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US 12,357,990 B2Granted
Purification of nucleic acids in a microfludic chip by separation
AssigneeRevvity Health Sciences, Inc.
InventorDerek Troiano
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system may include a horizontal actuator to move a tray, to which a microwell plate and a microfluidic chip may be coupled. The system may include a vertical actuator to move a support arm, to which a plurality of pipettes or pipette tips may be coupled. The system may include a rotational actuator to move an angle bracket, to which a magnet may be coupled. The system may include a heater, through which the pipettes may extend. The system may include a pump to control the flow of fluids through the pipettes.
Claims18
A method for removing one or more contaminants from a biological sample, the method comprising:
- providing a first well and a second well connected to each other via a microchannel;
- placing the biological sample into the first well;
- introducing magnetic beads into the first well to attract target molecules within the biological sample;
- applying an electric field across the microchannel, the electric field adapted to interact with at least some of the one or more contaminants and further adapted not to interact with the magnetic beads;
- introducing a magnet generating a magnetic field into the vicinity of the first well, the magnetic field interacting with the magnetic beads;
- and
- moving the magnetic beads into and through the microchannel and to the second well by moving the magnet,
- wherein, while moving the magnetic beads into and through the microchannel and to the second well by moving the magnet, the electric field acts on at least some of the one or more contaminants to maintain at least some of the one or more contaminants in the microchannel as the magnetic beads and attracted target molecules move through the microchannel and to the second well,
- wherein applying the electric field across the microchannel includes disposing a first probe in the first well and a second probe in the second well, the first probe and the second probe having opposite polarities, and
- wherein moving the magnet includes rotating the magnet along an arcuate path.
7 more elements
A system for removing one or more contaminants from a biological sample, the system comprising:
- magnetic beads that are tuned to attract target molecules from the biological sample;
- a first well adapted to contain the biological sample and the magnetic beads;
- a second well adapted to contain the biological sample and the magnetic beads;
- a microchannel extending between the first well and the second well;
- a magnet adapted to be moved into the vicinity of the first well, the magnet adapted to generate a magnetic field to interact with the magnetic beads, the magnet further capable of moving the magnetic beads from the first well to the second well via the microchannel;
- an actuator coupled to the magnet, the actuator configured to rotate the magnet about a horizontal axis across an arcuate path of travel to move the magnetic beads from the first well to the second well via the microchannel;
- a source of electrical power and two probes coupled thereto, the two probes adapted to apply an electric field across the microchannel when the source provides electrical power, such that
- when the magnetic beads are moved by the magnet from the first well to the second well via the microchannel, the electric field interacts with at least some of the one or more contaminants to maintain at least some of the one or more contaminants in the microchannel as the magnetic beads and attracted target molecules move from the first well to the second well.
5 more elements
A system for removing one or more contaminants from a biological sample, the system comprising:
- magnetic beads that are tuned to attract target molecules from the biological sample;
- a first well adapted to contain the biological sample and the magnetic beads;
- a second well adapted to contain the biological sample and the magnetic beads;
- a microchannel extending between the first well and the second well;
- a third well in fluid communication with the microchannel;
- a fourth well in fluid communication with the microchannel;
- a magnet adapted to be moved into the vicinity of the first well, the magnet adapted to generate a magnetic field to interact with the magnetic beads, the magnet further capable of moving the magnetic beads from the first well to the second well via the microchannel;
- and
- a first probe positioned in the third well and a second probe positioned in the fourth well, wherein the first and second probes have opposite polarities and are configured to apply an electric field across the microchannel via only the first probe and the second probe,
- wherein when the magnetic beads are moved by the magnet from the first well to the second well via the microchannel, the electric field interacts with at least some of the one or more contaminants while not interacting with the magnetic beads to maintain at least some of the one or more contaminants in the microchannel as the magnetic beads and attracted target molecules move from the first well to the second well via movement of the magnet.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.