FR2788042A1 - Automatic modular system for storage of microtitration plates or tubes containing samples, enables thousands to be handled, conditioned, traced and retrieved for e.g. pharmaceuticals development - Google Patents

Abstract

An automatic modular system for storage of microtitration plates or tubes comprising circular shelves (27) with mountings for sliding drawers which contain plates (1), and are served by an automatic plate manipulator (12), is new. A new automatic modular system for storage of microtitration plates or tubes comprises circular shelves (27) with mountings for sliding drawers which contain plates (1), and are served by an automatic plate manipulator (12). An automatic airlock inserts and removes plates. An air circulation system controls the atmosphere within. This employs perforated risers forming the storage framework.

Description

The present invention relates to an automated storage device and

  air-conditioned for microplates or microtubes containing biological or chemical samples, of origin

natural or synthetic.

  The search for new drugs calls on new strategies intended to generate the discovery of a greater number of candidate molecules to later become a drug. In these new strategies, the pharmaceutical industries are required to synthesize and test thousands or even millions of molecules over very short periods of time. These molecules must be packaged to be ready for testing and stored pending

to be tested.

  Traditionally, the molecules are packaged either in microplates or in microtubes, the two formats providing compact storage. The microplates or microtubes must then be stored under specific ambient conditions, frequently in

  negative temperature, even in an inert atmosphere.

  Storage in a cold room of thousands of microplates is difficult to manage, both in terms of practicability (storage, access, frost, etc.) and traceability (potentially human error

  important, delicate stock management, etc.).

  The device according to the invention makes it possible to automatically manage a very large stock of microplates (several thousand), while providing adequate climatic conditions and rigorous traceability by reading the bar codes carried by the microplates, whether at entry or exit from storage. The ability of the device to be able to automatically load or unload microplates without human intervention also brings significant comfort to laboratory operators and the possibility of managing stock on computer in real time. The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention:

  Figure 1 shows in vertical section the device of the invention.

  Figure 2 shows in horizontal section the device of the invention.

  Figure 3 shows a front view of a shelf of the device of the invention.

  Figure 4 shows in profile section a drawer containing 2 microplates.

  FIG. 5 represents in profile view the kinematics of lashing by hook of a drawer

according to steps I to 3.

  Figure 6 shows a top view, side and front of the microplate manipulator

of the device of the invention.

  FIG. 7 represents a top view of the kinematics of extraction of a drawer and of the capture of a microplate by the manipulator according to different phases: I. Stowage of the drawer,

  2.Extraction of the drawer, 3.Capture and elevation of a microplate, 4. Return of the drawer to the shelf.

  Figure 8 shows a top view of the airlock of the device of the invention.

  FIG. 9 represents the air circulation diagram of the device according to the invention.

  The device according to the invention is composed of a set of circular shelves (27) and peripheral to an automated manipulator (l 2). The manipulator (l 2) makes it possible to transfer the microplates (1) from a storage position to the airlock and vice versa. An airlock (42) allows the microplate to be transferred from the outside to the manipulator or vice versa. The whole is air conditioned by a forced air circulation system and is therefore insulated accordingly. A door (10) is specially fitted to allow access to an operator for maintenance, repair or other intervention. Thus, according to this device, a microplate (l) is automatically taken in from an external position by the airlock (42), transferred to the manipulator (12) which deposits it in one of the positions available on the shelves (27 ). The microplate (l) will be stored there in the

  adequate climatic conditions until use.

  In the device according to the invention, the storage is structured around a set of circular shelves (27) hollowed out at their center. The shelves are perforated with holes on the outer circumference for assembly by threading on vertical tubular uprights (2), pierced with holes along the entire length for the forced circulation of air conditioning and constituting the storage structure. The height between each shelf is defined by a triangular wedge (3) which adjusts around the uprights (2). Thus, from the same structure and shims of different thicknesses, can we build a storage for different formats of microplates or microtubes

or even a culture dish.

  Each shelf (27) has housings in the form of a recess (21). The housing accommodates a drawer (22) and constitutes for this a lateral and depth guide; it is open on the central side to allow the extraction of said drawer, and closed on the peripheral side so as to constitute a stop when the drawer returns to its housing. These accommodations are arranged according to

  the radius of the shelves (27) and over the entire circumference, with the greatest possible density.

