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

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11697116-B2
Application number	US-202217714129-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 5, 2022
Priority date	Jan 10, 2011
Publication date	Jul 11, 2023
Grant date	Jul 11, 2023

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 DNA sequencing instrument comprising:
an optical deck comprising a light source assembly and two imaging detectors;
a sample deck comprising a slidable platform configured to support a fluidic device comprising a flow cell, the sample deck further comprising a thermal module configured 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 configured to regulate a temperature within the cavity, the temperature control assembly comprising a thermoelectric cooling assembly located at a rear of the cavity opposite the door;
a fluid removal assembly comprising:
an elevator mechanism including a drive motor and a lead screw operatively coupled to the drive motor,
a transport platform carrying a flag and configured to hold an array of sipper tubes, the elevator mechanism configured to move the array of sipper tubes bi-directionally between a withdrawn level and a deposited level,
a guide plate having openings through which the array of sipper tubes slide,
a plurality of support beams coupled to the guide plate and extending parallel to the lead screw, and
a location sensor configured to determine a level of the array of sipper tubes;

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 configured to store fluids, wherein the plurality of component wells include a polymerase, modified nucleotides, a cleavage mix, and an oxidizing protectant; and
a pump configured to direct the flow of fluids from the reaction component tray through the array of sipper tubes to a multi-port valve, the multi-port valve configured to selectively flow the fluids from the reaction component tray to the sample deck during DNA sequencing on the flow cell,
wherein rotation of the lead screw in a first direction moves the transport platform toward the guide plate until the array of sipper tubes is at the deposited level, wherein rotation of the lead screw in a second, opposite direction moves the transport platform away from the guide plate until the array of sipper tubes is at the withdrawn level, wherein sipper tubes of the array of sipper tubes include distal portions that are inserted into component wells of the reaction component tray when the array of sipper tubes is at the deposited level, wherein the distal portions of the sipper tubes are completely removed from the component wells when the array of sipper tubes is at the withdrawn level, and wherein the location sensor is configured to detect the flag and determine when the array of sipper tubes has not reached a threshold level such that the reaction component tray is not ready for removal from the cavity.

2. The DNA sequencing instrument of claim 1 , wherein the pump is configured to direct a flow of the modified nucleotides from the reaction component tray through a sipper tube of the array of sipper tubes to the multi-port valve, the multi-port valve configured to selectively flow the modified nucleotides to the sample deck during DNA sequencing on the flow cell,
wherein the polymerase and the modified nucleotides are stored in a first component well of the reaction component tray, and wherein the multi-port valve is configured to selectively flow the polymerase and the modified nucleotides to the sample deck during DNA sequencing on the flow cell, and
wherein the pump is configured to direct a flow of the cleavage mix from a second component well of the reaction component tray through a sipper tube of the array of sipper tubes to the multi-port valve, the multi-port valve configured to selectively flow the cleavage mix to the sample deck during DNA sequencing on the flow cell.

3. The DNA sequencing instrument of claim 1 , wherein the fluidic device comprises a housing that includes a reception space and the flow cell located within the reception space, and
wherein the sample deck comprises a support structure having alignment members, wherein the housing comprises recesses that are located adjacent to the reception space, and wherein the alignment members are inserted through corresponding recesses of the housing.

4. The DNA sequencing instrument of claim 1 , further comprising a casing enclosing the optical deck and the fluid storage system therein, the door providing access through the casing to the cavity, wherein the enclosure of the fluid storage system is separate from the optical deck and separate from the sample deck. control a temperature of the flow cell.

Assignees

• Illumina Inc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• G01N21/05

  Flow-through cuvettes (G01N21/09 takes precedence; handling fluid samples G01N1/10) · CPC title

• B01L2200/025

  Align devices or objects to ensure defined positions relative to each other · CPC title

• B01L2200/027

  for microfluidic devices · CPC title

• B01L3/50273

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

• B01L3/502715 Primary

  characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces · CPC title