Genetic test system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9593367-B2
Application number	US-201214235869-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 30, 2012
Priority date	Aug 1, 2011
Publication date	Mar 14, 2017
Grant date	Mar 14, 2017

Abstract

There is provided a genetic test system provided with a dispensing means for dispensing a sample and a reagent to a reaction vessel and a vessel conveyance means for conveying the reaction vessel. The system further includes a plurality of nucleic acid amplification detection units, each including a temperature control means for accommodating a plurality of reaction vessels and performing temperature control for each accommodated position of the reaction vessel, a temperature monitoring means for monitoring a value of temperature to be controlled of the reaction vessel, and a light emission measurement means for measuring light emission of reaction liquid in the reaction vessel. At least one of the nucleic acid amplification detection units individually has a vessel conveyance means different from the above-mentioned vessel conveyance means.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A genetic test system, comprising:
a genetic testing device, a first nucleic acid amplification detection unit and one or more second modular nucleic acid amplification detection units, the genetic testing device being coupled to the first nucleic acid amplification detection unit and the one or more second modular nucleic acid amplification detection units,
wherein the genetic testing device comprises:
a first moveable arm moveable across the genetic testing device and the first nucleic acid amplification detection unit;
a dispenser connected to the first moveable arm configured to dispense a sample and a reagent into a reaction vessel of a plurality of reaction vessels thereby forming a reaction solution;
a first gripper connected to the first moveable arm to convey a reaction vessel of the plurality of reaction vessels,
wherein the first nucleic acid amplification detection unit comprises:
a first rotatable disk comprising a plurality of first liquid baths each configured to accommodate a reaction vessel;
a plurality of first temperature measurement elements, each disposed at one liquid bath of the plurality of liquid baths and configured to detect a temperature value of the liquid in a respective liquid bath;
a plurality of first electrothermal elements, each disposed at one liquid bath of the plurality of first liquid baths, configured to raise or lower a temperature of the liquid in a respective liquid bath;
one or more first light emission detectors arranged around the first rotatable disk and configured to irradiate a reaction solution contained in a reaction vessel in one of the first liquid baths with light at a predetermined excitation wavelength value and detect light emitted from the reaction solution at a predetermined fluorescence wavelength value,
wherein each of the one or more second modular nucleic acid amplification detection units comprises:
a second rotatable disk comprising a plurality of second liquid baths each configured to accommodate a reaction vessel;
a plurality of second temperature measurement elements, each disposed at one second liquid bath of the plurality of second liquid baths and configured to detect a temperature value of the liquid in a respective second liquid bath;
a plurality of second electrothermal elements, each disposed at one second liquid bath, configured to raise or lower a temperature of the liquid in a respective second liquid bath;
one or more second light emission detectors arranged around the second rotatable disk configured to irradiate a reaction solution contained in a reaction vessel in one of the second liquid baths with light at a predetermined excitation wavelength value and detect light emitted from the reaction solution at a predetermined fluorescence wavelength value; and
a second moveable arm, different from the first moveable arm, connected to a second gripper to convey a reaction vessel of the plurality of reaction vessels.

2. The genetic test system according to claim 1 ,
wherein each of the first light emission detectors and the second light emission detectors have the same predetermined excitation wavelength value and have the same predetermined fluorescence wavelength value.

3. The genetic test system according to claim 1 ,
wherein each first light emission detector has a first predetermined excitation wavelength value and a first predetermined fluorescence wavelength value,
wherein, each second light emission detector of the one or more second modular nucleic acid amplification detection units has a second predetermined excitation wavelength value and a second predetermined fluorescence wavelength value,
wherein the first predetermined excitation wavelength value and the second predetermined excitation wavelength value are different, and
wherein the first predetermined fluorescence wavelength value and the second predetermined fluorescence wavelength value are different.

4. The genetic test system according to claim 1 ,
wherein the one or more first light emission detectors includes at least two light emission detectors and the one or more second light emission detectors includes at least two light emission detectors,
wherein among the two or more first light emission detectors, one of the two or more first light emission detectors has a first predetermined excitation wavelength value and a first predetermined fluorescence wavelength value, and, another of the two or more first light emission detectors has a second predetermined excitation wavelength value and a second predetermined fluorescence wavelength value,
wherein among the two or more second light emission detectors, one of the two or more second light emission detectors has the first predetermined excitation wavelength value and the first predetermined fluorescence wavelength value, and another one of the two or more second light emission detectors has the second predetermined excitation wavelength value and the second predetermined fluorescence wavelength value,
wherein the first predetermined excitation wavelength value and the second predetermined excitation wavelength value are different, and
wherein the first predetermined fluorescence wavelength value and the second predetermined fluorescence wavelength value are different.

5. The genetic test system according to claim 1 , wherein
each of the one or more first light emission detectors and each of the one or more second light emission detectors has a different predetermined excitation wavelength value and a different predetermined fluorescence wavelength value.

6. The genetic test system according to claim 1 ,
wherein the genetic test system includes at least two second modular nucleic acid amplification detection units, and
wherein one of the at least two least two second modular nucleic acid amplification detection units is a nucleic acid extraction device that extracts at least one of DNA and RNA from a sample.

7. The genetic test system according to claim 3 ,
wherein at least two second modular nucleic acid amplification detection units are coupled to the genetic testing device,
wherein each second light emission detector of the another one of the one or more second modular nucleic acid amplification detection units has a third predetermined excitation wavelength value and a third predetermined fluorescence wavelength value,
wherein the first predetermined excitation wavelength value, the second predetermined excitation wavelength value, and the third predetermined excitation wavelength value are different, and
wherein the first predetermined fluorescence wavelength value, the second predetermined fluorescence wavelength value, and the third predetermined fluorescence wavelength value are different.

Assignees

• Ishizawa Masato
• Shoji Yoshiyuki
• Hitachi High Tech Corp

Inventors

• Ishizawa Masato
• Shoji Yoshiyuki

Classifications

• G01N2035/00346

  Heating or cooling arrangements · CPC title

• C12Q1/6844 Primary

  Nucleic acid amplification reactions · CPC title

• G01N35/04 Primary

  Details of the conveyor system {(G01N35/021 - G01N35/028 take precedence)} · CPC title