  The drawer (22) constitutes the elementary storage entity. It consists of a platform having perpendicular protrusions (25) of a few millimeters and constituting stops for wedging the microplates (l). It also comprises, on the central side, a face (24) containing a slot (23) for securing the extraction hook (26) and an electrical, optical or magnetic component which, in response to a similar component installed on the manipulator (12), allows precise positioning of the latter before extraction of the drawer (22). The drawer can be designed so

  to contain two or more aligned storage positions for microplates (l).

  The storage center is used for the installation of the microplate manipulator (l12).

  The manipulator (1 2) is fixed on a gantry (6) rotating on ball bearings (1 4) fitted into the ceiling (15) and floor (19) of the storage. The rotation of the gantry (6) is obtained thanks to a motor (l 7) integral with the gantry driving a pinion and itself engaged on another bigger gable and fixed to the storage ceiling (l 5). Assembly can also be carried out on the

storage floor (19).

  The manipulator (l 2) can move vertically inside the gantry (6) to access different shelves (27); the whole moves thanks to a motorization by toothed belt (9) and vertical ball guides (7). An optical encoder makes it possible to position the

  manipulator (l12) at very precise heights and continuously.

  The microplate manipulator (12) itself is composed of a platform for receiving the drawers (25). A gantry (3 1) is fixed on this platform and supports the

  capture and lifting of the microplate (30). A slot (29) is provided along the platform

  shape (25) to allow the passage of the drive mechanism (36) of the extraction plate (5) of the drawers (22). The extraction plate (5) can be driven by a toothed belt motor (33) and ball guides (32). This plate (5) is provided, at its end facing the drawers (22), with a hook on pivot (26) for securing the drawers. When the plate (5) is pushed back towards the drawer (22), the hook (26) is no longer supported by the platform (25), pivots downwards and

  goes under the front face (24) of the drawer. A spring can put the hook (26) under pressure on the platform

  form (25) to ensure the movement thereof. When the extraction plate (5) is withdrawn back, the hook (26) is pushed upwards by the platform (25) and is naturally stowed in the space provided (23) for this purpose in the front face (24) of the drawer (22). By further withdrawing the extraction plate (5), the drawer (22) is extracted on the platform (25). Sensors installed on the platform (25) indicate the position of the drawer (22) in order to stop the extraction at

  the place required to remove the desired microplate (l).

  When the drawer (22) is correctly positioned, the catch mechanism (30) of the

  microplate is lowered automatically. When the clamps (30) are at the correct height, they

  these are closed on the edges of the microplate (l). The microplate is then raised from a height greater than that of the microplate on the drawer (22) so as to allow withdrawal of the drawer towards the shelf (27). To obtain a symmetrical closure of the clamps, each clamp (34) is associated with a rack and a ball guide. The two racks face each other and are driven by a single and central pinion motor (35), so that the clamps close or open symmetrically. A current consumption sensor indicates when the clamps are closed on the edges of the microplate. The clamps (34) are equipped at their end in contact with the microplate (l) with a rubber part compatible with low temperatures to ensure a good non-slip grip. The clamp mechanism (30) is itself fixed on a frame sliding freely on vertical guides with balls screwed onto the gantry (3 1) described above. A pinion motor fixed on this frame motorizes the ascent or descent of the gripper mechanism by rack drive. End of stroke sensors indicate the frame position, high or low. When a microplate (l) is captured by the manipulator (1l2), it is then

  deposited in the airlock (42) for transfer to the outside of the enclosure.

  The airlock is double to improve productivity. The two airlocks are superimposed, are perfectly identical and allow each and the same operations of exit or entry of microplates. The airlock is built on a drawer (42) as presented above so that the size is reduced to a minimum for more storage space. The most peripheral position of the drawer is reserved for the transfer of the microplates, while the most central position houses the motorization of the airlock in the form of a motor (4 1) equipped with a pinion (40). A slot is provided in the bottom of the drawer so that the pinion can take hold on a rack (38) embedded in the shelf (27) supporting said drawer (42). In the shelf are also installed an electric track (39) for supplying the necessary current, as well as two magnetic tracks (37) whose function is to keep the drawer (42) perfectly in contact with

  the shelf (27) and therefore the rack (38) and the power supply (39).

