Cartridge module, apparatus and method are provided for improving contamination control during biological analyses or nucleic acid analyses protocol. The cartridge module includes a hollow tube and receptacles. A cover layer isolates the receptacles from the ambience while the receptacles allow the tube when attached to a syringe to dispense and aspirate a reagent liquid or a biological sample to and from the receptacle through the cover layer only from a receptacle top opening. The cover layer substantially blocks aerosol exchange between the ambience and the receptacle during the whole process of analyses. Ambience contamination due to accidental spillage from the receptacles is also prevented. A connecting air space reduces change of air pressure inside the receptacles during aspiration or dispensation of liquid.
C12Q 1/6848 - Nucleic acid amplification reactions characterised by the means for preventing contamination or increasing the specificity or sensitivity of an amplification reaction
C12Q 1/6806 - Preparing nucleic acids for analysis, e.g. for polymerase chain reaction [PCR] assay
G01N 35/02 - Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups Handling materials therefor using a plurality of sample containers moved by a conveyor system past one or more treatment or analysis stations
G01N 35/10 - Devices for transferring samples to, in, or from, the analysis apparatus, e.g. suction devices, injection devices
2.
DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING BIOLOGICAL SAMPLES
Cartridge module, apparatus, and method are provided for improving contamination control during biological analyses or nucleic acid analyses protocol. The cartridge module includes a hollow tube and receptacles. A porous cover layer isolates the receptacles from the ambience while the receptacles allow the tube when attached to a syringe to dispense and aspirate a reagent liquid or a biological sample to and from the receptacle through the cover layer only from a receptacle top opening. The cover layer substantially blocks aerosol exchange between the ambience and the receptacle during the whole process of analyses. Ambience contamination due to accidental spillage from the receptacles is also prevented. The porous cover layer reduces change of air pressure inside the receptacles during aspiration or dispensation of liquid.
C12Q 1/6848 - Nucleic acid amplification reactions characterised by the means for preventing contamination or increasing the specificity or sensitivity of an amplification reaction
B01L 3/00 - Containers or dishes for laboratory use, e.g. laboratory glasswareDroppers
B01L 7/00 - Heating or cooling apparatusHeat insulating devices
G01N 35/00 - Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups Handling materials therefor
G01N 35/10 - Devices for transferring samples to, in, or from, the analysis apparatus, e.g. suction devices, injection devices
3.
DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING BIOLOGICAL SAMPLES
Cartridge module, apparatus and method are provided for improving contamination control during biological analyses or nucleic acid analyses protocol. The cartridge module (10) includes a hollow tube (36) and receptacles (18). A cover layer (23) isolates the receptacles (18) from the ambience while the receptacles (18) allow the tube (36) when attached to a syringe (32) to dispense and aspirate a reagent liquid (12) or a biological sample (21) to and from the receptacle (18) through the cover layer (23) only from a receptacle top opening (22). The cover layer (23) substantially blocks aerosol exchange between the ambience and the receptacle (18) during the whole process of analyses. Ambience contamination due to accidental spillage from the receptacles (18) is also prevented. A connecting air space (104) reduces change of air pressure inside the receptacles (18) during aspiration or dispensation of liquid.
Thermal cycling apparatus for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of nucleic acid is provided. Bath media in a first bath and a second bath are maintainable at two different temperatures. A transfer means allows the reactor to be in the two baths in a plurality of thermal cycles to alternately attain a predetermined high target temperature THT and a predetermined low target temperature TLT. A florescent imaging means images the reaction material during the thermal cycling. A powder-cleaning device mechanically removes particles of powder that adhere to the reactor, when powder is the bath medium in use in at least one of the baths.
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
10 - Medical apparatus and instruments
Goods & Services
Scientific apparatus and instruments for measuring relative DNA, RNA and protein and parts and fittings therefor; Medical laboratory research instruments for thermal processing and amplification of nucleic acids for clinical disease diagnostics, disease monitoring, and nucleic acid testing Medical devices for use in treating or diagnosing or monitoring clinical diseases by thermal processing and amplification of nucleic acids, followed by testing and analysis; Medical diagnostic instruments for the analysis of body fluids; Medical apparatus and instrument for diagnostic use, namely, apparatus for medical diagnostic testing in the fields of cancer or other tissue-based diagnostic testing, cytology and cell-based testing; Medical apparatus for detecting cancer; Medical device for detecting cancer; Medical diagnostic apparatus for detecting cancer; Medical diagnostic apparatus for testing cancer cells, DNA, RNA, protein samples; Apparatus for DNA and RNA testing for medical purposes; Medical instruments for analysing and identifying bacteria; Medical diagnostic apparatus for testing DNA, RNA and protein samples; Medical instruments for analyzing and identifying bacteria
6.
