THREE-DEGREE-OF-FREEDOM LIBRARY PREPARATION CASSETTE AND METHOD USING THE SAME
20230250418 · 2023-08-10
Inventors
Cpc classification
B03C1/01
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B01L2200/16
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B03C1/288
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B03C2201/26
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B01L7/52
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B01L2300/18
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
G01N35/1011
PHYSICS
B01L2200/0668
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
G01N35/0098
PHYSICS
C12N15/1068
CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
B03C1/30
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B03C2201/18
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
International classification
C12N15/10
CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
B01L3/00
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B01L7/00
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
Abstract
The present invention relates to a three-degree-of-freedom library preparation cassette and a method using the same. Two-degree-of-freedom movement capability is provided for mutual positioning between a pipette and reagent wells, within a limited small volume, by combining rotation of a mixing reagent tray and relative horizontal movement between the pipette and the mixing reagent tray, thus greatly increasing the number of reagent wells that can be provided, thereby increasing the functions and applications of the whole system; and the device is simple in structure, low in cost, and suitable for disposable use.
Claims
1. A three-degree-of-freedom library preparation cassette, comprising a pipette and a mixing reagent tray arranged within the sealed cassette, wherein the pipette is at least vertically movably arranged within the sealed cassette; the mixing reagent tray is a circular tray and is rotatable clockwise or counterclockwise at least about a geometric center thereof as an axis; the mixing reagent tray is provided with a plurality of reagent wells, which are configured to at least include two different well pitches; a downward projection relative straight-line distance between the pipette and the geometric center of the mixing reagent tray is changeable by horizontal movement of the pipette or the mixing reagent tray, so that the pipette corresponds vertically to any reagent well on the mixing reagent tray as selected and performs a liquid drawing or liquid injection operation on the reagent well; and the well pitches comprise a straight-line distance from the geometric center of the mixing reagent tray to a geometric center of the reagent well, and/or a straight-line distance from the geometric center of the mixing reagent tray to a position on the reagent well corresponding to the liquid drawing or liquid injection operation by the pipette.
2. The cassette according to claim 1, wherein the pipette moves horizontally from the geometric center of the mixing reagent tray to an edge of the mixing reagent tray along any straight line passing through the geometric center of the mixing reagent tray.
3. The cassette according to claim 2, wherein the mixing reagent tray is provided with a plurality of reagent wells arranged annularly successively in concentric circles with three different well pitches from inside to outside, forming three groups consisting of a plurality of reagent wells arranged successively along the concentric circles of different well pitches, respectively, namely, an inner circle reagent well group, a middle circle reagent well group and an outer circle reagent well group.
4. The cassette according to claim 3, wherein the inner circle reagent well group comprises at least one magnetic bead reagent well, which is detachable from the mixing reagent tray; the middle circle reagent well group comprises a plurality of library construction reagent wells; and the outer circle reagent well group at least comprises a plurality of reaction reagent wells, a plurality of library capture reagent wells, one cleaning reagent well, and one waste reagent well.
5. The cassette according to claim 4, wherein the magnetic bead reagent well, the library construction reagent wells, reaction reagent well, the library capture reagent wells, the cleaning reagent well and the waste reagent well have different volumes and/or shapes.
6. The cassette according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the plurality of reaction reagent wells is detachable from the mixing reagent tray.
7. The cassette according to claim 5, wherein the sum of downward projected areas of the magnetic bead reagent well, the library construction reagent wells, the reaction reagent wells, the library capture reagent wells, the cleaning reagent well and the waste reagent well occupies 90% or more of a downward projected area of the mixing reagent tray.
8. The cassette according to claim 2, wherein the mixing reagent tray is further integrally formed with a driven gear, and an external driving device drives, through gear engaged connection, the driven gear to rotate and cause the mixing reagent tray to rotate.
9. The cassette according to claim 8, wherein the driven gear does not occupy a top reagent well region of the mixing reagent tray.
10. The cassette according to claim 9, wherein the mixing reagent tray is further provided with a limit strip, which is controlled to lock/release the rotation of the mixing reagent tray.
11. The cassette according to claim 2, wherein the pipette is connected to a rotating shaft and a screw, respectively, ends of which extend out of the sealed cassette; the screw rotates and drives the pipette to move horizontally; and the rotating shaft rotates and causes a vertical driving gear provided on the rotating shaft to rotate and drive a pipette head component of the pipette to move vertically.
