Apparatus and method for processing a sample

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9784653-B2
Application number	US-201615018436-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 8, 2016
Priority date	Mar 9, 2011
Publication date	Oct 10, 2017
Grant date	Oct 10, 2017

Abstract

A first apparatus for processing a liquid sample is disclosed. The apparatus includes a sample-receiving, a filtrate-receiving component, and an analyte-capture element. The apparatus forms a liquid flow path through which the sample passes, thereby causing the analyte-capture element to capture an analyte, if present. A method is disclosed whereby a liquid sample is passed through the first apparatus and the analyte-capture element is easily separated from the apparatus for further processing and detection of the analyte. A structurally-related second apparatus for processing a plurality of liquid samples, and a corresponding method of use, also is disclosed.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus for processing a sample, comprising:
a sample-receiving component;
an filtrate-receiving component; and
an analyte-capture element;
wherein the sample-receiving component comprises:
a first hollow body with first end, a second end, and a first chamber extending from the first end to the second end;
a filter element disposed in the first chamber between the first and second ends; and
optionally, a porous shield or a porous support;
wherein the first end includes a first opening configured to receive a sample;
wherein the second end includes a second opening;

wherein the filtrate-receiving component comprises a second hollow body with a third end, a fourth end, and a second chamber extending from the third end to the fourth end;
wherein the second end is adapted to be inserted into the second chamber and moved through the second hollow body to a point at which it contacts the analyte-capture element, porous support, or porous shield;
wherein the third end includes a third opening configured to receive the second end of the sample-receiving member;
wherein the fourth end includes a fourth opening;

wherein, the analyte-capture element is removably coupled to the filtrate-receiving component;
wherein, when the sample-receiving component is coupled to the filtrate-receiving component, the apparatus forms a flow path that facilitates fluid passage through the first chamber, the filter element, and the second chamber, the flow path facilitating contact between a fluid sample and the analyte-capture element;
wherein the second end is shaped and proportioned to fit within and move longitudinally through at least a portion of the second chamber.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the analyte-capture element further is disposed in the second chamber.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a removable inner sleeve with a fifth end having a fifth opening and a sixth end having a sixth opening, wherein the sleeve is disposed in the second chamber.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the porous support or at least a portion of the porous shield is disposed in the second hollow body between the analyte-capture element and the fourth opening.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the analyte-capture element is coupled to the porous support or porous shield.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the filter element further comprises a plurality of layers.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the fourth end is configured to couple to a source of negative pressure.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the sample receiving component or filtrate-receiving component further comprises a positioning element that, when the sample-receiving component is coupled to the filtrate-receiving component, controllably retains a position of the sample-receiving component relative to the filtrate-receiving component.

9. A method of detecting the presence or absence of an analyte in a sample, comprising:
providing a liquid sample and the apparatus of claim 1 ;
passing the liquid sample through the filter element;
contacting the filtered liquid with the analyte-capture element;
separating the analyte-capture element from the apparatus; and
detecting the presence or absence of the analyte.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising attaching the apparatus to a source of negative pressure, wherein passing the liquid sample through the filter element further comprises using a negative pressure to draw the sample through the filter element to produce a filtered sample.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein using negative pressure to draw the sample through the filter element further comprises using the negative pressure to contact the filtered sample with the analyte-capture element.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein separating the analyte-capture element from the apparatus further comprises using the second end to separate the analyte-capture element from the apparatus.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein using the second end further comprises urging the second end through the second chamber to separate the analyte-capture element from the apparatus.

14. The method of claim 9 further comprising, after separating the analyte-capture element, treating the analyte capture element with a cell lysis agent.

Assignees

• 3M Innovative Properties Co

Inventors

• Xia Wensheng
• Kirschhoffer Jon A
• Rabins Andrew W

Classifications

• B01L3/50255

  Multi-well filtration · CPC title

• B01L2300/069

  Absorbents; Gels to retain a fluid · CPC title

• G01N1/34

  Purifying; Cleaning {(processes or apparatus for extracting or separating nucleic acids from biological samples C12N15/1003)} · CPC title

• B01L3/5023 Primary

  with a sample being transported to, and subsequently stored in an absorbent for analysis · CPC title

• B01L2200/028

  Modular arrangements · CPC title