Equipment and methods for automated sample processing for diagnostic purposes
AssigneeYantai Ausbio Laboratories Co., Ltd.
InventorZhaoqiang Wang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tube for sample collection and sample processing in a tube rack includes an upper section, an intermediate section, and a lower section. The intermediate section connects the upper section and the lower section of the tube, and an inner diameter of the intermediate section can decrease from top to bottom. A fastening means can fix the tube in a tube rack. The tube can include a pierceable tube cap sealing the tube, and the tube rack can be configured such that the tube may be pulled off the tube cap by a centrifugation force. The tube can include a volume of density gradient medium covered by a separating gel to enhance sample separation.
Claims23
A continuous two-step centrifugation method for enhanced sample enrichment in a tube for sample collection and sample processing, the tube comprising:
- an upper section, an intermediate section, and a lower section;
- and
- a volume of a density gradient medium contained in the lower section of the tube,
- wherein the upper section and the lower section are substantially of cylindrical shape, the upper section has an inner diameter larger than an inner diameter of the lower section, the upper section has an outer diameter larger than an outer diameter of the lower section, and the intermediate section is located between the upper section of the tube and the lower section,
- wherein a top of the intermediate section connects to a bottom of the upper section and a bottom of the intermediate section connects to a top of the lower section,
- wherein an inner diameter and an outer diameter of the intermediate section decreases from the top to the bottom of the intermediate section of the tube;
- wherein the intermediate section has a tapered shape;
- the method comprising the steps of:
- centrifuging for a first period of time at a first RCF (relative centrifugation force) without changing a relative position of the density gradient medium in the tube to achieve an initial cell separation, and
- centrifuging for a second period of time at a second RCF, in order to change the relative position of the density gradient medium in the tube.
A method for automated sample processing comprising:
- transferring, via a robot comprising a gripper, a tube rack comprising one or more
- tubes from a tray to a support located in a centrifuge, wherein the tube rack comprises a tube rack body, comprising one or more tube holders, wherein each of the tube holders is shaped to seamlessly receive one of the tubes, the one or more of the tubes each comprising:
- an upper section, an intermediate section, and a lower section;
- and
- a volume of a density gradient medium contained in the lower section of the tube,
- wherein the upper section and the lower section are substantially of cylindrical shape, the upper section has an inner diameter larger than an inner diameter of the lower section, the upper section has an outer diameter larger than an outer diameter of the lower section, and the intermediate section is located between the upper section of the tube and the lower section,
- wherein a top of the intermediate section connects to a bottom of the upper section and a bottom of the intermediate section connects to a top of the lower section,
- wherein an inner diameter and an outer diameter of the intermediate section decreases from the top to the bottom of the intermediate section of the tube;
- wherein the intermediate section has a tapered shape;
- the method comprising applying at the centrifuge a continuous two-step centrifugation method for enhanced sample enrichment that comprises the steps of:
- centrifuging for a first period of time at a first RCF (relative centrifugation force) without changing a relative position of the density gradient medium in the tube to achieve an initial cell separation,
- centrifuging for a second period of time at a second RCF, in order to change the relative position of the density gradient medium in the tube;
- after the continuous two-step centrifugation method, extracting, via the robot, a tube rack head from the tube rack body by grabbing the tube rack head such that clippers comprised in the tube rack head disengage the tube rack body;
- and
- after the extraction of the tube rack head, extracting, via the robot, the tube rack
- body from the support of the centrifuge by grabbing the tube rack body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.