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

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12558687-B2
Application number	US-202519224462-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 30, 2025
Priority date	Jan 10, 2011
Publication date	Feb 24, 2026
Grant date	Feb 24, 2026

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 nucleic acid sequencing instrument comprising:
an optical deck comprising an objective and a plurality of imaging detectors; a sample deck comprising:
a slidable platform configured to support a fluidic device comprising a flow cell, the slidable platform moveable into a position in which the flow cell is viewable by the objective, and
a thermocycler configured to regulate a temperature of the flow cell;
a temperature-controlled enclosure having a cavity, the temperature-controlled enclosure configured to provide access to the cavity for receiving a reaction component tray therein; a fluid removal assembly comprising:
a transport platform,
a plurality of sipper tubes, each sipper tube of the plurality of sipper tubes having a distal portion,
an elevator comprising a motor and configured to move the transport platform bi-directionally and position the distal portions of the plurality of sipper tubes within the cavity,
a means for preventing the distal portions of the plurality of sipper tubes from becoming misaligned, and
a location sensor configured to detect at least one position of the transport platform;
a valve configured to selectively flow reagents to the sample deck during nucleic acid sequencing on the flow cell; and a pump configured to direct a flow of reagents through the plurality of sipper tubes to the valve.

2 . The nucleic acid sequencing instrument of claim 1 , wherein the sample deck further comprises a plurality of alignment members and an actuatable projection, the projection configured to engage the fluidic device when actuated such that the flow cell is pressed against one or more alignment members of the plurality of alignment members.

3 . The nucleic acid sequencing instrument of claim 2 , wherein the sample deck further comprises the fluidic device, and wherein the fluidic device further comprises a cartridge; and
wherein the plurality of alignment members extend through a corresponding plurality of recesses in the cartridge adjacent one or more edges of the flow cell.

4 . The nucleic acid sequencing instrument of claim 1 , wherein the temperature-controlled enclosure further comprises a reaction component tray received in the cavity; and
wherein the valve is a multi-port valve and the pump is configured to direct the flow of reagents from the reaction component tray through a sipper tube of the plurality of sipper tubes to the multi-port valve.

5 . The nucleic acid sequencing instrument of claim 4 , further comprising a position sensor located within the cavity configured to detect a presence of the reaction component tray.

6 . The nucleic acid sequencing instrument of claim 5 , wherein the reaction component tray comprises:
a polymerase and modified nucleotides stored in a first component well of the reaction component tray, and a cleavage mix stored in a second component well of the reaction component tray; and wherein the multi-port valve is configured to selectively flow at least one of the polymerase and modified nucleotides or the cleavage mix to the sample deck during nucleic acid sequencing on the flow cell.

7 . The nucleic acid sequencing instrument of claim 5 , wherein the reaction component tray comprises a component well covered by a protective foil, and wherein a distal portion of at least one sipper tube of the plurality of sipper tubes is configured to pierce the protective foil and withdraw reagents from the component well.

8 . The nucleic acid sequencing instrument of claim 7 , wherein a plurality of longitudinally extending rails positioned within the cavity are configured to restrict upward movement of the reaction component tray.

9 . The nucleic acid sequencing instrument of claim 1 , wherein the optical deck is positioned above the sample the deck.

10 . A nucleic acid sequencing instrument comprising:
an optical deck comprising an objective and a plurality of imaging detectors; a sample deck comprising:
a slidable platform configured to support a fluidic device comprising a flow cell, the slidable platform moveable into a position in which the flow cell is viewable by the objective, and
a thermocycler configured to regulate a temperature of the flow cell;
a temperature-controlled enclosure having a cavity, the temperature-controlled enclosure configured to provide access to the cavity for receiving a reaction component tray; a fluid removal assembly comprising:
an elevator comprising a motor; and
a transport platform holding a plurality of sipper tubes, the elevator configured to move the plurality of sipper tubes bi-directionally within the cavity between a withdrawn level and a deposited level,
a means for preventing distal portions of the plurality of sipper tubes from becoming misaligned;
a position sensor located within the cavity and configured to detect a presence of a reaction component tray within the cavity; a valve configured to selectively flow reagents to the sample deck during nucleic acid sequencing on the flow cell; and a pump configured to direct a flow of reagents through the plurality of sipper tubes to the valve; wherein the elevator is configured to move the transport platform in a direction toward a bottom of the enclosure until the plurality of sipper tubes is at the deposited level, and wherein the elevator is configured to move the transport platform in a direction away from the bottom of the enclosure until the plurality of sipper tubes is at the withdrawn level.

11 . The nucleic acid sequencing instrument of claim 10 , wherein the temperature-controlled enclosure further comprises a reaction component tray received in the cavity; and
wherein the valve is a multi-port valve and the pump is configured to direct the flow of reagents from the reaction component tray through a sipper tube of the plurality of sipper tubes to the multi-port valve.

12 . The nucleic acid sequencing instrument of claim 11 , wherein the reaction component tray comprises:
a polymerase and modified nucleotides stored in a first component well of the reaction component tray, and a cleavage mix stored in a second component well of the reaction component tray; and wherein the valve is configured to selectively flow at least one of the polymerase and modified nucleotides or the cleavage mix to the sample deck during nucleic acid sequencing on the flow cell.

13 . The nucleic acid sequencing instrument of claim 12 , wherein the reaction component tray further comprises an oxidation protectant.

14 . The nucleic acid sequencing instrument of claim 11 , wherein the reaction component tray comprises an identification tag.

15 . The nucleic acid sequencing instrument of claim 14 , further comprising a reader configured to detect the identification tag.

16 . The nucleic acid sequencing instrument of claim 11 , wherein the reaction component tray comprises a tray base, a plurality of reaction component wells, and a tray cover.

17 . The nucleic acid sequencing instrument of claim 16 , wherein each of the plurality of reaction component wells is covered by a pierceable protective foil, the plurality of reaction component wells comprising reagents for nucleic acid sequencing.

18 . The nucleic acid sequencing instrument of claim 16 , wherein the tray cover comprises a plurality of openings, each of the plurality of openings aligned with a corresponding reaction component well of the plurality of reaction component wells.

19 . The nucleic acid sequencing instrument of claim 10 , wherein the optical

Assignees

• Illumina Inc

Inventors

• Williamson Erik
• Crane Bryan
• Leung Patrick
• Verkade Drew
• Reed Mark T
• Hong Stanley S
• Pratt Mark
• Harris Jason
• Kindwall Alexander P
• Carson Andrew James
• Bryant Jason

Classifications

• G01N2021/058

  Flat flow cell · CPC title

• G01N21/05

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

• B01L2300/041

  Connecting closures to device or container · CPC title

• B01L2300/022

  Transponder chips · CPC title

• B01L9/527

  for microfluidic devices, e.g. used for lab-on-a-chip · CPC title