or software. The instructions may be stored in a memory location, such as the memory 510. The instructions may be directed to the CPU 505, which may then be programmed or otherwise configured to implement the methods of the present disclosed subject matter. Examples of operations performed by the CPU 505 may include retrieve, decode, execute, and write back.

[0069] The CPU 505 may be part of a circuit, such as an integrated circuit. One or more other components of the system 501 may be included in the circuit. In some cases, the circuit is an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

[0070] The storage unit 515 can store files such as drivers, libraries, and saved programs. The storage unit 515 can store user data such as user preferences and user programs. In some cases, the computer system 501 may include one or more additional data storage units located outside the computer system 501, such as located on a remote server that communicates with the computer system 501 via an intranet or the Internet.

[0071] The computer system 501 can communicate with one or more remote computer systems via the network 530. For example, the computer system 501 can communicate with a remote computer system of a user. Examples of remote computer systems include personal computers (e.g., portable PCs), tablet PCs or tablet computers (e.g., Apple® iPad®, Samsung® Galaxy Tab), phones, smartphones (e.g., Apple® iPhone®, Android-enabled devices, Blackberry®), or personal digital assistants. A user can access the computer system 501 via the network 530.

[0072] The methods described herein may be implemented by machine (e.g., computer processor) executable code stored in an electronic storage location (e.g., memory 510 or electronic storage unit 515) of computer system 501. The machine executable or machine readable code may be provided in the form of software. During use, the code may be executed by processor 505. In some cases, the code may be retrieved from storage unit 515 and stored in memory 510 for ready access by processor 505. In some cases, electronic storage unit 515 may be omitted and machine executable instructions may be stored in memory 510.

[0073] The code may be pre-compiled and configured for use on a device having a suitable processor for execution of the code, or it may be compiled at run time. The code may be provided in the form of a programming language, and depending on the programming language selected, the code may be executed in a pre-compiled or as-compiled manner.

[0074] Aspects of the systems and methods provided herein (e.g., computer system 501) may be embodied in programming. Aspects of the technology may be considered as a "product" or "deliverable" in the form of machine (or processor) executable code and / or associated data that is generally loaded into or embodied in a type of machine readable medium. The machine executable code may be stored in an electronic storage unit such as a memory (e.g., read-only memory, random access memory, flash memory) or a hard disk. A "storage" type medium may include any or all tangible memory of a computer, processor, etc., that can provide non-transitory storage for software programming at any time, such as various semiconductor memories, magnetic tape drives, disk drives, etc., or associated modules thereof. All or a portion of the software may communicate over the Internet or various other telecommunications networks. For example, such communication may allow the software to be loaded from one computer or processor to another, for example, from a management server or host to a computer platform of an application server. Thus, another type of medium onto which software components may be loaded includes optical, radio and electromagnetic waves, such as those used in physical interfaces between local devices over wired and optical landline networks and various air-links. For example, physical components that carry such waves, such as wired or wireless links, optical links, etc., may also be considered as media onto which software may be loaded. As used herein, unless limited to non-transitory tangible "storage" media, terms such as computer or machine "readable medium" refer to any medium that participates in providing instructions to a processor for execution.

[0075] Thus, a machine-readable medium such as a computer-executable code can take various forms including, but not limited to, a tangible storage medium, a carrier medium, or a physical transmission medium. A non-volatile storage medium includes an optical or magnetic disk, such as any storage device in any computer for implementing the database shown in the drawings. A volatile storage medium includes a dynamic memory such as the main memory of such a computer platform. A tangible transmission medium includes coaxial cables, copper wire, and optical fiber, including the wires that make up a bus in a computer system. A carrier transmission medium can take the form of an electric signal, an electromagnetic signal, or a sound or light wave, such as the sound or light waves generated during radio frequency (RF) and infrared (IR) data communications. Thus, common forms of computer readable media include soft disks, floppy disks, hard disks, magnetic tape, any other magnetic media, CD-ROMs, DVDs or DVD-ROMs, any other optical media, perforated cardboard magnetic tape, any other physical storage media with perforated patterns, RAMs, ROMs, PROMs and EPROMs, FLASH-EPROMs, any other storage chips or cartridges, carriers that carry data or instructions, electrical cables or links that carry such carriers, or any other medium from which a computer can read programming code and / or data. Many of these forms of computer readable media can be involved in carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions to a processor for execution.

