Automatic nucleic acid detection system and method thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11965898-B2
Application number	US-202016936810-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 23, 2020
Priority date	Mar 27, 2020
Publication date	Apr 23, 2024
Grant date	Apr 23, 2024

Abstract

An automatic nucleic acid detection system and a method thereof are disclosed. The automatic nucleic acid detection method includes: performing, by an automatic control subsystem, on a nucleic acid extraction machine platform, a nucleic acid extraction on one or more specimens in a sample tray to generate one or more corresponding nucleic acids in the sample tray; distributing, by the automatic control subsystem, on a nucleic acid distribution machine platform, the nucleic acid in each hole of the sample tray and a first reagent into a plurality of holes of a detection tray, wherein the number of holes of the detection tray is greater than that of the sample tray; and performing, by the automatic control subsystem, on a nucleic acid detection machine platform, a nucleic acid detection on the detection tray.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An automatic nucleic acid detection system, comprising:
a nucleic acid extraction machine platform, wherein a nucleic acid extraction device is disposed on the nucleic acid extraction machine platform;
a nucleic acid distribution machine platform, wherein a second robotic arm is disposed on the nucleic acid distribution machine platform;
a nucleic acid detection machine platform, wherein a nucleic acid detection device is disposed on the nucleic acid detection machine platform; and
an automatic control subsystem, comprising a computer device and the second robotic arm and being connected with the nucleic acid extraction machine platform, the nucleic acid distribution machine platform and the nucleic acid detection machine platform,
wherein the nucleic acid extraction device is configured to perform, on the nucleic acid extraction machine platform, nucleic acid extraction on one or a plurality of specimens in a sample tray to generate one or a plurality of corresponding nucleic acids in the sample tray;
wherein the computer device is configured to control the second robotic arm to perform, on the nucleic acid distribution machine platform, nucleic acid distribution from one sample tray having a fewer number of holes to one detection tray having a greater number of holes in a way that nucleic acid in each hole of the one sample tray and a first reagent are distributed into a plurality of holes of the one detection tray; and
wherein the nucleic acid detection device is configured to perform, on the nucleic acid detection machine platform, nucleic acid detection on the one detection tray.

2. The automatic nucleic acid detection system of claim 1 , wherein a size of the one sample tray is the same as a size of the one detection tray.

3. The automatic nucleic acid detection system of claim 1 , wherein the computer device is configured to control the second robotic arm to correspondingly distribute a plurality of nucleic acids in a plurality of holes in the one sample tray into a plurality of holes in the one detection tray simultaneously for multiple times.

4. The automatic nucleic acid detection system of claim 1 , wherein a scanner and a first robotic arm are disposed on the nucleic acid extraction machine platform,
the scanner is configured to confirm an identification of a specimen container, wherein the specimen container contains the specimen or one of the plurality of specimens, and
the computer device is configured to control the first robotic arm to place the specimen in the specimen container in the one sample tray, when the identification of the specimen container is confirmed.

5. The automatic nucleic acid detection system of claim 4 , wherein a bottle cap separator is disposed on the nucleic acid extraction machine platform, and the bottle cap separator is configured to open a cap of the specimen container before placing the specimen in the specimen container in the one sample tray.

6. The automatic nucleic acid detection system of claim 5 , wherein a bottle cap detector is disposed on the nucleic acid extraction machine platform, and the bottle cap detector is configured to monitor whether the cap of the specimen container is successfully opened.

7. The automatic nucleic acid detection system of claim 1 , wherein a centrifuge is disposed on the nucleic acid distribution machine platform, and the centrifuge is configured to mix, on the nucleic acid distribution machine platform, the nucleic acid and the first reagent in each hole in the one detection tray in a centrifugal manner.

8. The automatic nucleic acid detection system of claim 7 , wherein when a volume of the nucleic acid in each hole in the one detection tray is less than a preset value, the centrifuge mixes the nucleic acid and the first reagent in each hole in the one detection tray only in the centrifugal manner.

9. The automatic nucleic acid detection system of claim 1 , wherein the computer device is further configured to control the second robotic arm to add a second reagent into each hole in the one detection tray that contains the nucleic acid and the first reagent;
wherein the automatic control subsystem further comprise an optical detector, and the optical detector is configured to monitor whether the nucleic acid, the first reagent, and the second reagent are successfully added into each hole in the one detection tray.

10. The automatic nucleic acid detection system of claim 1 , wherein the automatic control subsystem is further configured to seal each hole in the one detection tray that contains the nucleic acid and the first reagent by a cap, a film, or a sticker.

11. The automatic nucleic acid detection system of claim 1 , wherein the automatic control subsystem further comprise an optical detector, and the optical detector is configured to monitor whether each hole in the one detection tray contains the nucleic acid and the first reagent.

12. The automatic nucleic acid detection system of claim 1 , wherein a temperature of each of a specimen placement area on the nucleic acid extraction machine platform, a detection tray placement area and a first reagent placement area on the nucleic acid distribution machine platform is maintained within a preset range.

13. An automatic nucleic acid distribution system, comprising:
a nucleic acid distribution machine platform, wherein a second robotic arm is disposed on the nucleic acid distribution machine platform; and
an automatic control subsystem, comprising a computer device, the second robotic arm, and a transmission device and being connected with the nucleic acid distribution machine platform,
wherein the automatic control subsystem is configured to provide a sample tray for the nucleic acid distribution machine platform via the transmission device, wherein the sample tray contains nucleic acid of one or a plurality of specimens; and
wherein the computer device is configured to control the second robotic arm to perform, on the nucleic acid distribution machine platform, nucleic acid distribution from one sample tray having a fewer number of holes to one detection tray having a greater number of holes in a way that nucleic acid in each hole of the one sample tray and a first reagent are distributed into a plurality of holes in the one detection tray.

14. The automatic nucleic acid distribution system of claim 13 , wherein a size of the one sample tray is the same as a size of the one detection tray.

15. The automatic nucleic acid distribution system of claim 13 , wherein the computer device is configured to control the second robotic arm to correspondingly distribute a plurality of nucleic acids in a plurality of holes in the one sample tray into a plurality of holes in the one detection tray simultaneously for multiple times.

16. The automatic nucleic acid distribution system of claim 13 , wherein a centrifuge is disposed on the nucleic acid distribution machine platform, and the centrifuge is configured to mix, on the nucleic acid distribution machine platform, the nucleic acid and the first reagent in each hole in the one detection tray in a centrifugal manner.

17. The automatic nucleic acid distribution system of claim 16 , wherein when a volume of the nucleic acid in each hole in the one detection tray is less than a preset value, the centrifuge mixes the nucleic acid and the first reagent in each hole in the one detection tray only in the centrifugal manner.

18. The automatic nucleic acid distribution system of claim 13 , wherein the computer device is further configured to control the second robotic a

Assignees

• Tci Co Ltd
• Tci Gene Inc

Inventors

• Lin Yung-Hsiang
• Hsieh Cheng-Hong
• Chen Ciao-Ting
• Chen Tsung-Cheng

Classifications

• G01N35/00613 Primary

  Quality control · CPC title

• B01L3/5021

  Test tubes specially adapted for centrifugation purposes · CPC title

• B01L3/50825

  Closing or opening means, corks, bungs · CPC title

• B01L3/50857

  using arrays or bundles of open capillaries for holding samples · CPC title

• B01L3/52

  Containers specially adapted for storing or dispensing a reagent (B01L3/02 takes precedence; storing or dispensing test elements G01N33/4875; automated reagent dispensing G01N35/1002) · CPC title