12. The cassette according to claim 11, wherein the rotating shaft is in clearance fit with the vertical driving gear provided on the rotating shaft, and the vertical driving gear is capable of freely moving axially along the rotating shaft; and the rotating shaft and the vertical driving gear are in circumferential limit connection having at least one tangential surface to transmit torque.
13. The cassette according to claim 11, wherein the ends of the rotating shaft and the screw extending out of the sealed cassette are each provided with both an inner spline and an outer spline; the external driving device transmits torque to the rotating shaft and the screw by combined action of an outer spline and an inner spline corresponding to the inner spline and the outer spline.
14. The cassette according to claim 1, wherein the cassette further comprises a mixing reagent tray base, a pipette pump assembly and a cassette housing; the mixing reagent tray base comprises a bottom seat and a top cover; the mixing reagent tray is placed within the mixing reagent tray base and is provided with vertical movement limits and horizontal plane movement limits by the bottom seat and the top cover; the pipette pump assembly provides a liquid drawing or liquid injection driving force for the pipette; and the cassette housing is independently provided with a hot lid capable of heating and thermally insulating specified reagent wells and a sampling through hole capable of opening/sealing and closing specified reagent wells.
15. A method of using a three-degree-of-freedom library preparation cassette, comprising the following steps: S1, cassette installation: installing a mixing reagent tray containing required reagents sealed therein, into a cassette housing by means of a mixing reagent tray base to form a complete cassette; S2, library preparation: connecting the complete cassette installed with the mixing reagent tray to an external driving device, and using the external driving device to operate the mixing reagent tray to rotate, and enable horizontal movement of the pipette and vertical movement of the pipette, to accomplish a library preparation process; and S3, reaction product drawing and waste disposal: disconnecting the used cassette from the external external driving device, and drawing reaction products from reaction reagent wells, and properly disposing the remaining part as a waste.
16. The method according to claim 15, wherein step S1 comprises mounting a detached separately stored magnetic bead reagent well loaded with magnetic beads onto the mixing reagent tray.
17. The method according to claim 15, wherein step S1 comprises locking the mixing reagent tray in an initial position of preparation by using a limit strip.
18. The method according to claim 17, wherein step S2 comprises releasing the mixing reagent tray to rotate by pushing the limit strip by the external driving device.
19. The method according to claim 15, wherein step S2 comprises heating and thermally insulating the reaction reagent wells provided in the mixing reagent tray by using a hot lid.
20. The method according to claim 15, wherein step S3 comprises drawing the preparation products from the reaction reagent wells through a sampling through hole.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0041]
[0042]
[0043]
[0044]
[0045]
[0046]
[0047]
[0048] Reference numerals: 1—pipette, 11—rotating shaft, 12—screw, 2—mixing reagent tray, 21—reagent well, 211—magnetic bead reagent well, 212—library construction reagent well, 213—reaction reagent well, 214—cleaning reagent well, 215—waste reagent well, 216—library capture reagent well, 22—driven gear, 23—limit strip, 3—mixing reagent tray base, 31—bottom seat, 32—top cover, 4—pipette pump assembly, 5—cassette housing, 51—hot lid, 52—sampling through hole, 6—external driving device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0049] For clearer understanding of the present invention, it will be described in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments.