[0076] The computer system 501 can include or communicate with an electronic display 535. The electronic display 535 includes a user interface (UI) 540 for providing measurement conditions, protocols, etc. Examples of UIs include, but are not limited to, graphical user interfaces (GUIs) and web-based user interfaces.

[0077] The present disclosure provides the following illustrative, but non-limiting, embodiments.

[0078] 1. A system for processing a biological sample, comprising: a temperature regulation component configured to vary the temperature of a biological sample flowed therethrough; a reactor array coupled to the temperature control component, the reactor array including two or more reactors, each reactor in the reactor array configured to perform at least one treatment on the biological sample, each reactor having an input port configured to receive the biological sample and an output port configured to discharge the treated biological sample; wherein the processing is performed alternately in the two or more reactors such that the time interval between completion of discharge of the processed biological sample from a first reactor and start of discharge of the processed biological sample from a second reactor is less than a predetermined time period, the second reactor immediately following the first reactor in the reactor array.

[0079] 2. The system of embodiment 1, wherein the predetermined time period is less than five minutes.

[0080] 3. The system of embodiment 2, wherein the predetermined period of time is less than one minute.

[0081] 4. The system of embodiment 3, wherein the predetermined time period is less than 30 seconds.

[0082] 5. The system of embodiment 1, wherein the two or more reactors are connected in parallel with each other.

[0083] 6. The system of embodiment 1, wherein the volume of each reactor in the reactor array is 5 L or less.

[0084] 7. The system of embodiment 6, wherein the volume of each reactor in the reactor array is 3 L or less.

[0085] 8. The system of embodiment 7, wherein the volume of each reactor in the reactor array is 1.5 L or less.

[0086] 9. The system of embodiment 1, wherein the temperature adjustment component includes a first temperature adjustment device configured to increase the temperature of the biological sample to a first preset temperature within a first time period.

[0087] 10. The system of embodiment 9, wherein the first period of time is 5 minutes or less.

[0088] 11. The system of embodiment 10, wherein the first period of time is one minute or less.

[0089] 12. The system of embodiment 9, wherein the temperature adjustment component includes a second temperature adjustment device configured to reduce the temperature of the biological sample to a second preset temperature within a second time period.

[0090] 13. The system of embodiment 12, wherein the second period of time is 5 minutes or less.

[0091] 14. The system of embodiment 13, wherein the second period of time is one minute or less.

[0092] 15. The system of embodiment 1, wherein each reactor is configured to process the biological sample at a pre-set processing temperature.

[0093] 16. The system of embodiment 15, wherein each reactor is equipped with a temperature control device.

[0094] 17. The system of embodiment 1, wherein at least one reactor in the reactor array comprises an incubator.

[0095] 18. The system of embodiment 1, wherein the biological sample comprises nucleic acid.

[0096] 19. The system of embodiment 18, wherein the at least one treatment comprises nucleic acid denaturation.

[0097] 20. The system of embodiment 1, further comprising a biological sample source coupled to the temperature regulation component.

[0098] 21. The system of embodiment 1, further comprising a pumping system configured to perform at least one of the operations: (i) transferring the biological sample from a biological sample source to the temperature adjustment component, (ii) transferring the biological sample from the temperature adjustment component to at least one reactor in the reactor array, and (iii) transferring the biological sample from at least one reactor in the reactor array to the temperature adjustment component.

[0099] 22. The system of embodiment 1, further comprising a sensing system coupled to the reactor array, the sensing system configured to sense at least one parameter of at least one reactor in the reactor array.

[0100] 23. The system of embodiment 22, wherein the at least one parameter comprises at least one of temperature, pressure, and weight of the biological sample in the at least one reactor.