APPARATUS FOR POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION OF NUCLEIC ACID
LTLT. A florescent imaging means images the reaction material (21) during the thermal cycling. A powder-cleaning device (20) mechanically removes particles of powder (76) that adhere to the reactor (15), when powder (76) is the bath medium (75) in use in at least one of the baths (50, 51).
Medical devices for use in treating or diagnosing or monitoring clinical diseases by thermal processing and amplification of nucleic acids, followed by testing and analysis; Medical diagnostic instruments for the analysis of body fluids; Medical apparatus and instrument for diagnostic use, namely, apparatus for medical diagnostic testing in the fields of cancer or other tissue-based diagnostic testing, cytology and cell-based testing; Medical apparatus for detecting cancer; Medical device for detecting cancer; Medical diagnostic apparatus for detecting cancer; Medical diagnostic apparatus for testing cancer cells, DNA, RNA, protein samples; Apparatus for DNA and RNA testing for medical purposes; Medical instruments for analysing and identifying bacteria; Medical diagnostic apparatus for testing DNA, RNA and protein samples; Medical instruments for analyzing and identifying bacteria
Medical devices for use in treating or diagnosing or monitoring clinical diseases by thermal processing and amplification of nucleic acids, followed by testing and analysis; Medical diagnostic instruments for the analysis of genetic material and proteins in body fluids; Medical apparatus and instrument for diagnostic use, namely, apparatus for genetic and protein, medical diagnostic testing in the fields of cancer or other tissue-based diagnostic testing, cytology and cell-based testing; Medical apparatus for detecting cancer using DNA, RNA, and protein analysis; Medical device for detecting cancer using DNA, RNA, and protein analysis; Medical diagnostic apparatus for detecting cancer using DNA, RNA, and protein analysis; Medical diagnostic apparatus for testing DNA, RNA, and proteins; Apparatus for DNA and RNA testing for medical purposes; Medical instruments for analyzing and identifying bacterial DNA, RNA, and proteins; Medical diagnostic apparatus for testing DNA,RNA and protein samples
Medical devices for use in treating or diagnosing or monitoring clinical diseases by thermal processing and amplification of nucleic acids, followed by testing and analysis; Medical diagnostic instruments for the analysis of body fluids; Medical apparatus and instrument for diagnostic use, namely, apparatus for medical diagnostic testing in the fields of cancer or other tissue-based diagnostic testing, cytology and cell-based testing; Medical apparatus for detecting cancer; Medical device for detecting cancer; Medical diagnostic apparatus for detecting cancer; Medical diagnostic apparatus for testing cancer cells, DNA, RNA, protein samples; Apparatus for DNA and RNA testing for medical purposes; Medical instruments for analysing and identifying bacteria; Medical diagnostic apparatus for testing DNA, RNA and protein samples; Medical instruments for analyzing and identifying bacteria
10.
PRODUCT AND APPARATUS FOR IMPROVED HANDLING OF REACTORS FOR PROCESSING BIOLOGICAL SAMPLES
Continuous or perforated reactor guard (12) is provided for processing biological sample (21), the reactor guard (12) being removably attachable to a reactor holder (14) for at least partially surrounding reactor(s) (15) when held by the reactor holder (14), in use the reactor(s) (15) being for receiving biological sample (21). Assembly of the reactor guard (12) being removably attached to the reactor holder (14) holding at least one reactor (15) is also provided. Apparatus is provided comprising the reactor holder (14) for holding reactor(s) (15) in use and the continuous or perforated reactor guard (12).
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
Goods & Services
Medical laboratory research instruments for thermal processing and amplification of nucleic acids for nucleic acid testing; Scientific apparatus and instruments for measuring relative DNA, RNA and protein and parts and fittings therefor
12.
Rapid thermal cycling for sample analyses and processing
C12Q 1/6848 - Nucleic acid amplification reactions characterised by the means for preventing contamination or increasing the specificity or sensitivity of an amplification reaction
G01N 35/00 - Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups Handling materials therefor
Apparatus is provided for sealing reactors by installing a cap in each reactor. The reactors may be loaded with reaction material for thermally processing nucleic acid. The apparatus comprises a pressure means for exerting pressure on a cap or a stack of the caps such that a protruded portion in the cap or the bottom-most cap in the stack gets installed into the reactor by press-fit.
Method and apparatus for thermal processing of nucleic acid in a thermal profile is provided. The method employs at least a first bath and a second bath, the method further employing a reactor holder for holding reactor(s) accommodating reaction material containing the nucleic acid. The method comprises maintaining bath mediums in the baths at two different temperatures; and alternately allowing the reactor(s) to be in the two baths in a plurality of thermal cycles to alternately attain a predetermined high target temperature THT, and a predetermined low target temperature TLT, wherein the bath medium in at least one of the baths is a high thermal conductivity powder.
