Nucleic acid extraction apparatus

A nucleic acid extraction instrument, comprising:

• a base 10, an outer housing 20 connected with the base, an instrumental main body 30 positioned inside the outer housing and mounted to the base;
• wherein the instrumental main body comprises
• an operating platform 38 configured to receive a sample plate 88, wherein the sample plate comprises a rectangular array of wells, wherein the rectangular array of wells comprises at least one first row of wells configured to receive a fluid sample for nucleic acid extraction and a magnetic ball, at least one second row of wells configured to receive a washing reagent, at least one third row of wells configured to receive an elution reagent, at least one fourth row of wells configured to recover the magnetic balls,
• an electrical power pack 40,
• a main control device 42,
• a first motor set 44 comprising a first motor,
• a second motor set 46 comprising a second motor, and
• a third motor set 48 comprising a third motor,
• wherein
• the first motor set is operably connected to the second motor set and the third motor set to move the second motor set and the third motor set along an axis parallel to an upper surface of the sample plate,
• the second motor set is operably connected to a magnetic bar frame 78 to move the magnetic bar frame along an axis perpendicular to the upper surface of the sample plate, wherein a plurality of magnetic bars 82 are affixed to the magnetic bar frame at a spacing corresponding to a row of sample wells in the rectangular array,
• the third motor set is operably connected to a magnetic bar sleeve frame 80 to move the magnetic bar sleeve frame along an axis perpendicular to the upper surface of the sample plate, wherein a plurality of magnetic bar sleeves 86 are affixed to the magnetic bar sleeve frame at a spacing corresponding to the row of sample wells in the rectangular array, and
• the main control device is configured to electronically control the first, second, and third motor sets and the electrical power pack to:
• cause the first motor set to position the second and third motor sets relative to the sample plate at a first position, and in the first position
• cause the third motor set to move the magnetic bar sleeve frame from a position above the sample plate to a position wherein the plurality of magnetic bar sleeves are in contact with the fluid samples in the first row of wells, and to cause the magnetic bar sleeve frame and magnetic bar sleeves to vibrate for a preset time when the plurality of magnetic bar sleeves are in contact with the fluid samples,
• cause the second motor set to move the magnetic bar frame from a position above the sample plate to a position wherein the plurality of magnetic bars are inserted through the magnetic bar sleeves that are in contact with the fluid samples, thereby causing the magnetic ball within each sample well to attach to the corresponding magnetic bar sleeve, and
• cause the second and third motor sets to move each of the magnetic bar frame and the magnetic bar sleeve frame together to a position above the sample plate;
• cause the first motor set to position the second and third motor sets relative to the sample plate at a second position, and in the second position,
• cause the second and third motor sets to move each of the magnetic bar frame and the magnetic bar sleeve frame together to a position wherein the plurality of magnetic bar sleeves and the plurality of magnetic bars are in contact with the washing reagent in the second row of wells, and
• cause the second and third motor sets to move each of the magnetic bar frame and the magnetic bar sleeve frame together to a position above the sample plate;
• cause the first motor set to position the second and third motor sets relative to the sample plate at a third position, and in the third position,
• cause the second and third motor sets to move each of the magnetic bar frame and the magnetic bar sleeve frame together to a position wherein the plurality of magnetic bar sleeves and the plurality of magnetic bars are in contact with the elution reagent in the third row of wells, and
• cause the second and third motor sets to move each of the magnetic bar frame and the magnetic bar sleeve frame together to a position above the sample plate;
• cause the first motor set to position the second and third motor sets relative to the sample plate at a fourth position, and in the fourth position,
• cause the second and third motor sets to move each of the magnetic bar frame and the magnetic bar sleeve frame together to a position wherein the plurality of magnetic bar sleeves and the plurality of magnetic bars are within the fourth row of wells, and
• cause the second motor set to move the magnetic bar frame from a position above the sample plate to a position wherein the plurality of magnetic bars are withdrawn from the magnetic bar sleeves.