[0101] 24. The system of embodiment 1, further comprising a waste container coupled to the reactor array, the waste container configured to store waste from at least one reactor in the reactor array.

[0102] 25. The system of embodiment 1, further comprising a cleaning device configured to clean the interior of at least one reactor in the reactor array.

[0103] 26. The system of embodiment 25, wherein the cleaning device cleans the interior of at least one reactor in the reactor array with a gas or liquid.

[0104] 27. A method for processing a biological sample, comprising: changing the temperature of the biological sample to a first preset temperature using a temperature adjustment component; flowing the biological sample through the temperature control component to a reactor array; subjecting the biological sample to at least one process in at least one reactor in the reactor array; discharging the processed biological sample from the reactor array to the temperature adjustment component and changing the temperature of the processed biological sample to a second preset temperature using the temperature adjustment component; the reactor array includes two or more reactors, each reactor having an input port configured to receive the biological sample and an output configured to output the processed biological sample; wherein the processing is performed alternately in the two or more reactors such that the time interval between completion of discharge of the processed biological sample from a first reactor and start of discharge of the processed biological sample from a second reactor is less than a predetermined time period, the second reactor immediately following the first reactor in the reactor array.

[0105] 28. The method of embodiment 27, wherein the predetermined period of time is less than 5 minutes.

[0106] 29. The method of embodiment 28, wherein the predetermined period of time is less than one minute.

[0107] 30. The method of embodiment 29, wherein the predetermined time period is less than 30 seconds.

[0108] 31. The method of embodiment 27, wherein the two or more reactors are connected in parallel to each other.

[0109] 32. The method of embodiment 27, wherein the volume of each reactor in the reactor array is 5 L or less.

[0110] 33. The method of embodiment 32, wherein the volume of each reactor in the reactor array is 3 L or less.

[0111] 34. The method of embodiment 33, wherein the volume of each reactor in the reactor array is 1.5 L or less.

[0112] 35. The method of embodiment 27, wherein changing the temperature of the biological sample to a first preset temperature using a temperature adjustment component includes increasing the temperature of the biological sample to the first preset temperature within a first time period using a first temperature adjustment device of the temperature adjustment component.

[0113] 36. The method of embodiment 35, wherein the first period of time is 5 minutes or less.

[0114] 37. The method of embodiment 36, wherein the first period of time is 1 minute or less.

[0115] 38. The method of embodiment 35, wherein changing the temperature of the processed biological sample to a second preset temperature using the temperature adjustment component includes reducing the temperature of the biological sample to the second preset temperature within a second time period using a second temperature adjustment device of the temperature adjustment component.

[0116] 39. The method of embodiment 38, wherein the second period of time is 5 minutes or less.

[0117] 40. The method of embodiment 39, wherein the second period of time is 1 minute or less.

[0118] 41. The method of embodiment 27, wherein subjecting the biological sample to at least one treatment in at least one reactor in the reactor array comprises treating the biological sample at a preset treatment temperature.

[0119] 42. The method of embodiment 41, wherein each of the reactors is equipped with a temperature control device.

[0120] 43. The method of embodiment 27, wherein at least one reactor in the reactor array comprises an incubator.

[0121] 44. The method of embodiment 27, wherein the biological sample contains nucleic acid.

[0122] 45. The method of embodiment 44, wherein the at least one treatment comprises nucleic acid denaturation.

[0123] 46. ​​The method of embodiment 27, further comprising transferring the biological sample from a biological sample source to the temperature control component.

[0124] 47. The method of embodiment 27, further comprising using a pumping system to perform at least one of the following operations: (i) transferring the biological sample from a biological sample source to the temperature regulation component; (ii) transferring the biological sample from the temperature regulation component to at least one reactor in the reactor array; and (iii) transferring the biological sample from at least one reactor in the reactor array to the temperature regulation component.

[0125] 48. The method of embodiment 27, further comprising sensing at least one parameter of at least one reactor in the reactor array using a sensing system coupled to the reactor array.

[0126] 49. The method of embodiment 48, wherein the at least one parameter comprises at least one of temperature, pressure, and weight of the biological sample in the at least one reactor.

