# US 2014/0154736 A1 · Methods for sample storage and device thereof

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- Number: US 2014/0154736 A1
- Document ID: US20140154736A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/690,801
- Filed: 2012-11-30
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2012-11-30
- Assignees: General Electric Company
- Applicants: General Electric Company
- Inventors: Christopher Michael Puleo; John Richard Nelson; Patrick McCoy Spooner; Ralf Lenigk
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140154736A1

## CPC

- G01N 1/312: {for samples mounted on planar substrates}
- A01N 1/142: Apparatus
- A01N 1/162: Temperature processes, e.g. following predefined temperature changes over time
- B01L 3/5023: {with a sample being transported to, and subsequently stored in an absorbent for analysis}
- G01N 1/30: Staining; Impregnating {; Fixation; Dehydration; Multistep processes for preparing samples of tissue, cell or nucleic acid material and the like for analysis}
- B01L 3/5088: {confining liquids at a location by surface tension, e.g. virtual wells on plates, wires (B01L3/50857 takes precedence)}
- B01L 7/00: Heating or cooling apparatus (autoclaves B01J3/04); Heat insulating devices
- B01L 2200/0678: Facilitating or initiating evaporation
- B01L 2300/0825: Test strips
- B01L 2300/126: Paper
- B01L 2300/1877: using chemical reactions
- G01N 2001/4027: {evaporation leaving a concentrated sample}
- Y10T 436/2525: Stabilizing or preserving
- 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)
- A01N: PRESERVATION OF BODIES OF HUMANS OR ANIMALS OR PLANTS OR PARTS THEREOF (preservation of food or foodstuff A23); BIOCIDES, e.g. AS DISINFECTANTS, AS PESTICIDES OR AS HERBICIDES (preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes which kill or prevent the growth or proliferation of unwanted organisms A61K); PEST REPELLANTS OR ATTRACTANTS; PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS
- B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A method of drying a biological sample disposed on a substrate is provided. The method comprises providing the substrate comprising a sample loading area and a heat source; activating the heat source for generating heat; heating the substrate at least above 65° C.; and drying the biological sample. A device for storing sample is also provided, wherein the device comprises a substrate for biological sample-storage; and a heating component that generates heat to maintain a temperature of at least above 65° C. The heating component may contain one or more reagents, wherein the reagents generate heat to maintain a temperature of at least above 65° C.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of drying a biological sample disposed on a substrate, comprising:
providing the substrate comprising a sample loading area and a heat source;
activating the heat source for generating heat;
heating the substrate at least above 65° C.; and
drying the biological sample.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the substrate is heated at a temperature in a range of 65° C. to 95° C.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the substrate is heated for less than 5 minutes.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the substrate is heated for less than 1 minute.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the substrate is heated at about 95° C. for 2 minutes.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the heat source comprises a reactor component comprising one or more reagents, an electric heater, an infrared heater or combinations thereof.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the reactor component comprises one or more reagents.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein the one or more reagents generate heat by exothermic reaction.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, further comprising regulating the heating of the substrate by controlling the reaction.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein the reagents result in an exothermic reaction by hydration of a salt powder, oxidation of a metal, displacement of a less reactive metal, a salt forming neutralization reaction between an acid and base, or combinations thereof.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more reagents comprise a calcium oxide powder.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein activating the heat source mechanically, physically, chemically or combinations thereof.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the activation comprises hydrating the reagents to generate heat.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises a solid phase extraction matrix, a filtration matrix, a paper, a foam, a membrane or combinations thereof.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises a plurality of pores.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises a polymeric material.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the substrate has a thickness between 0.05 mm to 10 mm.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the substrate is self-supported or encased in a frame.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the substrate further comprises cell lysis reagents, biomolecule stabilizing reagents or combinations thereof.

### Claim 20

A method of drying a biological sample, comprising:
disposing the biological sample on a substrate, wherein the substrate comprises a sample loading area and a reactor component comprising one or more reagents;
activating the one or more reagents to initiate an exothermic reaction;
heating the substrate at about 95° C.; and
drying the biological sample disposed on the substrate in less than about 2 minutes.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20, wherein the activation comprises hydration of the substrate, aeration of the substrate or addition of one or more reagents to the substrate.

### Claim 22 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20, wherein the biomolecules comprise proteins, peptides, nucleic acids or combinations thereof.

### Claim 23 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20, wherein the biomolecules comprise nucleic acids comprising deoxyribonucleic acids (DNAs) or ribonucleic acids (RNAs).

### Claim 24 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20, wherein the one or more reagents result in an exothermic reaction by hydration of a salt powder, oxidation of a metal, displacement of a less reactive metal, a salt forming neutralization reaction between an acid and base, or combinations thereof.

### Claim 25

A device, comprising:
a substrate for biological sample-storage,
wherein the substrate comprises
a sample loading area; and
a heat source that generates a heat to maintain a temperature of at least above 65° C.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The device of claim 25 further comprising an activation component for activating the heat source.

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

The device of claim 26, wherein the activation component comprises a slit disk, a spring, a switch, a knob, a lever or a pulling tab.

### Claim 28 (depends on 25)

The device of claim 25, wherein the substrate comprises a solid phase extraction matrix, a filtration matrix, a membrane, a foam, a paper or combinations thereof.

### Claim 29 (depends on 25)

The device of claim 25, wherein the substrate further comprises one or more cell lysis reagents, biomolecules stabilizing reagents or combinations thereof.

### Claim 30 (depends on 25)

The device of claim 25, wherein the substrate has a porous structure with pore diameters in a range between 10 nm and 1 mm.

### Claim 31 (depends on 25)

The device of claim 25, wherein the substrate has a thickness of about 0.1 mm to 10 mm.

### Claim 32 (depends on 25)

The device of claim 25, wherein the substrate is a paper comprises cell lysis reagents.

### Claim 33 (depends on 25)

The device of claim 25, wherein the heat source comprises an electrical heater, an IR heater, a reactor component comprising one or more reagents or combinations thereof.

### Claim 34 (depends on 25)

The device of claim 25, wherein the reagents generate heat to maintain a temperature of about 95° C.

### Claim 35 (depends on 25)

The device of claim 25, wherein the reagents result in an exothermic reaction, including hydration of a salt powder, oxidation of a metal, displacement of a less reactive metal, a salt forming neutralization reaction between an acid and base, or combinations thereof.

### Claim 36 (depends on 25)

The device of claim 25, further comprises one or more controllers for regulating a temperature, fluid flow, heat generation or combinations thereof.

### Claim 37 (depends on 25)

The device of claim 25, further comprises one or more temperature sensors.