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US 12,449,434 B2Granted
Automated assay processing methods and systems
AssigneeAccure Health Inc.
InventorsLiyun Sang, Guang Chen, Qiang Liu, Brian Wee
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments of automated assay processing systems and methods are disclosed. In an example, an assay automation system includes an assay processing tube, a magnet, and a controller. The assay processing tube has a right arm and a left arm, the right arm having an opening for receiving reagent transferred from a reagent tube being held in one of the tube-holding arms of the reagent tube holder, the assay processing tube being driven to rotate. The magnet is driven to move vertically. The controller is configured to control coordinated movements of the assay processing tube and the magnet to perform an assay processing sequence.
Claims13
A system for assay automation, comprising:
- an assay processing tube assembly of a pre-configured shape, the assay processing tube assembly including one or more assay processing tubes, each assay processing tube including a reaction chamber for receiving a reagent, a built-in waste chamber at one end of the reaction chamber, and an absorbent material deposited in the waste chamber to accelerate reagent removal during a draining process, wherein the assay processing tube has a longitudinal axis along which the reaction chamber and the waste chamber are aligned, and the assay processing tube is configured to rotate about a horizontal axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the assay processing tube assembly;
- a magnet assembly including one or more magnets secured on a magnet holder, a number of magnets corresponding to a number of assay processing tubes, the magnet assembly being driven to move vertically in line with a longitudinal axis of the one or more magnets;
- and
- a controller configured to control coordinated movements of the assay processing tube assembly and the magnet assembly to perform an assay processing sequence, wherein each magnet of the one or more magnets interfaces intermittently with its corresponding assay processing tube in more than one area during an assay processing sequence, wherein the assay processing sequence comprises one or more of reagent mixing, draining, incubation, magnetic separation, electrochemical reaction, or measurement, and wherein the longitudinal axis of the one or more magnets is perpendicular to the horizontal axis of the assay processing tube assembly.
1 more element
A method for automated assay processing, comprising:
- receiving, by an assay processing tube in an upright position, a first solution with a first reagent and magnetic beads transferred from a reagent tube or a channel, wherein the assay processing tube has a reaction chamber for receiving a reagent, a built-in waste chamber at one end of the reaction chamber, and an absorbent material deposited in the waste chamber to accelerate reagent removal during a draining process, wherein the assay processing tube has a longitudinal axis along which the reaction chamber and the waste chamber are aligned, the assay processing tube is configured to rotate about a horizontal axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the assay processing tube during an assay processing sequence, and the assay processing sequence comprises one or more of reagent mixing, draining, incubation, magnetic separation, electrochemical reaction, or measurement;
- rotating the assay processing tube about the horizontal axis within a predefined angle range at one or more rotational speeds;
- moving a magnet vertically in line with a longitudinal axis of the magnet from a lower position to an upper position proximate to the assay processing tube at a first interface area, wherein the longitudinal axis of the magnet is perpendicular to the horizontal axis of the assay processing tube;
- rotating the assay processing tube in one direction such that the magnet interfaces with a second interface area of the assay processing tube, wherein the magnetic beads are concentrated in the assay processing tube at the second interface area near a top of the magnet and the first solution with unbound first reagent flows into the absorbent material;
- rotating the assay processing tube back to the upright position;
- moving the magnet from the upper position back to the lower position;
- receiving, by the assay processing tube, a second solution with a second reagent transferred from a reagent tube;
- and
- rotating the assay processing tube in both directions.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.