[0050] As shown in
[0051] As shown in
[0052] As shown in
[0053] Another focus of the present invention is a design of reagent wells with different well pitches to increase the number of reagent wells 21 that can be accommodated in the mixing reagent tray 2. In traditional library preparation cassette design, reagent wells are mostly arranged in a straight line or in a concentric circle with the same well pitch, which can reduce the structural complexity of pipetting components in the cassette, but also greatly limits the number of reagent wells that can be arranged, because in the case the volume of the cassette is controlled, in order to ensure effective drawing and injection of reagents, the area occupied by the reagent wells cannot be reduced indefinitely. As shown in
[0054] As shown in
[0055] The connection between the cassette as a whole and the external driving device 6 can be as shown in
[0056] To further illustrate the three-degree-of-freedom library preparation cassette described in the present invention, a typical library construction process is described using a second embodiment of the mixing reagent tray 2 with distribution of the reagent wells 21 as shown in
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Reagent well number Reagent well name/type w1 Reaction well 1 w2 Reaction well 2 w3 Waste liquid well w5 Magnetic bead washing reagent w6 Magnetic bead mixing reagent w10 Captured magnetic bead washing reagent 1 w11 w12 Magnetic bead washing reagent w19 Captured magnetic bead washing reagent 2 w20 Captured magnetic bead washing reagent 2 w21 Captured magnetic bead washing reagent 1 w22 Captured magnetic bead washing reagent 1 w23 Captured magnetic bead washing reagent 3 w25 Captured magnetic bead washing reagent 4 W26.sup. Library elution reagent w27 Magnetic bead washing reagent w28 End-filling reagent w30 Connecting reagent 1 w31 Connecting reagent 2 w32 PCR amplification reagent 1 w33 PCR amplification primer 1 w37 Blocking reagent w38 Capture Reagent w40 Capture reagent 2 w42 PCR amplification reagent 2 w43 PCR amplification primer 2 w45 magnetic bead w46 Captured magnetic bead w47 magnetic bead
[0057] Library preparation using the mixing reagent tray 2 as shown in
[0234] The use of the three-degree-of-freedom library preparation cassette described in the present invention can also simplify amplification operation steps in the prior art. Again with reference to the distribution of reagent wells 21 as shown in
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Reagent well number Reagent well name/type w1 Reaction well 1 w2 Reaction well 2 w3 PCR1 solution chamber w4 Primer chamber w5 Washing solution 1 chamber w6 Eluent chamber w7 PCR2 reaction solution chamber w8 Washing solution 2 chamber w9 Waste liquid chamber w10 Recovery chamber w44 Magnetic bead chamber
[0235] Specific amplification operation steps include: [0236] the position of the cassette is initialized, and it is confirmed that each well is at a correct position; [0237] the cassette is rotated to move to a predetermined position; [0238] a pipetting device is moved to a specified position; [0239] a bottom disc is rotated so that W3 is under a suction pipette; [0240] a transfer pipette punctures a foil seal on w3; [0241] the transfer pipette further goes down into W3 and identifies the bottom position; [0242] the transfer pipette is raised to a predetermined height position; [0243] the disc is rotated so that w1 is at a specified position; [0244] the transfer pipette transfers liquid into w1; [0245] the transfer pipette returns to a predetermined height; [0246] the transfer pipette punctures a foil seal on w4; [0247] the transfer pipette further goes down into w4 and identifies the bottom position; [0248] a certain amount of liquid is drawn; [0249] the transfer pipette is raised to a predetermined height position; [0250] the disc is rotated so that w1 is at a specified position; [0251] the transfer pipette transfers the liquid into w1; [0252] the transfer pipette evenly mixes the liquid in w1 by repeated operations of suction and release; [0253] the transfer pipette returns to a predetermined height; [0254] the hot lid is pressed down to cover the position of w1; [0255] a base PCR unit is raised to cover the underside of w1; [0256] the base unit starts an entire PCR cyclic process; [0257] after the process is completed, the hot lid leaves w1; [0258] a bottom module leaves w1; [0259] the transfer pipette is moved to w44; [0260] a certain volume of magnetic beads is drawn; [0261] the transfer pipette is raised to a predetermined height position; [0262] the transfer pipette is moved to a fixed position above w1; [0263] a fixed volume of magnetic beads is added into w1; [0264] the transfer pipette evenly mixes the liquid in w1 by up and down suction and release; [0265] the transfer pipette leaves w1 to a specified height position; [0266] standing is performed for certain time; [0267] a module with an annular magnetic bracket at the bottom is moved to cover the underside of w1; [0268] standing is performed for certain time; [0269] the transfer pipette enters w1 and draws a certain amount of liquid; [0270] the transfer pipette leaves w1 to a specified height position; [0271] the bottom is rotated so that w9 is placed under the transfer pipette; [0272] the liquid is transferred to w9; [0273] the transfer pipette is moved to a fixed height; [0274] the bottom disc is rotated so that w5 is under the transfer pipette; [0275] the transfer pipette sucks a certain volume of washing solution; [0276] the transfer pipette is moved to a fixed