# US 9,434,939 B2 · Instrument for cassette for sample preparation

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- Number: US 9,434,939 B2
- Document ID: US9434939B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/006,494
- Filed: 2016-01-26
- Published: 2016-05-19
- Granted: 2016-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2006-12-27
- Assignees: Luminex Corporation
- Applicants: Luminex Corporation
- Inventors: Steve Jia Chang Yu; Jesus Ching; Phillip You Fai Lee; David Hsiang Hu
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9434939B2

## CPC

- C12Q 1/6806: Preparing nucleic acids for analysis, e.g. for polymerase chain reaction [PCR] assay (C12Q1/6804 takes precedence)
- B01L 3/502: {with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures}
- B01L 3/527: {for a plurality of reagents}
- C12N 15/1013: {by using magnetic beads}
- G01N 35/00871: {Communications between instruments or with remote terminals}
- G01N 35/0098: {involving analyte bound to insoluble magnetic carrier, e.g. using magnetic separation (magnetic particles used in immunoassays G01N33/54326; magnetic separation in general B03C)}
- G01N 35/028: {having reaction cells in the form of microtitration plates}
- G01N 35/08: using a stream of discrete samples flowing along a tube system, e.g. flow injection analysis
- B01F 35/7174: {using pistons, plungers or syringes}
- B01L 3/502707: {characterised by the manufacture of the container or its components}
- B01L 3/502715: {characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces}
- B01L 3/523: {with means for closing or opening}
- B01L 2200/025: Align devices or objects to ensure defined positions relative to each other
- B01L 2200/10: Integrating sample preparation and analysis in single entity, e.g. lab-on-a-chip concept
- B01L 2200/16: Reagents, handling or storing thereof
- B01L 2300/023: Sending and receiving of information, e.g. using Bluetooth®
- B01L 2300/0609: Holders integrated in container to position an object
- B01L 2300/0672: Integrated piercing tool
- B01L 2300/18: Means for temperature control
- B01L 2400/0478: pistons
- G01N 35/026: {having blocks or racks of reaction cells or cuvettes}
- G01N 35/04: Details of the conveyor system {(G01N35/021 - G01N35/028 take precedence)}
- G01N 2035/00356: {Holding samples at elevated temperature (incubation)}
- G01N 2035/00366: {Several different temperatures used}
- G01N 2035/00544: {using fluid flow}
- G01N 2035/00574: {Means for distributing beads}
- G01N 2035/00801: {Holders for sample carriers, e.g. trays, caroussel, racks}
- G01N 2035/00811: {consumable or exchangeable components other than sample carriers, e.g. detectors, flow cells}
- G01N 2035/00881: {network configurations}
- G01N 2035/0091: {GUI [graphical user interfaces]}
- G01N 2035/0412: {Block or rack elements with a single row of samples}
- G01N 2035/0415: {moving in two dimensions in a horizontal plane}
- Y10S 436/807: Apparatus included in process claim, e.g. physical support structures
- Y10T 436/10: Composition for standardization, calibration, simulation, stabilization, preparation or preservation; processes of use in preparation for chemical testing
- Y10T 436/11: Automated chemical analysis
- Y10T 436/113332: with conveyance of sample along a test line in a container or rack
- Y10T 436/115831: Condition or time responsive
- Y10T 436/25: including sample preparation
- C12Q: MEASURING OR TESTING PROCESSES INVOLVING ENZYMES, NUCLEIC ACIDS OR MICROORGANISMS (immunoassay G01N33/53); COMPOSITIONS OR TEST PAPERS THEREFOR; PROCESSES OF PREPARING SUCH COMPOSITIONS; CONDITION-RESPONSIVE CONTROL IN MICROBIOLOGICAL OR ENZYMOLOGICAL PROCESSES
- B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
- C12N: MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA (microbiological testing media C12Q1/00)
- 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)
- B01F: MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING (mixing paints B44D3/06)
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A parallel processing system for processing samples is described. In one embodiment, the parallel processing system includes an instrument interface parallel controller to control a tray motor driving system, a close-loop heater control and detection system, a magnetic particle transfer system, a reagent release system, a reagent pre-mix pumping system and a wash buffer pumping system.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system comprising:
a network; and
a plurality of instruments, wherein:
each instrument in the plurality of instruments is configured to receive a plurality of cassettes;
each instrument in the plurality of instruments comprises a particle transfer system including a plurality of valve shafts and a first actuator assembly;
each instrument in the plurality of instruments comprises a computer; and
each instrument in the plurality of instruments comprises a communication device, wherein the communication device is configured to couple the instrument to the network;
wherein the first actuator assembly is configured to move the plurality of valve shafts between a first position and a second position; and
the first actuator assembly is configured to rotate each valve shaft from the plurality of valve shafts when the plurality of valve shafts is in the second position.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein each cassette of the plurality of cassettes comprises a valve member defining a cavity within which a particle can be disposed, the valve member configured to transfer the particle between a first chamber of the cassette and a second chamber of the cassette.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2 wherein the first actuator assembly is configured to apply a magnetic force produced by a magnetic portion of each valve shaft to attract the particle into the cavity of the valve member of the corresponding cassette from the plurality of cassettes.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3 wherein the first actuator assembly is configured to rotate when the particle is transferred between the first chamber of the cassette and the second chamber of the cassette.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2 wherein each instrument in the plurality of instruments comprises a reagent release system comprising a plurality of protrusions and a second actuator assembly.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The system of claim 5 wherein each cassette comprises a first reagent chamber and a second reagent chamber, and wherein the second actuator assembly is configured to move the plurality of protrusions between a first protrusion position, in which each protrusion from the plurality of protrusions is substantially aligned with the first reagent chamber from the corresponding cassette and a second protrusion position, in which each protrusion from the plurality of protrusions is substantially aligned with the second reagent chamber from the corresponding cassette.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6 wherein the second actuator assembly is configured to move a protrusion from the plurality of protrusions into contact with a plunger associated with the first chamber of the corresponding cassette to transfer a first reagent from the first reagent chamber into the first chamber, the second actuator assembly configured to move the protrusion from the plurality of protrusions into contact with a plunger associated with the second reagent chamber of the corresponding cassette to transfer a second reagent from the second reagent chamber into the first chamber.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7 wherein the second actuator assembly is configured to move the plurality of protrusions along a first axis between the first protrusion position and the second protrusion position, the second actuator assembly is further configured to move the protrusion from the plurality of protrusions along a second axis into contact with the plunger associated with the first reagent chamber.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7 wherein the second actuator assembly is configured to move at least a portion of the protrusion from the plurality of protrusions into the first reagent chamber to transfer the first reagent from the first reagent chamber into the first chamber.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7 wherein each cassette from the plurality of cassettes includes a puncturable member disposed between the first chamber and the first reagent chamber; and the second actuator assembly is configured to move the protrusion from the plurality of protrusions such that the plunger associated with the first reagent chamber punctures a portion of the puncturable member.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7 wherein each cassette from the plurality of cassettes includes a pump configured to mix at least one of the first reagent or the second reagent with the particle within the first chamber; and the second actuator assembly is configured to actuate each pump from the plurality of cassettes.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the communication device comprises a universal asynchronous receiver transmitter (UART).

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12 wherein the communication device comprises a universal serial bus (USB).

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13 wherein the communication device comprises a controller area network bus (CANBUS).

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the network is a wireless network.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the network is a wide area network (WAN).

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the network is a control area network (CAN).

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the network is a token ring.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the network is coupled to the internet.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the network is an Ethernet network.