Apparatus, system, and method for collecting a target material

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017191911-A1
Application number	US-201715401054-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 8, 2017
Priority date	Nov 30, 2012
Publication date	Jul 6, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

This disclosure is directed to an apparatus, system and method for retrieving a target material from a suspension. A system includes a plurality of processing vessels and a collector. The collector funnels portions of the target material from the suspension through a cannula and into the processing vessels. Sequential density fractionation is the division of a sample into fractions or of a fraction of a sample into sub-fractions by a step-wise or sequential process, such that each step or sequence results in the collection or separation of a different fraction or sub-fraction from the preceding and successive steps or sequences. In other words, sequential density fractionation provides individual sub-populations of a population or individual sub-sub-populations of a sub-population of a population through a series of steps.

First claim

I/We claim:

1 . A system comprising:
a primary vessel comprising an open end and a suspension comprising a target material comprising at least a first sub-fraction and a second sub-fraction; a first processing vessel comprising
a first end comprising a plug,
an inner cavity, and
a first displacement fluid comprising a density greater than a density of the first sub-fraction of the target material, wherein the first displacement fluid is located within the inner cavity;
a second processing vessel comprising
a first end comprising a plug,
an inner cavity, and
a second displacement fluid comprising a density greater than a density of the second sub-fraction of the target material, wherein the second displacement fluid is located within the inner cavity; and a device at least partially located within the open end of the primary vessel, the device comprising a cannula, wherein the cannula extends through the plug of the first processing vessel and accesses the inner cavity of the first processing vessel, thereby mating the first processing vessel and the device and fluidly connecting the primary vessel to the first processing vessel, wherein the device extends upwardly from the open end of the primary vessel, wherein the processing vessel extends upwardly from the device, wherein the first sub-fraction is less dense than the second sub-fraction, and wherein the first displacement fluid is less dense than the second sub-fraction and the second displacement fluid.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the plugs of the first and second processing vessels are resealable.

3 . The system of claim 2 , further comprising a float located at a longitudinal position within the primary vessel.

4 . The system of claim 3 , further comprising a sealing ring located circumferentially around the primary vessel at the same longitudinal position as at least a portion of the float within the primary vessel.

5 . The system of claim 3 , further comprising a seal between an inner wall of the primary vessel and a portion of the float.

6 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a seal between an end of the device and an inner wall of the primary vessel to maintain a fluid-tight sealing engagement between the end of the device and inner wall of the primary vessel.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second displacement fluids are selected from the group consisting of: a solution of colloidal silica particles coated with polyvinylpyrrolidone, a polysaccharide solution, iodixanol, a liquid wax, an oil, a gas, olive oil, mineral oil, silicone oil, immersion oil, mineral oil, paraffin oil, silicon oil, fluorosilicone, perfluorodecalin, perfluoroperhydrophenanthrene, perfluorooctylbromide, ionic liquids, a polymer-based solution, a surfactant, a perfluoroketone, perfluorocyclopentanone, perfluorocyclohexanone, a fluorinated ketone, a hydrofluoroether, a hydrofluorocarbon, a perfluorocarbon, a perfluoropolyether, silicon, a silicon-based liquid, phenylmethyl siloxane, and combinations thereof.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the collector further comprises:
a first end; a second end; a concave opening in the second end that narrows to an apex; and a cavity with an opening at the first end, wherein the cannula extends from the apex into the cavity, and wherein the second end is at least partially located within the open end of the primary vessel.

10 . The system of claim 9 , the first end comprising at least one cut out at a top end.

11 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
an n th sub-fraction; and an n th processing vessel comprising
a first end comprising a plug,
an inner cavity, and
an n th displacement fluid, wherein the n th displacement fluid is located within the inner cavity
wherein n th is equal to or greater than 3 rd , wherein each successive displacement fluid has a density greater than each preceding displacement fluid, wherein each successive sub-fraction has a density greater than each preceding sub-fraction, and wherein n th displacement fluid has a density greater than the n th sub-fraction.

12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the sub-fractions comprises fetal material.

13 . The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the sub-fractions comprises a trophoblast, a nucleated red blood cell, a fetal white blood cell, a circulating tumor cell, an immune cell, or a spirochete.

14 . The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the sub-fractions comprises at least one spirochete, malaria-inducing agent, immune cell, or circulating tumor cell.

15 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the cannula is a tube, a needle, or a non-coring needle.

16 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the cannula has a flat tip, a beveled tip, a sharpened tip, or a tapered tip.

17 . The system of claim 1 , the processing vessel further comprising a processing solution to effect a transformation on the target material.

18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the processing solution is a preservative, a cell adhesion solution, or a dye.

Assignees

• Rarecyte Inc

Inventors

• Campton Daniel
• Nordberg Joshua
• Quarre Steve
• Seubert Ronald
• Lundt Jonathan
• U'Ren Lance

Classifications

• G01N33/491

  by separating the blood components (G01N15/05 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B01L3/50215

  using a float to separate phases · CPC title

• B01L3/5635

  connecting two containers face to face, e.g. comprising a filter · CPC title

• B01L2400/0683

  mechanically breaking a wall or membrane within a channel or chamber · CPC title

• B01L2200/0647

  Handling flowable solids, e.g. microscopic beads, cells, particles · CPC title