GB2591092A

GB2591092A - Pressure chamber for processing reagents ans liquid samples

Info

Publication number: GB2591092A
Application number: GB2000508.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ahr Daniel; Zimmermann Sara
Original assignee: Stratec SE
Current assignee: Stratec SE
Priority date: 2020-01-14
Filing date: 2020-01-14
Publication date: 2021-07-21
Also published as: GB202000508D0

Abstract

A device for processing analytical, diagnostic or patient samples, comprising an incubator that is arranged within a pressure chamber. The pressure chamber may have a door and be connected to a gas tank with compressed gas, preferably carbon dioxide. The incubator may comprise a heating element such as a resistive heater or Peltier element. The device may comprise a cooling element. The device may be used for performing polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Also disclosed is a method for processing analytical, diagnostic or patient samples comprising loading the samples into the incubator arranged in the pressure chamber, closing the chamber gas tight, incubating the sample and pressurising the chamber. Pressurizing may comprise opening a valve that connects the chamber to the gas tank with compressed gas. The samples may be heated prior to pressurising. The samples may be cooled after heating, and heating and cooling may be repeated. Pressure may be released after terminating incubating of the samples. Pressurisation of the chamber allows processing of samples in a higher temperature range without evaporation effects in terms of gas leaving the chamber. Use of a higher incubation temperature may decrease process times.

Description

PRESSURE CHAMBER FOR PROCESSING REAGENTS ANS LIQUID SAMPLES

DESCRIPTION

Field of the Invention

[0001] The invention relates to a device for processing analytical, diagnostic or patient samples in automated analyser systems.

Brief description of the related art

[0002] Automated analyser systems for use in clinical diagnostics and life sciences are produced by a number of companies. For example, STRATEC® SE, Birkenfeld Germany, produces a number of devices for specimen handling and detection for use in automated analyser systems and other laboratory instrumentation.

[0003] STRATEC& SE designs and manufactures diagnostic instruments comprising functional sub-units that have to process a various number of different reaction consumables/vessels with varying handling and processing steps. The steps for handling, interfacing and processing of a consumable comprise heating, cooling, illumination/extraction, optical fiber connection, detection interface, magnetizing, loading/unloading followed by applying an insertion force.

[0004] Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) thermal cycling is a method for amplification of specific DNA target sequences. The reaction solutions comprise a reaction buffer, enzymes, primer and nucleotides. This mixture has to undergo repeated changes of temperature to enable amplification of the desired DNA sequence. The repeated change of temperature is referred to as thermal cycling and is achieved by electrical heating and fluidic based cooling. A quantitative analysis during PCR cycling may be achieved by measurement of fluorescence emission.

[0005] Moreover, there are other applications performed in said automated analyzer systems or diagnostic instruments that require heating of a sample or liquid in a reaction vessel, like a tube or vial. The temperature that will have to be achieved for processing of the sample or liquid depends from the specific process that is to be performed. The development of novel technologies may require higher temperatures to be achieved than they have been required so far.

[0006] Some of the commonly used heater blocks allow for heating to the boiling point of aqueous solution like most buffers or reagent mixtures are based on. Some of the known devices comprise a pressure chamber for creating a vacuum into which the processing of the sample or liquid takes place for avoiding evaporation of the sample while heating or thenno-cycling.

[0007] The devices known in the prior art provides are restricted regarding higher boiling points of liquids or samples.

Object of the Invention [00081 It is therefore the object of this invention to provide a device that allows for controlling samples or liquids in a temperature and pressure-controlled atmosphere.

Summary of the Invention

[0009] The present invention provides a device for processing analytical, diagnostic or patient samples, comprising an incubator that is arranged within a pressure chamber.

[0010] In a further aspect of the invention, the pressure chamber may comprise a door or lockable airtight opening.

[0011] It is further envisaged that the pressure chamber may be connected to a gas tank with compressed gas, wherein the compressed gas can be CO2.

[0012] In another embodiment, the incubator may comprise a heating element.

[0013] In a further aspect of the invention, the heating elements may be resistive heaters or Peltier elements.

[0014] A device according to the present invention may also comprise a cooling element.

