Replaceable detection module and an apparatus for conducting luminescence assays

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9322783-B2
Application number	US-93283611-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 8, 2011
Priority date	Dec 21, 2005
Publication date	Apr 26, 2016
Grant date	Apr 26, 2016

Abstract

We describe a detection module used in an apparatus (and a system of the apparatus and the detection module) for conducting luminescence assays in multi-well plates, wherein the detection module includes a housing comprising a light detector and a control board. The apparatus and detection module each include engagement elements that align and engage the detection module with the apparatus in the system.

First claim

We claim:

1. A detection module configured for placement and functional engagement with an apparatus for conducting luminescence assays in multi-well plates, said apparatus comprising one or more detection module engagement elements, said detection module is a replaceable unit disposed within a detection module housing, and wherein the following components are disposed within said housing:
(a) a light detector;
(b) a control board comprising
(i) a microcontroller,
(ii) motion control and communications electronics,
(iii) an external input/output connector, and
(iv) an internal input/output connector; and

(c) one or more additional components selected from the group consisting of: a computer module, a detection module aperture, one or more shock-mounted components, sealed I/O ports, a heater, a cooler, a desiccant chamber, a ventilation mechanism, a detection module identifier, and combinations thereof;

wherein said housing comprises one or more apparatus engagement elements configured to align and engage with said one or more detection module engagement elements.

2. The detection module of claim 1 comprising a computer module.

3. The detection module of claim 1 wherein said one or more apparatus engagement elements comprise a vertical tab and said one or more detection module engagement elements comprise an engagement pin, wherein alignment and engagement of said vertical tab and said engagement pin causes said detection module to align and engage said detection module with said apparatus.

4. The detection module of claim 1 wherein said one or more detection module engagement elements comprises a locking mechanism configured to align with and engage said one or more apparatus engagement elements.

5. The detection module of claim 4 wherein said locking mechanism comprises a spring loaded latch, a first pin configured to engage with an apparatus engagement element, and a second pin configured to engaged with an additional apparatus engagement element.

6. The detection module of claim 5 wherein said spring loaded latch comprises a spring to resist the rotation of said latch.

7. The detection module of claim 5 , wherein said spring loaded latch further comprises a tab and an optical sensor, wherein said tab is configured to obscure said optical sensor when said locking mechanism is engaged.

8. The detection module of claim 7 wherein said tab comprises a pin extended toward the optical sensor.

9. The detection module of claim 1 wherein said light detector comprises a component selected from the group consisting of a lens, an optical filter, a diaphragm, a CCD camera, and a combination thereof.

10. The detection module of claim 9 wherein said light detector comprises a CCD camera.

11. The detection module of claim 9 wherein said detection module further comprises an imaging system and said light detector is a component of said imaging system and said imaging system is configured to align one or more of said elements in the X, Y, and/or Z-direction relative to a target positioned within said apparatus.

12. The detection module of claim 11 wherein said target is a plate carriage, a plate carriage component, a multi-well plate, a well within a mufti-well plate, a sector of said mufti-well plate comprising two or more wells, and combinations thereof.

13. The detection module of claim 11 wherein said apparatus further comprises a light-tight enclosure and said imaging system is configured to align said detection module or a component thereof with said light-tight enclosure or a component thereof.

14. The detection module of claim 13 wherein said detection module comprises a detection module aperture and said component of said light detector is positioned above said detection module aperture.

15. The detection module of claim 1 wherein said external input/output connector is selected from the group consisting of Ethernet, keyboard, mouse, video, USB, power, and combinations thereof.

16. The detection module of claim 1 wherein said housing is fabricated, in whole or in part, from a substance selected from the group consisting of metal, plastic, magnesium alloy, and combinations thereof.

17. The detection module of claim 1 comprising a component selected from the group consisting of one or more shock-mounted components, sealed I/O ports, and combinations thereof.

18. The detection module of claim 1 comprising an additional component selected from the group consisting of a heater, a cooler, a desiccant chamber, a ventilation mechanism, an alignment element, an engagement element, and combinations thereof.

19. The detection module of claim 2 , wherein said computer module comprises software to (i) operate said detection module and/or said apparatus, and/or (ii) manage and/or analyze data collected on said apparatus and/or detection module.

20. The detection module of claim 1 comprising a detection module identifier comprising detection module information selected from the group consisting of the identity of the detection module or a component thereof, the configuration of the detection module, an analytical parameter related to the use of the detection module in said apparatus, and combinations thereof.

21. The detection module of claim 20 wherein said detection module information comprises identification information including a detection module serial number.

22. The detection module of claim 20 wherein said detection module information comprises component identification information includes a serial number of a component of said detection module.

23. The detection module of claim 20 wherein said apparatus further comprises a storage medium comprising detection module data and said detection module data and information is used by said apparatus to adapt and/or configure said apparatus for use with said detection module.

24. The detection module of claim 20 wherein said detection module information comprises calibration data for use of said detection module in said apparatus.

25. The detection module of claim 20 wherein said detection module information comprises information related to the alignment and orientation of a component of said detection module with an apparatus component.

26. The detection module of claim 20 wherein said detection module identifier is selected from the group consisting of an EEPROM, RFID, flash memory, ICC, and combinations thereof.

27. A system comprising
(a) an apparatus for conducting luminescence assays in multi-well plates, said apparatus comprising a light-tight enclosure (LTE), a fluidic assembly, a plate assembly capable of supporting and translating a plate to one or more components of said apparatus; and one or more detection module engagement elements;
(b) a detection module configured for placement and functional engagement with said apparatus, said detection module is a replaceable unit disposed within a detection module housing, and wherein the following components are disposed within said housing: (x) a light detector; and (y) a control board comprising
(i) a microcontroller,
(ii) motion control and communications electronics,
(iii) an external input/output connector, and
(iv) an internal input/output connector; and

(c) one or more additional components selected from the group consisting of: a computer module, a detection module aperture, one or more shock-mounted components, sealed I/O ports, a heater, a

Assignees

• Clinton Charles M
• Wohlstadter Jacob N
• Meso Scale Technologies Llc

Inventors

• Clinton Charles M
• Wohlstadter Jacob N

Classifications

• G01N2201/068

  Optics, miscellaneous · CPC title

• B01L2300/0663

  Whole sensors · CPC title

• G01N33/54366

  Apparatus specially adapted for solid-phase testing · CPC title

• B01L2300/0829

  Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates · CPC title

• B01L2200/025

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