Systems, methods, and apparatuses to image a sample for biological or chemical analysis

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11117130-B2
Application number	US-202016874412-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 14, 2020
Priority date	Jan 10, 2011
Publication date	Sep 14, 2021
Grant date	Sep 14, 2021

Abstract

A fluidic device holder configured to orient a fluidic device. The device holder includes a support structure configured to receive a fluidic device. The support structure includes a base surface that faces in a direction along the Z-axis and is configured to have the fluidic device positioned thereon. The device holder also includes a plurality of reference surfaces facing in respective directions along an XY-plane. The device holder also includes an alignment assembly having an actuator and a movable locator arm that is operatively coupled to the actuator. The locator arm has an engagement end. The actuator moves the locator arm between retracted and biased positions to move the engagement end away from and toward the reference surfaces. The locator arm is configured to hold the fluidic device against the reference surfaces when the locator arm is in the biased position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising
an optical deck having a plurality of optical components mounted thereto;
a sample deck having a slidable platform that supports a fluidic device thereon and a thermal module to control a temperature of the fluidic device; and
a fluid storage system comprising:
an enclosure having a cavity;
a door configured to open to provide access to the cavity;
a temperature control assembly configured to regulate a temperature within the cavity;
a fluid removal assembly comprising:
an elevator mechanism including a drive motor, and a stage assembly having a transport platform to hold an array of sipper tubes disposable at least partially within the cavity,
wherein the drive motor is to move the array of sipper tubes bidirectionally along a Z-axis,

wherein each sipper tube of the array of sipper tubes includes a distal portion that is to be inserted into a component well of a reaction component tray such that fluids stored in the reaction component tray are removeable to be delivered to the fluidic device, wherein the enclosure of the fluid storage system is separate from the optical deck and separate from the sample deck; and
a casing enclosing the optical deck and the fluid storage system therein, the door providing access through the casing to the cavity.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a multi-port valve to selectively flow different fluids to the fluidic device, wherein each sipper tube of the array of sipper tubes is in fluid communication with the multi-port valve to selectively flow a corresponding fluid stored in a corresponding component well of the reaction component tray to the fluidic device.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising the reaction component tray comprising a plurality of component wells to store the fluids, wherein the elevator mechanism is to move the array of sipper tubes between withdrawn and deposited levels, the distal portions of the sipper tubes of the array of sipper tubes inserted into the component wells to remove fluid therefrom when at the deposited level, and the distal portions of the sipper tubes of the array of sipper tubes completely removed from the reaction component tray at the withdrawn level.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of component wells includes one or more components selected from the group consisting of a polymerase, modified nucleotides, a cleavage mix, and an oxidizing protectant.

5. The system of claim 3 , wherein the reaction component tray comprises a tray cover including a plurality of openings that are aligned with corresponding component wells.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid storage system comprises a guide plate, wherein the distal portions of the array of sipper tubes extend through corresponding openings of the guide plate.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid storage system comprises a sensor to determine a presence of the reaction component tray in the cavity.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid storage system comprises a sensor to determine a level of the stage assembly and wherein when the sensor identifies the level of the stage assembly not reaching a threshold level, the system generates an alert indicative that the reaction component tray is not ready for removal.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid removal assembly further comprises a plurality of support beams that extends along the Z-axis, and wherein a guide plate is affixed to the plurality of support beams.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the temperature control assembly is coupled to a rear of the enclosure of the fluid storage system opposite the door.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fluidic device is a flow cell.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the array of sipper tubes is in fluid communication with a system pump that is to direct a flow of fluid through the array of sipper tubes.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of optical components forms an optical assembly, and wherein the slidable platform is to slide with respect to an imaging lens of an optical assembly of the optical deck.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the slidable platform is to slide bi-directionally along an X-axis.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sample deck is to slide bi-directionally along an X-axis.

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of optical components comprises a light source assembly and two imaging detectors, the light source assembly comprising a first excitation light source and a second excitation light source.

17. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a touchscreen user interface.

18. The system of claim 1 , wherein the elevator mechanism further comprises a lead screw operatively coupled to the drive motor, wherein rotation of the lead screw moves the transport platform bi-directionally.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the elevator mechanism further comprises structural supports and the lead screw extends between the structural supports.

20. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a pair of opposing guide rails to receive and direct the reaction component tray to a fluid removal position in the cavity.

21. The system of claim 1 , wherein the reaction component tray further comprises a protective foil covering an opening at a top of individual component wells and the array of sipper tubes is to pierce the protective foil.

22. The system of claim 1 , wherein the temperature control assembly comprises a thermoelectric cooling assembly.

23. The system of claim 1 , wherein the temperature control assembly projects into the cavity.

24. A system comprising:
an optical deck comprising a light source assembly and two imaging detectors, wherein the light source assembly comprises a first excitation light source and a second excitation light source;
a sample deck having a slidable platform that supports a flow cell thereon and a thermal module to control a temperature of the flow cell;
a fluid storage system comprising:
an enclosure having a cavity;
a door configured to open to provide access to the cavity; a temperature control assembly projecting into the cavity to regulate a temperature within the cavity;
a fluid removal assembly comprising:
an elevator mechanism including a drive motor and a lead screw operatively coupled to the drive motor, wherein rotation of the lead screw moves the transport platform bi-directionally,
a stage assembly having a transport platform to hold an array of sipper tubes disposable at least partially within the cavity,
a guide plate having openings through which the array of sipper tubes slide, and
a plurality of support beams affixed to the guide plate and extending parallel to the lead screw;

a multi-port valve to selectively flow different fluids to the flow cell; and
a reaction component tray within the cavity of the enclosure of the fluid storage system, wherein the reaction component tray comprises a plurality of component wells to store fluids, wherein the plurality of component wells in the reaction component tray include a polymerase, modified nucleotides, a cleavage mix, and an oxidizing protectant,
and wherein each sipper tube of the array of sipper tubes includes a distal portion that is to be inserted into one of the component wells of the reaction component t ray such that the fluids stored in the reaction component tray are removeable to be delivered to the multi-port valve to selectively

Assignees

• Illumina Inc

Inventors

• Williamson Erik
• Crane Bryan
• Leung Patrick
• Verkade Drew
• Reed Mark

Classifications

• B01L3/50273

  characterised by the means or forces applied to move the fluids · CPC title

• B01L2300/0877

  Flow chambers · CPC title

• G01N2021/058

  Flat flow cell · CPC title

• B01L2200/04

  Exchange or ejection of cartridges, containers or reservoirs · CPC title

• B01L2300/022

  Transponder chips · CPC title