# US 9,519,002 B2 · Device, system, and method for selecting a target analyte

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- Number: US 9,519,002 B2
- Document ID: US9519002B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/248,510
- Filed: 2014-04-09
- Published: 2014-10-16
- Granted: 2016-12-13
- Earliest claimed: 2013-04-11
- Assignees: RareCyte, Inc.
- Applicants: RareCyte, Inc.
- Inventors: Joshua Nordberg; Steve Quarre
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9519002B2

## CPC

- G01N 1/14: Suction devices, e.g. pumps; Ejector devices
- B01L 3/0217: {of the plunger pump type}
- 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 35/1009: {Characterised by arrangements for controlling the aspiration or dispense of liquids}
- G01N 35/1011: {Control of the position or alignment of the transfer device}
- B01L 2200/0657: Pipetting powder
- B01L 2200/0668: Trapping microscopic beads
- B01L 2300/14: Means for pressure control
- B01L 2400/0478: pistons
- B01L 2400/0487: fluid pressure, pneumatics
- G01N 2001/1454: {Positive displacement, piston}
- G01N 2015/1006: {for cytology}
- G01N 2015/1028: {Sorting particles}
- 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

This disclosure is directed to a device and a system for picking a target analyte of a suspension. A picker introduces at least one force, such as by a magnetic gradient and/or by a pressure gradient, to extract the target analyte from a specimen. The magnetic gradient may be introduced by a magnet, such as a permanent magnet or an electromagnet, and the pressure gradient may be introduced by a pump which moves within a fluid-primed cannula to create the pressure gradient, thereby drawing the target analyte into the cannula. The picker may also expel the target analyte onto or into a substrate, such as a well plate, after the target analyte has been drawn into the picker by reversing the pressure gradient or removing the magnetic gradient.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system comprising:
a picker including
a pump block including a first end and a second end including a seal;
a piston at least partially housed within the pump block and partially extending through the seal, the pump block to allow translation of the piston relative to the pump block;
a cannula including an adapter end and a tube end, wherein the adapter end connects to the pump block with the tube end extended away from the pump block;
a driver;
a coupling to mate the driver to the piston;
an actuator to move the picker along at least one of the x-, y-, or z-axes; and
a mount to connect to the actuator to attach the picker and the driver to an imaging or detection system.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the actuator has a travel range of 1 nanometer to more than 50 millimeters along the at least one axis.

### Claim 3

A system comprising:
a picker including
a pump block including a first end and a second end including a seal;
a piston at least partially housed within the pump block and partially extending through the seal, the pump block to allow translation of the piston relative to the pump block;
a cannula including an adapter end and a tube end, wherein the adapter end connects to the pump block with the tube end extended away from the pump block;
a driver;
a coupling to mate the driver to the piston; and
a housing including a travel slot and a screw, the screw to be inserted through the travel slot and screwed into a threaded hole on a side of the pump block to set the maximum permissible travel of the pump block relative to the housing,
wherein the housing supports the driver.

### Claim 4

A system comprising:
a picker including
a pump block including a first end and a second end including a seal;
a piston at least partially housed within the pump block and partially extending through the seal, the pump block to allow translation of the piston relative to the pump block;
a cannula including an adapter end and a tube end, wherein the adapter end connects to the pump block with the tube end extended away from the pump block;
a driver;
a coupling to mate the driver to the piston; and
a housing including a travel slot and a screw, the screw to be inserted through the travel slot and the screw to be inserted through the travel slot and compressed against a side of the pump block to set the maximum permissible travel of the pump block relative to the housing,
wherein the housing supports the driver.

### Claim 5

A system comprising:
a picker including
a pump block including a first end and a second end including a seal;
a piston at least partially housed within the pump block and partially extending through the seal, the pump block to allow translation of the piston relative to the pump block;
a cannula including an adapter end and a tube end, wherein the adapter end connects to the pump block with the tube end extended away from the pump block:
a driver;
a coupling to mate the driver to the piston;
an actuator to move the picker along at least one of the x-, y-, or z-axes;
a base to at least partially support the picker; and
a light source on the base to illuminate the tube end of the cannula.

### Claim 6

A system comprising:
a picker including
a pump block including a first end and a second end including a seal;
a piston at least partially housed within the pump block and partially extending through the seal, the pump block to allow translation of the piston relative to the pump block;
a cannula including an adapter end and a tube end, wherein the adapter end connects to the pump block with the tube end extended away from the pump block;
a driver;
a coupling to mate the driver to the piston;
a base to at least partially support the picker; and
a housing including at least one spring extending to the base to bias and preload threads of the piston to reduce or eliminate change or backlash.