Microspotting device

Inventors

Jones, David E. • Ririe, Kirk Max • Robbins, Thomas Charles • Copene, Elizabeth Doman • Cox, Charles Benjamin

Assignees

Biofire Diagnostics LLC

Abstract

Devices and methods are provided for spotting an array with fluid. Arrays produced by such methods are also provided. In one aspect of the invention, a spotter device for spotting a plurality of fluids into an array is described, the spotter device comprising a plurality of reservoirs provided in a first configuration, each reservoir holding its respective fluid, a print head having a plurality of positions provided in a second configuration, the second configuration being different from the first configuration, a plurality of tubes, each tube configured to provide fluid communication from a reservoir at a first end of the tube to a position in the print head at the second end of the tube, and a pump for pumping fluid through the tubes from the reservoir to the print head.

Core Innovation

The invention provides a spotter device for spotting a plurality of fluids into an array, including a plurality of reservoirs in a first configuration and a print head having a plurality of positions in a second configuration different from the first configuration. Fluids are communicated from the reservoirs to the print head through a plurality of tubes, where each tube has a first end in fluid communication with one reservoir and a second end terminating in an orifice in the print head. A print head operable to movably hold each orifice in a predetermined position corresponds each orifice to a well in the array.

The device further includes a plurality of straws and a support provided above the reservoirs. Each straw connected to a first end of a corresponding tube extends through the support and into a reservoir, and weights positioned above the support bias each straw to a bottom of its respective reservoir, with each weight affixed to the top of its respective straw. The support includes multiple orifices through which the straws extend, and each weight is larger than the respective orifice to prevent the weight from passing through.

Fluid delivery is coordinated to produce spotting into the array, using a pump for simultaneously pumping fluid through each tube from the reservoir to the print head. A metering device operable to simultaneously urge a preselected amount of fluid from the second end of each straw through its corresponding tube and out its corresponding orifice directs drops at each orifice simultaneously when the pump is activated. The invention optionally includes pneumatic seals operable as pinch valves to simultaneously open and simultaneously close each tube to force fluid through the tubes and to the print head.

The described system is used to enable high-density well array workflows for nested multiplex PCR via transferring fluids as drops into the well array. Context in the document links the spotting apparatus to a sealed flexible nucleic-acid analysis pouch used for multiplex and nested PCR workflows, including lysis, magnetic-bead nucleic-acid preparation, thermal cycling, and fluorescence-based detection such as melting curve analysis.

Claims Coverage

The partial content includes two independent claims, collectively covering a spotter device architecture that couples multi-reservoir fluid delivery to a movable print head and a well-corresponding orifice array, with straw/weight biasing and simultaneous multi-tube metering or pumping, for directing drops into a well array.

Across the two independent claims and their refinements, the coverage centers on directing multiple fluids from multiple reservoirs into an array via tubes ending at print-head orifices positioned to match array wells, while using straw/weight biasing and a metering device or pump configured for simultaneous multi-channel fluid urging and drop generation, optionally with pneumatic-seal pinch-valve control and peristaltic pumping.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications