Biological sample processing apparatus
Inventors
Park, Han Oh • Lee, Yang Won • Lee, Jin Il • KIM, Jung Do • Jang, Dae Jin • Kim, Jong Kab
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Assignees
Member
BioneerBioneer is a biotechnology company specializing in molecular biology, offering solutions in nucleic acid synthesis, molecular diagnostics, protein production, and laboratory automation. The company's expertise covers oligonucleotide chemistry, gene synthesis, sample preparation, molecular diagnostics, and analytical services such as mass spectrometry and sequencing, serving clinical, research, and industrial sectors globally.
Bioneer is a biotechnology company specializing in molecular biology, offering solutions in nucleic acid synthesis, molecular diagnostics, protein production, and laboratory automation. The company's expertise covers oligonucleotide chemistry, gene synthesis, sample preparation, molecular diagnostics, and analytical services such as mass spectrometry and sequencing, serving clinical, research, and industrial sectors globally.
Publication Number
US-11175300-B2
Publication Date
2021-11-16
Expiration Date
Abstract
A biological sample processing apparatus, including: a pipette block with which a plurality of pipettes for sucking or discharging a biological sample in a multi-well plate in which wells are arranged in a matrix shape along row and column directions are detachably coupled; a pipette block forward and backward transfer unit configured to move the pipette block along a forward and backward direction along a process direction; a pipette block top and bottom transfer unit configured to move the pipette block along a vertical direction; a magnetic field applying unit disposed below the multi-well plate for applying a magnetic field to a well of the multi-well plate; and a heating unit disposed below the multi-well plate so as to be spaced apart from the magnetic field applying unit, for heating a well of the multi-well plate.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a biological sample processing apparatus that processes a biological sample in a multi-well plate having wells arranged in a matrix shape along row and column directions. A support plate is provided to dispose the multi-well plate, and a pipette block is detachably coupled to a plurality of pipettes configured to suck or discharge a biological sample in the wells. The pipette block is moved along a process direction by a forward and backward transfer unit and is also moved along a vertical direction by a top and bottom transfer unit.
A magnetic field applying unit is disposed below the multi-well plate on the support plate and applies a magnetic field to at least one well. A heating unit is also disposed below the multi-well plate and is spaced apart from the magnetic field applying unit. A horizontal transfer unit is positioned under the support plate to transfer the magnetic field applying unit and the heating unit separately in a horizontal direction relative to the multi-well plate so that each unit moves individually from one well to another well.
In further forms, the apparatus includes a punching unit arranged in a single row that punches and opens a cover of the multi-well plate. The punching unit is detachably combined with the pipette block and is transferrable by the pipette block forward and backward transfer unit in the process direction and by the pipette block top and bottom transfer unit in the vertical direction, where the punching unit punches selected wells only.
Claims Coverage
The document provides two independent claims centered on a biological sample processing apparatus with three inventive features: separately transferring a magnetic field applying unit and a heating unit under a multi-well plate while moving a detachably coupled pipette block, and adding a detachable punching unit that punches only selected wells via the pipette block’s transfer capability.
Matrix-arranged multi-well processing with detachably coupled pipette block and multi-axis movement
A support plate disposes a multi-well plate with wells arranged in a matrix shape along row and column directions, and a pipette block detachably coupled with a plurality of pipettes for sucking or discharging a biological sample; the pipette block is moved along a process direction by a forward and backward transfer unit and along a vertical direction by a top and bottom transfer unit.
Separate horizontal transfer of magnetic field applying unit and spaced-apart heating unit
A magnetic field applying unit disposed below the multi-well plate applies a magnetic field to at least one well, and a heating unit disposed below the multi-well plate is spaced apart from the magnetic field applying unit; a horizontal transfer unit transfers the magnetic field applying unit and the heating unit separately in a horizontal direction with respect to the multi-well plate such that the magnetic field applying unit and the heating unit individually move from a well to another well, respectively.
Detachably combined punching unit that selectively punches wells and opens the multi-well plate cover
A punching unit including at least one punch arranged in a single row punches and opens a cover of the multi-well plate, where the punching unit is detachably combined with the pipette block and is transferrable by the pipette block forward and backward transfer unit in the process direction and by the pipette block top and bottom transfer unit in the vertical direction; the punching unit punches selected wells only out of all wells of the multi-well plate.
Across the independent claims, the core coverage lies in processing biological samples in matrix-arranged multi-well plates using a detachably coupled pipette block with forward/backward and vertical movement, separately transferring a magnetic field applying unit and a spaced-apart heating unit below the plate, and in one independent claim providing a detachable punching unit that punches and opens only selected wells.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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