Integrated consumable data management system and platform

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11686739-B2
Application number	US-202117412688-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 26, 2021
Priority date	Jul 23, 2015
Publication date	Jun 27, 2023
Grant date	Jun 27, 2023

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods, devices and systems for associating consumable data with an assay consumable used in a biological assay. Provided are assay systems and associated consumables, wherein the assay system adjusts one or more steps of an assay protocol based on consumable data specific for that consumable. Various types of consumable data are described, as well as methods of using such data in the conduct of an assay by an assay system. The present invention also relates to consumables (e.g., kits and reagent containers), software, data deployable bundles, computer-readable media, loading carts, instruments, systems, and methods, for performing automated biological assays.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An automated assay system comprising:
a robotic gripper arm and a robotic pipettor;
at least one of a plate carrier or a tip box carrier;
a plurality of plate shakers;
an assay consumable storage unit for assay reagents;
an assay consumable storage unit for plates; and
at least one of a platform or a table,
wherein the assay consumable storage unit for plates is attached to a front edge of the platform or table in a cantilevered manner,
wherein the plate carrier or the tip box carrier is located behind the assay consumable storage unit for plates, and
wherein the plurality of plate shakers are located toward a back of the platform.

2. The automated assay system of claim 1 , further comprising an air cooling system, wherein the air cooling system is located on a back panel of the assay system.

3. The automated assay system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one of: an assay consumable storage unit for immediate-use tips, or an assay consumable storage unit for reserve tips.

4. The automated assay system of claim 1 , wherein the assay system has positions for affixing assay consumable storage units for tubes and troughs.

5. The automated assay system of claim 1 , further comprising a plate washer located below said platform or table, wherein said platform or table has an opening for accessing said plate washer.

6. The automated assay system of claim 1 , wherein the assay system comprises both the platform and the table, and wherein said platform is attached to and supported by said table.

7. The automated assay system of claim 1 , further comprising an assay reader.

8. The automated assay system of claim 1 , wherein said platform or table has a waste opening for disposing of waste.

9. The automated assay system of claim 8 , further comprising a chute for solid waste extending from above said waste opening, through said waste opening, and below said waste opening.

10. The automated assay system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one waste container located below said platform or table.

11. The automated assay system of claim 1 , further comprising a laptop computer for controlling said robotic gripper and said robotic pipettor.

12. The automated assay system of claim 1 , which further comprises a universal power system (UPS) below the platform or table.

13. The automated assay system of claim 1 , wherein the assay consumable storage unit for storing assay reagents is located on the platform behind the assay consumable storage unit for storing plates.

14. The automated assay system of claim 1 , wherein the robotic pipettor includes a capacitive sensor configured to detect presence of liquid in a container.

15. The automated assay system of claim 14 , wherein the capacitive sensor includes a conductive stack formed from a plastic material coated with metal.

16. The automated assay system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of plate shakers are raised above the platform to allow air to flow underneath the plurality of plate shakers and over a top of the plurality of plate shakers.

17. An automated assay system comprising:
a robotic gripper arm and a robotic pipettor;
a plate carrier;
a plurality of plate shakers;
an air cooling system;
an assay consumable storage unit for assay reagents;
an assay consumable storage unit for plates;
an assay consumable storage unit for pipette tips; and
at least one of a platform or a table,
wherein the assay consumable storage unit for plates is attached to a front edge of the platform or table in a cantilevered manner,
wherein the plate carrier is located behind the assay consumable storage unit for plates, and behind the front edge of the platform, and
wherein the plurality of plate shakers are located toward a back of the platform.

18. The automated assay system of claim 17 , wherein the air cooling system is located on a back panel of the assay system.

19. The automated assay system of claim 17 , further comprising a plate washer located below said platform, wherein said platform has an opening for accessing said plate washer.

20. An automated assays system comprising
(a) a processing deck for holding assay components providing a substantially rectangular surface with a front edge, a first side edge, a second side edge and a back edge; said deck supporting
(i) an assay consumable hotel substantially centered and cantilevered over the front edge of the deck having a plurality of consumable slots sized to hold consumables that meet ANSI-SLAS specifications for width and length of 96-well assay plates
(ii) a plurality of pipette tip locations for holding pipette tip containers located on a first side of the deck
(iii) a plurality of plate shaker locations located along the back edge of the deck
(iv) a set of processing locations located substantially in the center of the deck between the hotel and the shakers that are configured to hold consumables with ANSI-SLAS compliant dimensions
(v) a bar code scanner located on the first side of the deck behind the pipette tip locations, the bar code scanner having a scanning surface large enough to scan a bottom surface of a consumable with ANSI-SLAS compliant dimensions,

(b) a plate washer located under the deck and accessible through an aperture in the deck between the pipette locations and the assay plate processing locations;
(c) a gantry located above the deck movably supporting a robotic plate gripper such that the gripper can move to access locations (i) through (v) and movable supporting a robotic 8 channel pipettor such that the pipettor can access locations (ii) and (iv)
(d) an assay reader located next to the first side of the deck on a platform that is at a lower vertical elevation than the deck, wherein the highest point on the reader is lower than the lowest point that the robotic gripper can move; and
(e) an enclosure surrounding components (a) to (d) with a temperature controller for maintaining the components under temperature control and with a door providing user access to the front edge of the deck and the consumable hotel located thereon.

Assignees

• Meso Scale Technologies Llc

Inventors

• Kochar Manish
• Bosco Peter J
• Chamberlin Ian D
• Jeffrey-Coker Bandele
• Jones Eric M
• Leimkuehler Aaron H
• Nguyen Kim-Xuan
• Oberoi Pankaj
• Pang Louis W
• Parker Jennifer
• Pellicier Victor
• Sammons Nicholas
• Sigal George
• Wohlstadter Jacob N
• Smith Stanley T
• Stevens Carl C
• Osborne Rodger D
• Page Kenneth E

Classifications

• C40B60/12

  for screening libraries · CPC title

• G01N27/26

  by investigating electrochemical variables; by using electrolysis or electrophoresis · CPC title

• G01N21/76

  Chemiluminescence; Bioluminescence · CPC title

• G01N33/53

  Immunoassay; Biospecific binding assay; Materials therefor · CPC title

• G01N35/0092

  Scheduling · CPC title