# US 2014/0154734 A1 · System and method for high throughput tissue sample extraction > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0154734 A1 - Document ID: US20140154734A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/900,034 - Filed: 2013-05-22 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-05-22 - Assignees: Diversified Biotech, Inc. - Applicants: Diversified Biotech - Inventors: Shih-Li L. Lo - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140154734A1 ## CPC - G01N 1/00: Sampling; Preparing specimens for investigation - B01L 3/50851: {specially adapted for heating or cooling samples} - B01L 3/50855: {using modular assemblies of strips or of individual wells} - B01L 7/00: Heating or cooling apparatus (autoclaves B01J3/04); Heat insulating devices - B01L 9/06: Test-tube stands; Test-tube holders - B01L 2300/0829: Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates - B01L 2300/1805: Conductive heating, heat from thermostatted solids is conducted to receptacles, e.g. heating plates, blocks - B01L 2300/1883: using thermal insulation - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE ## Abstract Systems, methods, and devices involving tube carriers adapted for compatibility with 96-well format shorten and automate fluid handling during homogenization, extraction, or other processing of biological samples for high throughput analysis. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A tube carrier comprising an array of tube receptacles for receiving cylindrical tubes containing liquid samples, the tubes having a volume of at least 1.5 mL each, and the position of each tube receptacle aligning with a corresponding position on a 96-well plate. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The tube carrier of claim 1 that is fabricated from a metal or polymer material ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The tube carrier of claim 2 that is fabricated from a metal, wherein the metal comprises aluminum or an aluminum alloy. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The tube carrier of claim 1 comprising 48 of said tube receptacles. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The tube carrier of claim 1 comprising a base of suitable dimensions to fit into a centrifuge or a thermal control device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The tube carrier of claim 1 having a two-dimensional arrangement of tube receptacles as shown in FIG. 3 or FIG. 4. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The tube carrier of claim 1 having dimensions of tube diameter and tube height and having tube receptacle positions as shown in FIG. 3 or FIG. 4. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The tube carrier of claim 1, comprising a plurality of viewing windows along at least one side that permit visualization of contents of each tube adjacent to said side of the carrier. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The tube carrier of claim 1, wherein the tube receptacles closely conform to the shape of a predetermined tube type. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The tube carrier of claim 1 adapted for use with tubes of a biological tissue homogenization device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The tube carrier of claim 1, wherein the tube receptacles are positioned for compatibility with a liquid handling device for 96-well plates. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A kit comprising a pair of first and second carriers according to claim 1, wherein the first carrier has tube receptacles corresponding in position to a first set of every other well of a 96-well plate, the second carrier has tube receptacles corresponding in position to a second set of every other well of a 96-well plate, and the pair of carriers together have tube receptacles corresponding in position to every well of a 96-well plate. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The kit of claim 12, wherein one carrier of the pair has an arrangement of tube receptacles corresponding to that shown in FIG. 3, and the other carrier of the pair has an arrangement of tube receptacles corresponding to that shown in FIG. 4. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The kit of claim 12, wherein one carrier of the pair has dimensions of tube diameter and tube height and tube receptacle positions as shown in FIG. 3, and the other carrier of the pair has dimensions of tube diameter and tube height and tube receptacle positions as shown in FIG. 4. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A high-throughput method of transferring sample liquid from a plurality of tubes having a volume of at least 1.5 mL each to 96-well plates, the method comprising the steps of: (a) transferring said tubes into tube receptacles of a tube carrier of claim 1; (b) removing liquid simultaneously from all of the tubes in the tube carrier using a liquid handling device; and (c) depositing said liquid simultaneously into wells of a 96-well plate using the liquid handling device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein steps (a)-(c) are carried out first using a carrier having an arrangement of tube receptacles corresponding to that shown in FIG. 3 and then steps (a)-(c) are repeated using a carrier having an arrangement of tube receptacles corresponding to that shown in FIG. 4, or wherein steps (a)-(c) are carried out first using a carrier having an arrangement of tube receptacles corresponding to that shown in FIG. 4 and then steps (a)-(c) are repeated using a carrier having an arrangement of tube receptacles corresponding to that shown in FIG. 3. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of: (a1) centrifuging the tubes simultaneously in said carrier. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the tube carrier comprises viewing windows along each side that permit visualization of contents of each tube adjacent to an edge of the carrier, the method further comprising the step of: (a2) setting a depth of travel into the tubes of pipet tips of a liquid handling device using the viewing windows prior to performing step (b) with the liquid handling device. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising controlling the temperature of the tube carrier using a temperature control device. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the sample liquid comprises a tissue extract, a body fluid, or cells.