System and method for high throughput screening of droplets
OwnerRobert Hess, Colin Brenan +4inventors
InventorsRobert Hess, Colin Brenan, John Linton, Can Ozbal, Donald Green, Ian Hunter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for high throughput screening of fluid samples. A reduced pressure is applied, via an injection valve, to a sample aspiration tube. A first fluid and a second fluid are alternatively aspirated, via the sample aspiration tube, the first fluid for filling a sample loop with samples, the second fluid for flushing the sample aspiration tube. Excess fluid aspirated from the first fluid source and all fluid aspirated from the second fluid source is captured in an inline trap.
Claims90
A system for high throughput screening of fluid samples, the system comprising:
- a sample aspiration tube;
- an injection valve, the injection valve being capable of alternatively applying a reduced pressure to a first fluid source and to a second fluid source, in each case via the sample aspiration tube, the first fluid source for filling a sample loop with samples, and the second fluid source for flushing the aspiration tube.
A system for high throughput screening of fluid samples, the system comprising:
- a sample aspiration tube;
- an injection valve;
- a sample loop in fluid communication with the injection valve;
- a fluidic circuit in fluid communication with the injection valve, the fluidic circuit for receiving samples via the injection valve, from the sample loop;
- and
- an inline trap coupled between a region of reduced pressure and the injection valve, wherein the injection valve applies a substantially continuous reduced pressure to the sample aspiration tube.
A system for high throughput screening of fluid samples, the system comprising:
- a sample aspiration tube;
- an injection valve having a sample loop, the injection valve having a first position and a second position;
- an inline trap coupled between a reduced pressure source and the injection valve, wherein when the valve is in the first position the sample aspiration tube is coupled to the negative pressure source so as to aspirate a first fluid into the sample loop, the inline-trap capturing excess fluid aspirated, and wherein when the valve is in a second position the sample aspiration tube is coupled to the negative pressure source so as to aspirate a second fluid, the inline-trap capturing the second fluid.
A system for high throughput screening of a plurality of droplets, the system comprising:
- a moving surface;
- a tape adhered to the moving surface;
- a dispenser for dispensing each droplet onto a surface of the tape;
- and
- a means for performing on at least one droplet one or more operations from the group of operations consisting of mixing, diluting, concentrating, heating, cooling, humidifying, filtering, and analyzing.
A system for high throughput screening of a plurality of droplets, the system comprising:
- a moving surface;
- a dispenser for dispensing each droplet onto the moving surface;
- a syringe needle for dispensing a reagent into at least one of the droplets, the syringe needle coated with a hydrophobic coating;
- and
- a means for performing on at least one droplet one or more operations from the group of operations consisting of mixing, diluting, concentrating, heating, cooling, humidifying, filtering, and analyzing.
A system for high throughput screening of a plurality of droplets, the system comprising:
- a moving surface for transporting the plurality of droplets;
- at least one dispenser for dispensing fluid onto the moving surface;
- a controller for calibrating the at least one dispenser;
- and
- a means for performing on each droplet one or more operations from the group of operations consisting of mixing, diluting, concentrating, heating, cooling, humidifying, filtering, and analyzing.
The system according to clam 45, wherein the at least one dispenser dispenses a reagent into one or more of the plurality of droplets.
A method for mass spectrometry sample peak integration in a high throughput screening system, the high throughput screening system including an injection valve that when activated injects a fluid sample into a substantially continuous flow of wash solution being delivered, via a fluidic circuit, to an input of a mass spectrometer, the method comprising:
- recording an actuation time of the injection valve;
- calculating a sample peak leading edge by adding a predetermined time delay to the actuation time;
- calculating a sample peak trailing edge by adding a predetermined duration time to the sample peak leading edge;
- and
- integrating an output signal from the mass spectrometer between the sample peak leading edge and sample peak trailing edge.
A method for high throughput screening of fluid samples, the method comprising:
- applying, via an injection valve, a reduced pressure to a sample aspiration tube;
- alternatively aspirating, via the sample aspiration tube, a first fluid and a second fluid, the first fluid for filling a sample loop with samples, the second fluid for flushing the sample aspiration tube;
- capturing excess fluid aspirated from the first fluid source and all fluid aspirated from the second fluid source in an inline trap.
A method for high throughput screening of a plurality of droplets, the method comprising:
- adhering a laminate onto a moving surface;
- dispensing each droplet onto the laminate;
- performing on at least one droplet one or more operations from the group of operations consisting of mixing, diluting, concentration, heating, cooling, humidifying, filtering, and analyzing.
A method for high throughput screening of a plurality of droplets, the method comprising:
- dispensing each droplet onto a moving surface
- dispensing a reagent into at least one of the droplets using a syringe needle coated with a hydrophobic coating;
- and
- performing on at least one droplet one or more operations from the group of operations consisting of mixing, diluting, concentration, heating, cooling, humidifying, filtering, and analyzing.
A method for high throughput screening of a plurality of droplets, the method comprising:
- dispensing each droplet onto a moving surface;
- measuring a characteristic of at least one droplet on the moving surface;
- calibrating at least one dispenser based, at least in part, on the characteristic;
- and
- performing on at least one droplet one or more operations from the group of operations consisting of mixing, diluting, concentration, heating, cooling, humidifying, filtering, and analyzing.
A method for high throughput screening of a plurality of droplets, the method comprising:
- dispensing each droplet onto a moving surface;
- adding a volatile buffer to the at least one droplet;
- and
- analyzing at least one characteristic of each droplet using a mass spectrometer, wherein the only buffer added to the droplet consists of a volatile composition.
A method for high throughput screening of a plurality of biochemical samples, the method comprising:
- adding a volatile buffer to each sample;
- and
- inputting each sample into a mass spectrometer, wherein the only buffer added to the sample consists of a volatile composition.
A method for high throughput screening of a plurality of droplets, the method comprising:
- dispensing each droplet onto a moving surface;
- dispensing a reagent into each droplet;
- performing on each droplet one or more operations from the group of operations consisting of mixing, diluting, concentration, heating, cooling, humidifying, filtering, and analyzing, wherein no stop solution is added to the plurality of droplets.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.