Apparatus for thermal processing nucleic acid in a thermal profile is provided. The apparatus employs a reactor holder for holding reactor(s) each accommodating reaction material containing the nucleic acid. The apparatus comprises a first bath; and a second bath, bath mediums in the baths being respectively maintainable at two different temperatures; and a transfer means for allowing the reactor(s) to be in the two baths in a plurality of thermal cycles to alternately attain: a predetermined high target temperature THT, and a predetermined low target temperature TLT; and reciprocating means to enable relative reciprocating motion between the holder and at least one bath while the reactor(s) is/are placed in the at least one bath, the relative reciprocating motion being executable by shaking the bath or the holder or both.
Apparatus for thermal processing of nucleic acid in a thermal profile is provided. The apparatus employs a reactor holder for holding reactors to accommodate reaction material containing nucleic acid. The apparatus comprises: at least two baths separated by thermally insulating partition plate(s) where bath mediums are each maintainable at a predetermined temperature; and a transfer means for allowing the reactors to change position once or plurality of times between any two adjacent baths by selectively opening the partition plate(s) and without lifting the reactors out of the baths.
An apparatus for thermally processing reaction material containing nucleic acid, e.g. by PCR, is provided. The apparatus comprises a reactor holder (4) statically holding a plurality of reactors (5); at least two heating means (heating blocks 10, 12) each being maintainable at a user specifiable temperature; and transport means (rotary motion stage 22) for positioning the heating means (10,12) to make a contact with the reactors (5) one at a time for specified duration. The positioning is conductable once or over a plurality of times for thermally processing the reactors between a plurality of temperatures. The use of multiple heating means helps to achieve a faster thermal processing with a higher efficiency.
An apparatus for thermal cycling nucleic acid is provided, the apparatus employing a reactor holder for holding reactor(s) (15) to accommodate a reaction material containing nucleic acid. The apparatus comprises a transfer means (85) for allowing the reactor(s) (15) to be in two baths (50-54) in a plurality of thermal cycles to alternately attain: a predetermined high target temperature THT, and a predetermined low target temperature TLT, the transfer means (85) further comprises: an X stage; a Z stage; a first motor (400) for driving the X stage in a horizontal direction for alternately positioning the reactor(s) over either bath; and a second motor (500) for driving the Z stage in a reciprocal vertical motion for lowering of the reactor(s) into either bath and lift-off from the bath upon attaining the predetermined target temperature, the first motor (400) and the second motor (500) remaining stationary during the drive in the horizontal direction and the reciprocal vertical motion.
Apparatus and method for thermal processing of nucleic acid in a thermal profile is provided. The apparatus employs a reactor holder for holding reactor(s) each accommodating reaction material containing the nucleic acid. The apparatus comprises a first bath; and a second bath, bath mediums in the baths being respectively maintainable at two different temperatures THIGH and TLOW; and a transfer means for allowing the reactor(s) to be in the two baths in a plurality of thermal cycles to alternately attain: a predetermined high target temperature THT, and a predetermined low target temperature TLT, while the apparatus adapts to a temperature-offset feature defined by at least one condition from the group consisting: a) the THT is lower than the THIGH, b) the TLT is higher than the TLOW, and c) the conditions at a) and b).
A method of disposing materials in an emulsion (301 ) into wells (302) of a device member (304) is disclosed. The method comprises generating the emulsion having droplets of a specific mass and size from a fluid sample and a carrier fluid, the fluid sample being immiscible with the carrier fluid, the fluid sample comprising the materials and each droplet having at least one copy of the materials, wherein the specific mass and size of the droplets enable a force acting on the droplets to speed up the settling of at least a portion of the droplets into some of the wells.
A microfluidic device (100), which has applications in disease detection and analysis, is disclosed. The device comprises a member (102) with a base having at least one well (110), the at least one well in fluid communication with an adjacent space (112), said space being in fluid communication with at least one channel (114, 118); and a vacuum generating device (108) coupled to the at least one channel. The vacuum generating device is configured to generate first and second absolute pressures that are each lower than atmospheric pressure at a first and a second regions of the microfluidic device respectively, wherein the first absolute pressure is higher than the second absolute pressure, thus generating a differential pressure between the first and second region of the microfluidic device to control a speed of a fluid flowing through the space of the device, for filling the at least one well progressively and/or facilitating retention of any material disposed in the at least one well. The controlled fluid flow also prevents cross contamination of specific biological and/or chemical substances pre-loaded in a plurality of such wells. A related thermocycler and methods are also disclosed.
A method of isolating nucleic acids in an aqueous sample (201 ) using a microfluidic device is disclosed. The device has at least one well (1042) in fluid communication with an adjacent space (1062) external to the opening of the at least one well (1042), and the aqueous sample (201 ) comprises biological and/or chemical materials and/or impurities, and is held in the at least one well. The method comprises introducing a first fluid (203) substantially immiscible with the aqueous sample (201 ) into the adjacent space (1062) to partition impurities to the first fluid (203); and removing the first fluid (203) with the impurities leaving the nucleic acid in the aqueous sample (201 ) in the well (1042). Other related methods are also disclosed.