[0127] 50. The method of embodiment 27, further comprising storing waste liquid from at least one reactor in the reactor array in a waste liquid container coupled to the reactor array.

[0128] 51. The method of embodiment 27, further comprising cleaning the interior of at least one reactor in the reactor array using a cleaning device.

[0129] 52. The method of embodiment 51, wherein the cleaning device cleans the interior of at least one reactor in the reactor array with a gas or liquid.

[0130] 53. A system for processing a biological sample, comprising: one or more processors; and a non-volatile memory having computer-executable instructions stored thereon, the one or more processors performing a method, when executing the computer-executable instructions, the method comprising: changing the temperature of the biological sample to a first preset temperature using a temperature adjustment component; flowing the biological sample through the temperature control component to a reactor array; subjecting the biological sample to at least one process in at least one reactor in the reactor array; discharging the processed biological sample from the reactor array to the temperature adjustment component and changing the temperature of the processed biological sample to a second preset temperature using the temperature adjustment component; the reactor array includes two or more reactors, each reactor having an input port configured to receive the biological sample and an output configured to output the processed biological sample; wherein the processing is performed alternately in the two or more reactors such that the time interval between completion of discharge of the processed biological sample from a first reactor and start of discharge of the processed biological sample from a second reactor is less than a predetermined time period, the second reactor immediately following the first reactor in the reactor array.

[0131] 54. A non-volatile memory having computer-executable instructions stored therein, the computer-executable instructions comprising: a module for commanding a change in temperature of the biological sample to a first preset temperature using a temperature control component; a module for directing the flow of the biological sample from the temperature control component to a reactor array; a module for directing at least one process on the biological sample in at least one reactor in the reactor array; a module for discharging the processed biological sample from the reactor array to the temperature adjustment component and commanding the temperature adjustment component to change the temperature of the processed biological sample to a second preset temperature; the reactor array includes two or more reactors, each reactor having an input port configured to receive the biological sample and an output configured to output the processed biological sample; wherein the processing is performed alternately in the two or more reactors such that the time interval between completion of discharge of the processed biological sample from a first reactor and start of discharge of the processed biological sample from a second reactor is less than a predetermined time period, the second reactor immediately following the first reactor in the reactor array.

[0132] 55. A system for processing a biological sample, comprising: a temperature regulation component configured to vary the temperature of a biological sample flowed therethrough; a reactor array coupled to the temperature control component, the reactor array including two or more reactors, each reactor in the reactor array configured to perform at least one treatment on the biological sample, each reactor having an input port configured to receive the biological sample and an output port configured to discharge the treated biological sample; wherein the processing in the two or more reactors is coordinated to provide a time interval between completion of the processing in a first reactor and completion of the processing in a second reactor that is less than a predetermined time period, the second reactor immediately following the first reactor in the reactor array.

[0133] 56. A method for processing a biological sample, comprising: changing the temperature of the biological sample to a first preset temperature using a temperature adjustment component; flowing the biological sample through the temperature control component to a reactor array; subjecting the biological sample to at least one process in at least one reactor in the reactor array; discharging the processed biological sample from the reactor array to the temperature adjustment component and changing the temperature of the processed biological sample to a second preset temperature using the temperature adjustment component; the reactor array includes two or more reactors, each reactor having an input port configured to receive the biological sample and an output configured to output the processed biological sample; wherein the processing in the two or more reactors is coordinated to provide a time interval between completion of the processing in a first reactor and completion of the processing in a second reactor that is less than a predetermined time period, the second reactor immediately following the first reactor in the reactor array.

[0134] 57. A system for processing a biological sample, comprising: a temperature regulation component configured to vary the temperature of a biological sample flowed therethrough; a reactor array coupled to the temperature control component, the reactor array including two or more reactors, each reactor having an input port configured to receive the biological sample and an output port configured to discharge the treated biological sample, wherein the treatments are performed alternately in the two or more reactors, and each reactor in the reactor array is configured to perform at least one treatment on the biological sample within a predetermined time window of:

[0135] 58. The system of embodiment 57, wherein the predetermined period of time is less than 10 minutes.