[0015] Another object of the present invention refers to a method for processing clinical or analytical, diagnostic or patient samples, comprising the steps of - Loading the samples into an incubator that is arranged in a pressure chamber; - Closing the pressure chamber gas tight; - Incubating the sample; and - Pressurizing the pressure chamber.

[0016] In a further aspect of the invention, pressurizing may comprise opening a valve that connects the pressure chamber with a gas tank with compressed gas.

[0017] It is also envisaged that pressuring may comprise the use of compressed CO2 for pressurizing the pressure chamber.

[0018] The method of the present invention may also encompass the step of incubating the sample which comprises heating the samples prior to pressurizing the pressure chamber.

[0019] In a further aspect of the method incubating the sample may comprise cooling the samples after heating.

[0020] The method of of the present invention refers also to heating and cooling which is repeated.

[0021] In a further embodiment of the present invention, the pressure can be released after terminating incubating of the samples.

[0022] The invention relates further to a use of a device as described above for performing PCR [0023] Still other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description, simply by illustrating preferable embodiments and implementations. The present invention is also capable of other and different embodiments and its several details can be modified in various obvious respects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive. Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention and the Figures [0024] The technical problem is solved by the independent claims. The dependent claims cover further specific embodiments of the invention.

[0025] The present invention refers to an incubator or a pressure chamber into which samples or liquids may be placed for its processing. Said samples or liquids comprise mainly diagnostic, analytical or patient samples which have to undergo chemical reactions during processing them. The particular chemical reaction may require heating of the sample, which is usually a liquid in a reaction vessel like a vial.

[0026] A sample may be placed into the incubator before starting processing of the sample. The incubator, which is a closed chamber, will have to be sealed airtight. By closing a loading door through which the sample has been placed into the incubator. It appears to be advantageous if the door opens inside the chamber so that it will be pushed through a seal by the later on applied pressure.

[0027] Following closing of the door, a pump will start to fill the sealed chamber of the incubator with air to increase the pressure inside the chamber. Alternatively, CO.) from a gas tank may be used to pressure the inside of the chamber. After reaching the desired pressure, the incubator starts heating up the inside of the by using heating elements like resistive heaters or Peltier elements which are arranged inside the chamber.

[0028] After the incubation time is reached, the chamber will be cooled by convection and/or conduction. It is also within the scope of the present invention to actively cool the inside of the chamber. If required a heating and cooling cycle may be repealed.

[0029] When the temperature of the sample is below a critical temperature, the pressure inside the chamber may be lowered so that finally the processed sample can be removed from the chamber and further analyzed.

[0030] The advantages of the invention is to provide a device allowing to process samples in a higher temperature range without any evaporation effects in terms of gas leaving the incubation chamber. In processing samples in a higher temperature range, by using the pressure chamber according to the present invention, novel analysis method can be used. It will also be possible to reduce process times, because a higher incubation temperature may be reached under the respective pressure in the chamber.

[0031] The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to enable one skilled in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto, and then-equivalents. The entirety of each of the aforementioned documents is incorporated by reference herein.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A device for processing analytical, diagnostic or patient samples, comprising an incubator that is arranged within a pressure chamber.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the pressure chamber comprises a door.
3. The device of claim 1 or 2 herein the pressure chamber is connected to a gas tank with compressed gas.
4. The device of claim 3, wherein the compressed gas is CO2.
5. The device of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the incubator comprises a heating element.
6. The device of claim 5, wherein the heating elements are resistive heaters or Peltier elements.
7. The device of any one of claims 1 to 5, comprises a cooling element.
8. A method for processing clinical or analytical, diagnostic or patient samples, comprising the steps of Loading the samples into an incubator that is arranged in a pressure chamber; Closing the pressure chamber gas tight; Incubating the sample; and Pressurizing the pressure chamber.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein pressurizing comprises opening a valve that connects the pressure chamber with a gas tank with compressed gas.
10. The method of claim 8 or 9 or, wherein pressuring comprises the use of compressed CO, for pressurizing the pressure chamber.
11 The method of any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the incubating the sample comprises heating the samples prior to pressurizing the pressure chamber.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein incubating the sample comprises cooling the samples after heating.
13. The method of claim 12 herein heating and cooling is repeated.
14. The method of any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the pressure is released after terminating incubating of the samples.
15. The use of a device according to claim 1 for performing PCR.