  On the shelf (27), and on each side of the airlock drawer (42), telescopic rods (43) with ball guides are installed. When a microplate is brought in by the manipulator (12),

  the latter extracts the airlock drawer (42), deposits the microplate and pushes the drawer back onto the shelf (27).

  Then, by its own rack motorization (41), the airlock drawer (42) moves outwards to a cantilever of about 180 mm in order to make the microplate (l) available to any robotic or human operator gripping mechanism. To support the overhang and reduce the risk of drift with respect to the horizontal, the airlock drawer (42) carries the two

  telescopic rods (43) by fitting into the rear face of the drawer.

  To reduce losses, an automatic door of limited dimensions is fitted in the thickness of the enclosure and only opens when the airlock drawer moves outwards. This door can be, for example, installed on a pivot and actuated by a motor

  electric or pneumatic. Seals are fitted around the door to ensure watertightness.

  Each airlock has its own door.

  The storage enclosure is completely sealed and insulated by a polymer (4) which can be polyurethane of sufficient thickness to reach temperatures of around -30 C. Special attention is paid to avoid all thermal bridges: the complete structure of the storage is enclosed in a double jacket of insulation. The thermal bridge caused by the storage feet (18) is reduced by the use of insulating material such as nylon for their

manufacturing.

  Over an angle of approximately 30, the shelves (27) are open in order to provide operator access to the interior of the storage enclosure. This access is closed in a sealed manner by a door (1O) mounted on hinges which are themselves fixed on slides (1) to allow, after

  opening the door, pull on it to clear the opening as well as possible.

  The space provided by the location of the door is used to install control boxes, power supply and climate control. The set is laid

  on a platform on rails to clear the door.

  The climate regulation is structured around an air conditioning unit (44) which injects the conditioned air into the enclosure at all levels through the perforated uprights (2) described above. The air is then taken up into the enclosure by a breather (46) in the form of a perforated disc on its periphery and drawn into the group. Sensors are installed at the group input and output for regulation. The complete or partial renewal of the atmosphere of the enclosure is obtained thanks to

  a motorized valve upstream of the air conditioner and which allows the air flow to be redirected to the outside.

  Clean air is taken from the external environment upstream of the air conditioner before being injected into the enclosure. Renewal may be necessary in the event of air contamination by solvents

  organic, living organisms, unwanted gases.

Claims (7)

  1) Device for the automated storage of microplates characterized in that it comprises a circular storage part, consisting of shelves comprising locations for sliding drawers and containing the said microplates and peripheral to an automated microplate manipulator, a system of self-propelled airlock allowing automated entry and exit of microplates, an air circulation system for regulating the atmospheric conditions of the storage enclosure based on perforated uprights and constituting the frame of storage.   2) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that it allows the automated storage of microplate of any size, or microtubes arranged in a rack, or box cellular culture.   3) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the storage shelves are circular and fixed.   4) Device according to claims I characterized in that the microplates are   placed on drawers arranged in a radius on the shelves, the drawers sliding freely on these   and comprising housings for 2 or more aligned microplates.   ) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the automatic microplate manipulator is located in the center of the storage shelves, on a gantry   bringing vertical mobility and rotation.   6) Device according to claims 1 and 5 characterized in that the manipulator   can extract a drawer from an adjustable distance, capture the desired microplate using a set of mechanically closed pliers, then lift it from a height at least equivalent to that of the   microplate to allow the drawer to return to the shelf.   7) Device according to claim 6 characterized in that the centering of the clamps for capturing the microplates is obtained by means of a rack mounting, each clamp being associated with a rack, the two racks being engaged with a central pinion which, by rotation, alternately brings the clips closer or further apart, causing them to close or open. 8) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the airlock drawer moves thanks to an on-board motorization by means of a pinion engaged on a rack   embedded in the shelf supporting said drawer.   9) Device according to claim I characterized in that the vertical spacing of the shelves is obtained by shims of defined thickness and embedded around the uprights constituting the   storage structure. The wedges are perforated to allow the passage of air.   ) Device according to claims 1 and 9 characterized in that the air conditioning of   the enclosure is obtained by injecting air into the enclosure through the perforated tubular uprights   constituting the storage structure.