Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting – deodorizing – preser – Control element responsive to a sensed operating condition
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-18
2004-10-19
Warden, Jill (Department: 1743)
Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting, deodorizing, preser
Control element responsive to a sensed operating condition
C422S091000, C422S105000, C422S186010, C436S174000, C436S177000, C436S180000, C436S525000, C436S526000, C210S695000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06805840
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus for an integrated process of magnetic particles and a method of controlling the same. Particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus for an integrated process of magnetic particles and a method of controlling the same, which can execute processes such as reaction, separation, fixing quantity, dispensation, clarification, concentration, agitation, suspension, dilution, and operations such as observation, extraction, recovery, isolation, and indications in regard to for example, immune substances such as antibodies or antigens, genetic substances (DNA, RNA, m-RNA and so on), bacillus, and other useful substances such as medicines, or target substances, for medical treatment, inspection, diagnosis, medical care, research, quantitative analysis, qualitative analysis and so on in all manner of fields such as medical science, agricultural science, engineering, scientific fields, pharmaceuticals, by using a fluid incorporating magnetic particles and capable of being processed in large numbers in a vessel such as a microplate.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Currently, there is a pipette device shown in FIG.
21
. As shown in this view, the pipette device has a magnet driving device for controlling to drive a magnetic source M and a holding body V The magnetic source M having a magnet section and the holding body V having a holding section, are rotatably mounted in an up-down mechanism of the pipette device in such a manner that they can approach and go away from one another.
When the up-down mechanism O moves vertically, as shown in
FIG. 21
, the magnetic source M and the holding body V move in obedience to movement of rollers R
A
R
B
of the up-down mechanism O so that they close in a way that they hold a tip between them. As a result, the magnetic source M and the holding body V can simultaneously come in contact with the pipette tip T in a manner that they hold the pipette tip T, and the magnetic source M can surely approach to the tip T and separate from the tip T.
In order to execute a process for large numbers of substances such as combinatorial chemistry, DNA function analysis, or automatic measurement of immune substances, many pipette tips are necessary. Currently, a multiplex pipette device having many pipette tips arranged in a line is used, as shown in FIG.
22
. In regard to the conventional pipette device capable of processing magnetic particles, not only pipette tips but also mechanisms (M
1
, M
2
, M
3
, M
4
, V
1
, V
2
, V
3
, V
4
) which are mounted per each pipette tip for applying and removing a magnetic field to and from the pipette tip respectively by driving a magnet, need to be multiply provided and linked.
Therefore, though such a multi-linking using tips arranged in a line is embodied, such an integration as applying al magnetic filed to many lines of nozzles simultaneously by using the device causes the problem that the apparatus is scaled up in size and processes cannot be executed in an integrated state.
Particularly, when a large number of samples are handled and the wells (plate holes of a microplate) of a vessel are for example, 96 wells or 384 wells or more, driving sections for applying and removing the magnetic field to and from the nozzles and magnetic particles, need be integrated in high density. However, since the driving section prevents integration, there is a problem that the process for magnetic substances cannot be integrated.
The present invention aims to resolve the aforementioned problems. A first object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for an integrated process of magnetic particles and a method of controlling the same, that can promptly and efficiently process all together in high, precision, with integration of the process of magnetic particles, by integrating nozzles and sections for driving sections for applying the magnetic fields to the nozzles.
A second object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for an integrated process of magnetic particles and a method of controlling the same, which integrates the process for the magnetic particles without using a magnet driving device having elements whose scale or action range is large, and which can execute the process of a large number of substances with a small scale and compact device.
A third object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for an integrated process of magnetic particles and a method of controlling the same, in which a plurality of elements are integrated, the structure of elements per unit of integration is simplified and the cost performance is high.
A fourth object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for an integrated process of magnetic particles and a method of controlling the same, which is suitable for a microplate having a plurality of wells, and which has such diversity and flexibility that it can be applied to various fields requiring processes for large numbers of substances such as combinatory chemistry, DNA function analysis, and automatic measurement of immune substances, and has diversity and flexibility.
A fifth object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for an integrated process of magnetic particles and a method of controlling the same, which can exclude human operations to the utmost and facilitates automatization, in a process for fluids.
A sixth object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for an integrated process of magnetic particles and a method of controlling the same, which can exclude mechanical movement to the utmost, can work at a low running cost, has a long life span, and is easily handled.
A seventh object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for an integrated process of magnetic particles and a method of controlling the same, which can complete whole steps within a confined space and can exclude influence between the space and the outer environment to the utmost, and which can reliably execute the process.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to resolve the above technical problems, a first aspect of the invention is an apparatus which comprises a drawing/discharging device for drawing and discharging a fluid, plural nozzles for passing the fluid therethrough while drawing and discharging, and a magnetic force device for applying and removing a magnetic field to and from the nozzles respectively with remaining stationary near each nozzle exterior.
The “drawing/discharging device” comprises for example, a plurality of separate cylindrical containers being bundled, or a block in which plural cylindrical containers are formed. Each container comprises for example, a drawing/discharging line, a plunger, an elastic body, bellows or a diaphragm, for drawing and discharging a fluid. “Fluid” includes a liquid and a gas. It also includes a fluid incorporating or suspending solid substances such as magnetic particles or magnetic substances.
“Plural nozzles” are preferably arranged in a plane-like state for convenience sake, in which for example, a matrix-like state, a circular state and a two-dimensional state are included, but the plane-like state is not restricted to these examples.
“Nozzle” may be fixed to the drawing/discharging device, or may comprise a pipette tip that is detachably mounted to the drawing/discharging device directly or to a section fixed to the drawing/discharging device.
The pipette tip includes a disposable type and a cleaning and a recycling type. “Magnetic force device” serves to make the magnetic substances or magnetic particles suspended or incorporated in a liquid adhere to inner walls of the nozzles. Thus, a process for magnetic particles such as transferring, agitation, cleaning, separation, resuspension and so on can be executed. “Magnetic force device” is one that can simultaneously apply and remove a magnetic field to and from the nozzles respectively, in a manner that the neighborhood of the outer side of the nozzles remains stationary. The structure does not require a complicated mechanism near the outer side of the nozzles or a space for movement. Therefore, a plurality of nozzles ca
Handy Dwayne K
Haynes and Boone LLP
Precision Systems Science Co., Ltd.
Warden Jill
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