Sample processing apparatus with integrated heater, shaker and magnet

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10399048-B2
Application number	US-201715668039-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 3, 2017
Priority date	Aug 3, 2017
Publication date	Sep 3, 2019
Grant date	Sep 3, 2019

Abstract

Samples in an array of containers are processed by mounting the containers on a sample stage, moving magnets into proximity with bottoms of the containers of a first column of containers to apply a magnetic field, moving the magnets into proximity with bottoms of the containers of a second column, and moving heater elements into proximity with the container bottoms of the first column. While the magnetic field is applied to the containers of the second column, heat energy may be applied to the containers of the first column. The process may be repeated for additional columns. The containers may also be shaken to agitate the samples. A single apparatus may perform heating, shaking, and magnetic field application, without needing to transport the containers to different stations.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sample processing apparatus, comprising:
a sample stage having an opening and configured to support a sample support such that the sample support covers the opening;
a first stage configured to move along a first axis;
a second stage configured to move alternately toward and away from the opening along a second axis orthogonal to the first axis, the second stage coupled to the first stage wherein the second stage is movable with the first stage along the first axis;
a plurality of heater elements disposed on the second stage and linearly positioned along a third axis orthogonal to the first axis and the second axis; and
a plurality of magnets disposed on the second stage and linearly positioned along the third axis, wherein:
the magnets are positioned adjacent to the heater elements such that each magnet is spaced from a respective one of the heater elements along the first axis;
the first stage is configured to sequentially move the heater elements and the magnets to a plurality of column positions along the first axis, wherein at each column position, at least the heater elements or the magnets are aligned with a column of sample containers of the sample support when the sample support is mounted to the sample stage, the column being arranged along the third axis; and
the second stage is configured to, at each column position, move the heater elements and the magnets between an upper position at which the heater elements and the magnets are proximate to the sample support when the sample support is mounted to the sample stage, and a lower position at which the heater elements and the magnets are remote from the sample support.

2. The sample processing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the heater elements are spaced from each other by a heater-to-heater pitch;
the magnets are spaced from each other by a magnet-to-magnet pitch equal to the heater-to-heater pitch;
each magnet is spaced from a respective one of the heater elements along the first axis by a magnet-to-heater pitch equal to the heater-to-heater pitch; and
at each column position, the first stage is configured to align at least the heater elements or the magnets with respective sample containers of the sample support when the sample support is mounted to the sample stage.

3. The sample processing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of column positions comprises at least one column position at which the heater elements are aligned with a first column of sample containers of the sample support when the sample support is mounted to the sample stage, and the magnets are simultaneously aligned with a second column of sample containers adjacent to the first column.

4. The sample processing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sample stage is configured to shake the sample support when the sample support is mounted to the sample stage.

5. The sample processing apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the sample stage comprises an end region and a side region at partially defining the opening, and further comprising a drive coupling coupled to the end region and a guide coupling coupled to the side region, wherein the drive coupling is configured to induce movement of the guide coupling and shake the sample stage.

6. The sample processing apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the sample stage is configured to shake the sample support in an orbital motion.

7. The sample processing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at the upper position the heater elements and the magnets are in or extend through the opening.

8. A method for processing samples, the method comprising:
providing a sample support comprising a plurality of sample containers arranged as an array of a plurality of columns and a plurality of rows, wherein the plurality of columns comprises at least a first column and a second column adjacent to the first column, the first column contains one or more samples in one or more respective sample containers of the first column, and the second column contains one or more samples in one or more respective sample containers of the second column;
mounting the sample support to a sample stage such that the sample support covers an opening of the sample stage, wherein the opening has an area allowing the sample containers to be exposed through the opening;
moving a plurality of magnets into proximity with bottoms of the sample containers of the first column;
applying magnetic fields generated by the magnets to the sample containers of the first column to expose the one or more samples of the first column to one or more of the magnetic fields;
moving the plurality of magnets into proximity with bottoms of the sample containers of the second column, while the sample support remains mounted to the sample stage;
moving a plurality of heater elements into proximity with the bottoms of the sample containers of the first column; and
applying heat energy emitting from the heater elements to the sample containers of the first column to expose the one or more samples of the first column to the heat energy.

9. The method of claim 8 , comprising applying the magnetic fields to the sample containers of the second column.

10. The method of claim 9 , comprising moving the heater elements into proximity with the bottoms of the sample containers of the second column, and applying heat energy to the sample containers of the second column.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of columns comprises one or more additional columns, and further comprising sequentially moving the heater elements and the magnets to one or more of the additional columns, and repeating the steps of applying magnetic fields and applying heat energy one or more times, until the magnetic fields and the heat energy have been successively applied to the sample containers of the first column, the second column, and at least one of the additional columns.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the samples comprises a liquid and a plurality of magnetic beads added to the liquid, and applying the magnetic field to the sample container containing the at least one sample pulls the magnetic beads to a bottom of the sample container.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the at least one sample comprises a plurality of target compounds that bind to the magnetic beads after the magnetic beads are added to the liquid, and applying the magnetic field to the sample container containing the at least one sample concentrates the target compounds at the bottom of the sample container.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the samples comprises a liquid, and applying the heat energy to the sample container containing the at least one sample evaporates the liquid.

15. The method of claim 8 , comprising shaking the sample stage to agitate the samples.

16. The method of claim 15 , comprising shaking the sample stage during a time period selected from the group consisting of:
before applying the magnetic fields to the sample containers of the first column;
after applying the magnetic fields to the sample containers of the first column, and before applying heat energy to the sample containers of the first column; and
both of the foregoing.

17. The method of claim 8 , wherein the number of sample containers provided in each column is equal to a number selected from the group consisting of: the number of magnets; the number of heater elements; and both of the foregoing.

18. The method of claim 8 , wherein moving the plurality of magnets into proximity with bottoms of the sample containers of the second column, and

Assignees

• Agilent Technologies Inc

Inventors

• Siow Chai Siong
• Khor Thuan-Khim
• Knorr David

Classifications

• G01N35/0098

  involving analyte bound to insoluble magnetic carrier, e.g. using magnetic separation (magnetic particles used in immunoassays G01N33/54326; magnetic separation in general B03C) · CPC title

• G01N1/44

  Sample treatment involving radiation, e.g. heat · CPC title

• B03C1/0335

  using coils · CPC title

• B03C1/01 Primary

  by addition of magnetic adjuvants · CPC title

• B01L7/525

  with physical movement of samples between temperature zones · CPC title