height; [0277] the disc is rotated so that w1 is under the transfer pipette; [0278] the transfer pipette transfers the liquid into w1; [0279] the transfer pipette is moved to a fixed height; [0280] standing is performed for certain time; [0281] the transfer pipette is moved into w1 and draws a certain amount of liquid; [0282] the transfer pipette is moved to a fixed height; [0283] the bottom is rotated so that w9 is placed under the transfer pipette; [0284] the liquid is transferred to w9; [0285] the transfer pipette is moved to a fixed height; [0286] the bottom disc is rotated such that w5 is under the transfer pipette; [0287] the transfer pipette sucks a certain volume of washing solution; [0288] the transfer pipette is moved to a fixed height; [0289] the disc is rotated so that w1 is under the transfer pipette; [0290] the transfer pipette transfers the liquid into w1; [0291] the transfer pipette is moved to a fixed height; [0292] standing is performed for certain time; [0293] the transfer pipette is moved into w1 and draws a certain amount of liquid; [0294] the transfer pipette is moved to a fixed height; [0295] the bottom is rotated so that w9 is placed under the transfer pipette; [0296] the liquids is transferred to w9; [0297] the transfer pipette is moved to a fixed height; [0298] the bottom disc is rotated so that w7 is under the transfer pipette; [0299] the transfer pipette draws a certain volume of reagent; [0300] the transfer pipette is moved to a fixed height; [0301] the bottom module leaves w1; [0302] the bottom disc is rotated so that the position of w1 is under the transfer pipette; [0303] the transfer pipette releases the liquid into w1; [0304] the transfer pipette evenly mixes the liquid in w1 by suction and release; [0305] the transfer pipette is moved to a fixed height; [0306] standing is performed for certain time; [0307] a bottom magnetic module is raised to cover the underside of w1; [0308] standing is performed for certain time; [0309] the transfer pipette sucks a certain volume of liquid; [0310] the transfer pipette is moved to a fixed height; [0311] the bottom disc is rotated so that w2 is under the transfer pipette; [0312] the transfer pipette releases the liquid into w2; [0313] the bottom magnetic module is detached from w2; [0314] the bottom module covers the position of w2; [0315] the hot lid is lowered to cover w2; [0316] reaction is performed with the module; [0317] after the process is complete, the hot lid leaves w2; [0318] the bottom module leaves w2; [0319] the transfer pipette is moved to w44; [0320] a certain volume of magnetic beads is drawn; [0321] a transfer pipette spring rises such that the tip of the transfer pipette leaves w44 to a predetermined height position; [0322] the transfer pipette is moved to a fixed position above w2; [0323] a fixed volume of magnetic beads is added into w2; [0324] the transfer pipette evenly mixes the liquid in w2 by up and down suction and release; [0325] the transfer pipette leaves w2 to a specified height position; [0326] standing is performed for certain time; [0327] the module with the annular magnetic bracket at the bottom is moved to cover the underside of w2; [0328] standing is performed for certain time; [0329] the transfer pipette enters w2 and draws a certain amount of liquid; [0330] the transfer pipette leaves w2 to a specified height position; [0331] the bottom is rotated so that w9 is placed under the transfer pipette; [0332] the liquid is transferred to w9; [0333] the transfer pipette is moved to a fixed height; [0334] the bottom disc is rotated so that w8 is under the transfer pipette; [0335] the transfer pipette sucks a certain volume of washing solution; [0336] the transfer pipette is moved to a fixed height; [0337] the disc is rotated so that w2 is under the transfer pipette; [0338] the transfer pipette transfers the liquid into w2; [0339] the transfer pipette is moved to a fixed height; [0340] standing is performed for certain time; [0341] the transfer pipette is moved into w2 and draws a certain amount of liquid; [0342] the transfer pipette is moved to a fixed height; [0343] the bottom is rotated so that w9 is placed under the transfer pipette; [0344] the liquid is transferred to w9; [0345] the transfer pipette is moved to a fixed height; [0346] the bottom disc is rotated so that w8 is under the transfer pipette; [0347] the transfer pipette sucks a certain volume of washing solution; [0348] the transfer pipette is moved to a fixed height; [0349] the disc is rotated so that w2 is under the transfer pipette; [0350] the transfer pipette transfers the liquid into w2; [0351] the transfer pipette is moved to a fixed height; [0352] standing is performed for certain time; [0353] the transfer pipette is moved into w2 and draws a certain amount of liquid; [0354] the transfer pipette is moved to a fixed height; [0355] the bottom disc is rotated so that w10 is moved to under the transfer pipette; [0356] the liquid is released to w10; [0357] the transfer pipette returns to a specified position; [0358] hot lid is pressed down to over w10; and [0359] the process is completed.
[0360] Described above are only preferred specific implementations of the present invention, but the protection scope of the present invention is not limited thereto, and all changes or substitutions that are readily conceivable to those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed by the present invention should be encompassed within the protection scope of the present invention. Thus, the protection scope of the present invention should be defined by the claims.