Method and apparatus for automated sample preparation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11513133-B2
Application number	US-201816194187-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 16, 2018
Priority date	Jul 8, 2011
Publication date	Nov 29, 2022
Grant date	Nov 29, 2022

Abstract

The present teachings provide apparatuses and methods for automated handling of samples, e.g., biological or chemical samples. The apparatuses and the methods of the present teachings allow automated performance of various sample manipulation steps without manual intervention. In a preferred embodiment, the present teachings provide apparatuses and methods for automated enrichment of templated beads produced by PCR.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A method for automated processing of templated beads, the method comprising:
transferring using an automated sample manipulation apparatus a sample to a sample site, wherein the sample comprises a liquid portion and a magnetic bead portion, the magnetic bead portion including complexes of magnetic enrichment beads and templated beads, wherein the templated beads are carriers of amplified sample templates;
immobilizing the magnetic bead portion of the sample in the sample site by applying a magnetic field to the sample site with the automated sample manipulation apparatus, thereby providing an immobilized magnetic bead portion of the sample;
treating the immobilized magnetic bead portion of the sample with a treatment including washing, mixing, heating or stirring, and combinations thereof using the automated sample manipulation apparatus, thereby enriching the immobilized magnetic bead portion of the sample; and
following treating, removing using the automated sample manipulation apparatus the liquid portion of the sample from the immobilized magnetic bead portion of the sample, the immobilized magnetic bead portion of the sample thereby remaining in the sample site.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sample site is located on a platform of the automated sample manipulation apparatus, the platform comprising a plurality of sites to hold a plurality of samples.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of sample sites are arranged in an array.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein before treating the immobilized magnetic bead portion of the sample, the method further comprises:
transferring using the automated sample manipulation apparatus materials for treating the immobilized magnetic bead portion of the sample from a plurality of material sites preloaded with reagents, solutions, buffers, washes and solvents.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of material sites are arranged in an array.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein transferring materials includes transferring a material from at least one material site preloaded with reagents, solutions, buffers, washes and solvents to the sample site.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein transferring the material from the at least one material site to the sample site comprises aspirating the material from the at least one material site and dispensing the material at the sample site.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying the magnetic field comprises applying an electromagnetic field.

9. The method of claim 1 , after removing the liquid portion, further comprising:
washing using the automated sample manipulation apparatus the sample site containing the magnetic bead portion of the sample with a wash solution; and
removing the magnetic field from the sample site using the automated sample manipulation apparatus.

Assignees

• Life Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Barbee Kristopher
• Carpino Maximilian
• Wheeling Ray
• Bajka Nicholas

Classifications

• Y10T436/255

  including use of a solid sorbent, semipermeable membrane, or liquid extraction · CPC title

• G01N35/1009

  Characterised by arrangements for controlling the aspiration or dispense of liquids · CPC title

• G01N35/0099

  comprising robots or similar manipulators (robots per se B25J) · CPC title

• G01N35/10

  Devices for transferring samples {or any liquids} to, in, or from, the analysis apparatus, e.g. suction devices, injection devices {(G01N35/0099 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• G01N35/0098 Primary

  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