Systems and methods for transfer of liquid samples

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9604218-B2
Application number	US-201314020390-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 6, 2013
Priority date	Jun 28, 2010
Publication date	Mar 28, 2017
Grant date	Mar 28, 2017

Abstract

A system for preparing biological sample contains a body including a proximal side and a distal side, a plurality of mandrels, a plurality of resilient elements, a plurality of fluid dispensers, and one or more samples. The mandrels are moveably positioned within the body, where each resilient element engages a respective one of the mandrels. Each of the fluid dispensers is configured to engage a distal end of a corresponding one of the mandrels. Each sample comprises a solution containing one or more nucleic acid sequences contained within at least one of the fluid dispensers.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A loading system for dispensing one or more sample solutions containing at least one nucleic acid sequence, the system comprising:
a frame;
a resilient element comprising a base and a plurality of non-linear elements, the base being fixed relative to the frame;
a plurality of mandrels moveably positioned within the frame, each of the mandrels comprising a distal end configured to receive a fluid dispenser for dispensing one or more solutions containing one or more nucleic acid sequences;
wherein each non-linear element engages a respective mandrel of the plurality of mandrels such that movement of the respective mandrel causes the respective non-linear element to exert a force on the respective mandrel, wherein the force is non-linear with a variation in a distance between the distal end of the respective mandrel and the base.

2. The loading system of claim 1 , wherein each non-linear element comprises a first elastically deformable element and a second elastically element, the system characterized by:
a first configuration in which the first elastically deformable element is compressed between the base and a corresponding mandrel of the plurality of mandrels, and in which the second elastically deformable element is uncompressed between the base and the corresponding mandrel; and
a second configuration in which the first and second elastically deformable elements are both compressed between the base and the corresponding mandrel.

3. The loading system of claim 1 , wherein each non-linear element comprises a first spring having a first spring constant and a second spring having a second spring constant that is unequal to the first spring constant.

4. The loading system of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of fluid dispensers, each fluid dispenser configured to engage a distal end of a corresponding one of the mandrels.

5. The loading system of claim 4 , further comprising a solution containing at least one nucleic acid sequence, the solution contained within at least one of the fluid dispensers.

6. The loading system of claim 4 , further comprising a stripper comprising a plate having a plurality of through-holes, each mandrel located within a corresponding one of the through-holes, wherein the plate is moveable to separate the plurality of fluid dispensers from the plurality of mandrels.

7. A loading system for dispensing one or more sample solutions containing at least one nucleic acid sequence, the system comprising:
a frame;
a resilient element comprising a fixed element and a plurality of force producing elements, the fixed element being fixed relative to the frame;
a plurality of mandrels moveable within the frame, each mandrel comprising a distal end configured to receive a fluid dispenser for dispensing one or more solutions containing at least one nucleic acid sequence;
wherein each force producing element engages a respective mandrel of the plurality of mandrels such that movement of the respective mandrel causes the respective non linear a force producing element of the plurality of force producing elements to exert a force on the respective mandrel, wherein the force is non-linear with a variation in a distance between the distal end of the respective mandrel and the fixed element.

8. The loading system of claim 7 , wherein the fixed element is a base plate configured to engage at least one of the force producing elements.

9. The loading system of claim 7 , wherein each force producing element comprises a first elastically deformable element and a second elastically element, the system characterized by:
a first configuration in which the first elastically deformable element is compressed between the fixed element and a corresponding mandrel of the plurality of mandrels, and in which the second elastically deformable element is uncompressed between the fixed element and the corresponding mandrel; and
a second configuration in which the first and second elastically deformable elements are both compressed between the fixed element and the corresponding mandrel.

10. The loading system of claim 7 , wherein each force producing element comprises a first spring having a first spring constant and a second spring having a second spring constant that is unequal to the first spring constant.

11. The loading system of claim 10 , wherein each spring of the second plurality of springs is disposed inside a respective one of the first plurality of springs.

12. The loading system of claim 7 , further comprising a plurality of fluid dispensers, each fluid dispenser configured to engage a distal end of a corresponding one of the mandrels.

13. The loading system of claim 12 , further comprising a solution containing at least one nucleic acid sequence, the solution contained within at least one of the fluid dispensers.

14. The loading system of claim 12 , further comprising a stripper comprising a plate having a plurality of through-holes, each mandrel located within a corresponding one of the through-holes, wherein the plate is moveable to separate the plurality of fluid dispensers from the plurality of mandrels.

15. The loading system of claim 12 , wherein each fluid dispenser comprises an outer surface and an inner surface that is treated so as make the inner surface more hydrophilic the outer surface.

Assignees

• Life Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Danehy Ronald
• Fonseca Jorge
• Prasad Jayanthi

Classifications

• B01L3/0275 Primary

  Interchangeable or disposable dispensing tips · CPC title

• B01L2300/161

  Control and use of surface tension forces, e.g. hydrophobic, hydrophilic · CPC title

• G01N35/1011 Primary

  Control of the position or alignment of the transfer device · CPC title

• B01L3/56 Primary

  Labware specially adapted for transferring fluids · CPC title

• B01L2200/025

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