[0136] 59. The system of embodiment 58, wherein the predetermined period of time is less than 5 minutes.

[0137] 60. The system of embodiment 57, wherein the two or more reactors are connected in parallel to each other.

[0138] 61. The system of embodiment 57, wherein the volume of each reactor in the reactor array is 5 L or less.

[0139] 62. The system of embodiment 61, wherein the volume of each reactor in the reactor array is 3 L or less.

[0140] 63. The system of embodiment 62, wherein the volume of each reactor in the reactor array is 1.5 L or less.

[0141] 64. The system of embodiment 57, wherein the temperature adjustment component includes a first temperature adjustment device configured to increase the temperature of the biological sample to a first preset temperature within a first time period.

[0142] 65. The system of embodiment 64, wherein the first period of time is 5 minutes or less.

[0143] 66. The system of embodiment 65, wherein the first period of time is one minute or less.

[0144] 67. The system of embodiment 64, wherein the temperature adjustment component includes a second temperature adjustment device configured to reduce the temperature of the biological sample to a second preset temperature within a second time period.

[0145] 68. The system of embodiment 67, wherein the second period of time is 5 minutes or less.

[0146] 69. The system of embodiment 68, wherein the second period of time is one minute or less.

[0147] 70. The system of embodiment 57, wherein each of the reactors is configured to process the biological sample at a preset processing temperature.

[0148] 71. The system of embodiment 70, wherein each reactor is equipped with a temperature control device.

[0149] 72. The system of embodiment 57, wherein at least one reactor in the reactor array comprises an incubator.

[0150] 73. The system of embodiment 57, wherein the biological sample comprises nucleic acid.

[0151] 74. The system of embodiment 73, wherein the at least one treatment comprises nucleic acid denaturation.

[0152] 75. The system of embodiment 57, further comprising a biological sample source coupled to the temperature regulation component.

[0153] 76. The system of embodiment 57, further comprising a pumping system configured to perform at least one of the operations: (i) transferring the biological sample from a biological sample source to the temperature adjustment component, (ii) transferring the biological sample from the temperature adjustment component to at least one reactor in the reactor array, and (iii) transferring the biological sample from at least one reactor in the reactor array to the temperature adjustment component.

[0154] 77. The system of embodiment 57, further comprising a sensing system coupled to the reactor array, the sensing system configured to sense at least one parameter of at least one reactor in the reactor array.

[0155] 78. The system of embodiment 77, wherein the at least one parameter includes at least one of temperature, pressure, and weight of the biological sample in the at least one reactor.

[0156] 79. The system of embodiment 57, further comprising a waste container coupled to the reactor array, the waste container configured to store waste from at least one reactor in the reactor array.

[0157] 80. The system of embodiment 57, further comprising a cleaning device configured to clean the interior of at least one reactor in the reactor array.

[0158] 81. The system of embodiment 80, wherein the cleaning device cleans the interior of at least one reactor in the reactor array using a gas or liquid.

[0159] 82. A method for processing a biological sample, comprising: changing the temperature of the biological sample to a first preset temperature using a temperature adjustment component; flowing the biological sample through the temperature control component to a reactor array; subjecting the biological sample to at least one treatment in alternating two or more reactors, wherein the biological sample is subjected to the at least one treatment in the at least one reactor within a preset time period of: discharging the processed biological sample from the reactor array to the temperature adjustment component and changing the temperature of the processed biological sample to a second preset temperature using the temperature adjustment component; The reactor array includes two or more reactors, each having an input port configured to receive the biological sample and an output configured to output the processed biological sample.

[0160] 83. The method of embodiment 82, wherein the predetermined period of time is less than 10 minutes.

[0161] 84. The method of embodiment 83, wherein the predetermined period of time is less than 5 minutes.

[0162] 85. The method of embodiment 82, wherein the two or more reactors are connected in parallel to each other.

[0163] 86. The method of embodiment 82, wherein the volume of each reactor in the reactor array is 5 L or less.

[0164] 87. The method of embodiment 86, wherein the volume of each reactor in the reactor array is 3 L or less.

[0165] 88. The method of embodiment 87, wherein the volume of each reactor in the reactor array is 1.5 L or less.

[0166] 89. The method of embodiment 82, wherein changing the temperature of the biological sample to a first preset temperature using a temperature adjustment component includes increasing the temperature of the biological sample to the first preset temperature within a first time period using a first temperature adjustment device of the temperature adjustment component.

[0167] 90. The method of embodiment 89, wherein the first period of time is 5 minutes or less.

[0168] 91. The method of embodiment 90, wherein the first period of time is one minute or less.

[0169] 92. The method of embodiment 89, wherein changing the temperature of the processed biological sample to a second preset temperature using the temperature adjustment component includes reducing the temperature of the biological sample to a second preset temperature within a second time period using a second temperature adjustment device of the temperature adjustment component.

[0170] 93. The method of embodiment 92, wherein the second period of time is 5 minutes or less.

[0171] 94. The method of embodiment 93, wherein the second period of time is 1 minute or less.

[0172] 95. The method of embodiment 82, wherein subjecting the biological sample to at least one treatment in at least one reactor in the reactor array comprises treating the biological sample at a preset treatment temperature.

[0173] 96. The method of embodiment 95, wherein each reactor is equipped with a temperature control device.

[0174] 97. The method of embodiment 82, wherein at least one reactor in the reactor array comprises an incubator.

[0175] 98. The method of embodiment 82, wherein the biological sample contains nucleic acid.

[0176] 99. The method of embodiment 98, wherein the at least one treatment comprises nucleic acid denaturation.

[0177] 100. The method of embodiment 82, further comprising transferring the biological sample from a biological sample source to a temperature control component.

[0178] 101. The method of embodiment 100 further includes using a pumping system to perform at least one of the following operations: (i) transferring the biological sample from a biological sample source to the temperature adjustment component, (ii) transferring the biological sample from the temperature adjustment component to at least one reactor in the reactor array, and (iii) transferring the biological sample from at least one reactor in the reactor array to the temperature adjustment component.

[0179] 102. The method of embodiment 82, further comprising sensing at least one parameter of at least one reactor in the reactor array using a sensing system coupled to the reactor array.

[0180] 103. The method of embodiment 102, wherein the at least one parameter comprises at least one of temperature, pressure, and weight of the biological sample in the at least one reactor.

[0181] 104. The method of embodiment 82, further comprising storing waste liquid from at least one reactor in the reactor array in a waste liquid container coupled to the reactor array.

[0182] 105. The method of embodiment 82, further comprising cleaning the interior of at least one reactor in the reactor array using a cleaning device.

[0183] 106. The method of embodiment 105, wherein the cleaning device cleans the interior of at least one reactor in the reactor array with a gas or liquid.

[0184] 107. A system for processing a biological sample, comprising: one or more processors; and a non-volatile memory having computer-executable instructions stored thereon, the one or more processors performing a method, when executing the computer-executable instructions, the method comprising: changing the temperature of the biological sample to a first preset temperature using a temperature adjustment component; flowing the biological sample through the temperature control component to a reactor array; subjecting the biological sample to at least one treatment in alternating two or more reactors, wherein the biological sample is subjected to the at least one treatment in the at least one reactor within a preset time period of: discharging the processed biological sample from the reactor array to the temperature adjustment component and changing the temperature of the processed biological sample to a second preset temperature using the temperature adjustment component; The reactor array includes two or more reactors, each having an input port configured to receive the biological sample and an output configured to output the processed biological sample.

[0185] 108. A non-volatile memory having computer-executable instructions stored therein, the computer-executable instructions comprising: a module for commanding a change in temperature of the biological sample to a first preset temperature using a temperature control component; a module for directing the flow of the biological sample from the temperature control component to a reactor array; a module for subjecting the biological sample to at least one treatment in alternating fashion in the two or more reactors, wherein the module commands the biological sample to be subjected to the at least one treatment in the at least one reactor within a preset time window of: a module for commanding the temperature control component to discharge the processed biological sample from the reactor array and change the temperature of the processed biological sample to a second preset temperature using the temperature control component; The reactor array includes two or more reactors, each having an input port configured to receive the biological sample and an output configured to output the processed biological sample.

[0186] While preferred embodiments of the present disclosure have been shown and described herein, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that these embodiments are provided by way of example only. Numerous changes, modifications, and substitutions may occur to one skilled in the art without departing from the present disclosure. It is to be understood that various alternative methods of the embodiments of the present disclosure described herein may be used to practice the present disclosure. It is intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure by the following claims, and to cover all methods, structures, and their equivalents within the scope of these claims.

Claims

1. 1. A system for processing a biological sample, comprising: a temperature regulation component configured to vary the temperature of a biological sample flowed therethrough; a reactor array coupled to the temperature control component; the reactor array includes two or more reactors, each reactor in the reactor array configured to perform at least one treatment on the biological sample, each reactor having an input port configured to receive the biological sample and an output port configured to discharge the treated biological sample; wherein the processing is performed in the two or more reactors in an alternating manner such that the time interval between completion of discharge of the processed biological sample from a first reactor and start of discharge of the processed biological sample from a second reactor is less than a predetermined time period, the second reactor immediately following the first reactor in the reactor array. system.

2. The predetermined time period is less than five minutes. The system of claim 1 .

3. The volume of each reactor in the reactor array is 5 L or less; The system of claim 1 .

4. the temperature adjustment component includes a first temperature adjustment device configured to increase the temperature of the biological sample to a first preset temperature within a first time period; The system of claim 1 .

5. The biological sample contains nucleic acid. The system of claim 1 .

6. The at least one treatment comprises nucleic acid denaturation. The system of claim 5.

7. a cleaning device configured to clean an interior of at least one reactor in the reactor array. The system of claim 1 .

8. 1. A method for processing a biological sample, comprising: changing the temperature of the biological sample to a first preset temperature using a temperature adjustment component; flowing the biological sample through the temperature control component to a reactor array; subjecting the biological sample to at least one process in at least one reactor in the reactor array; discharging the processed biological sample from the reactor array to the temperature adjustment component and changing the temperature of the processed biological sample to a second preset temperature using the temperature adjustment component; the reactor array includes two or more reactors, each reactor having an input port configured to receive the biological sample and an output configured to output the processed biological sample; wherein the processing is performed in the two or more reactors in an alternating manner such that the time interval between completion of discharge of the processed biological sample from a first reactor and start of discharge of the processed biological sample from a second reactor is less than a predetermined time period, the second reactor immediately following the first reactor in the reactor array. method.

9. 1. A system for processing a biological sample, comprising: a temperature regulation component configured to vary the temperature of a biological sample flowed therethrough; a reactor array coupled to the temperature control component; the reactor array includes two or more reactors, each reactor in the reactor array configured to perform at least one treatment on the biological sample, each reactor having an input port configured to receive the biological sample and an output port configured to discharge the treated biological sample; wherein the processing in the two or more reactors is coordinated to provide a time interval between completion of the processing in a first reactor and completion of the processing in a second reactor that is less than a predetermined time period, the second reactor immediately following the first reactor in the reactor array. system.

10. 1. A method for processing a biological sample, comprising: changing the temperature of the biological sample to a first preset temperature using a temperature adjustment component; flowing the biological sample through the temperature control component to a reactor array; subjecting the biological sample to at least one process in at least one reactor in the reactor array; discharging the processed biological sample from the reactor array to the temperature adjustment component and changing the temperature of the processed biological sample to a second preset temperature using the temperature adjustment component; the reactor array includes two or more reactors, each reactor having an input port configured to receive the biological sample and an output configured to output the processed biological sample; wherein the processing in the two or more reactors is coordinated to provide a time interval between completion of the processing in a first reactor and completion of the processing in a second reactor that is less than a predetermined time period, the second reactor immediately following the first reactor in the reactor array. method.

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