EP-4735898-A1 - SYSTEMS AND RELATED REAGENT CARTRIDGE QUEUING METHODS

Abstract

Systems and related reagent cartridge queuing methods are disclosed. In accordance with an implementation, an apparatus includes a first reagent cartridge, a second reagent cartridge, and a system. The system includes a sipper manifold assembly having a sipper, a queue to carry the first reagent cartridge and the second reagent cartridge, a cartridge moving assembly, and a cartridge receptacle assembly. The cartridge moving assembly includes a gantry, a carriage actuator, and a carriage. The carriage is coupled to the gantry and the carriage actuator is to move the carriage relative to the gantry. The cartridge receptacle assembly has a cartridge receptacle to receive the first reagent cartridge or the second reagent cartridge. The carriage is to move the first reagent cartridge from the queue and position the first reagent cartridge into the cartridge receptacle.

Inventors

• Lemoine, Richard
• OH, JASON
• RUDEN, Jacob
• CHEN, Xiangxiong
• OSMUS, JAMES
• ENSLOW, Andrew
• HENDRIX, STEVEN

Assignees

• ILLUMINA, INC.

Dates

Publication Date

20260506

Application Date

20240624

Claims (20)

1. 1 . An apparatus, comprising: a first reagent cartridge; a second reagent cartridge; and a system, comprising: a sipper manifold assembly comprising a sipper; a queue to carry the first reagent cartridge and the second reagent cartridge; a cartridge moving assembly comprising a gantry, a carriage actuator, and a carriage, the carriage coupled to the gantry and the carriage actuator to move the carriage relative to the gantry; and a cartridge receptacle assembly comprising a cartridge receptacle to receive the first reagent cartridge or the second reagent cartridge, wherein the carriage is to move the first reagent cartridge from the queue and position the first reagent cartridge into the cartridge receptacle.
2. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sipper manifold assembly comprises a sipper actuator to move the sipper relative to the cartridge receptacle.
3. 3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge receptacle assembly comprises an opening and a lock movable between an unlocked position and a locked position, the first reagent cartridge positionable through the opening when the lock is in the unlocked position and the first reagent cartridge securable in the cartridge receptacle when the lock is in the locked position.
4. 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the lock comprises a lock actuator and an arm, the lock actuator to move the arm from the unlocked position to the locked position.
5. 5. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the queue comprises a shelf having a first position and a second position, the first reagent cartridge being positioned at the first position and the second reagent cartridge being positioned at the second position.
6. 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the shelf comprises a first access aperture at the first position and a second access aperture at the second position.
7. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the carriage actuator is to position the carriage beneath the first reagent cartridge and move the carriage through the first access aperture to lift the first reagent cartridge from the first position.
8. 8. The apparatus of any one the preceding claims, further comprises a third reagent cartridge and a drawer carrying the third reagent cartridge.
9. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the carriage is to move the third cartridge from the drawer onto the queue.
10. 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the drawer comprises an access aperture and wherein the carriage actuator is to position the carriage beneath the third reagent cartridge and move the carriage through the access aperture of the drawer to lift the third reagent cartridge from the drawer.
11. 11 . The apparatus of any one of claims 7 - 10, wherein the system further comprises a door that is movable to enable access to the drawer.
12. 12. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a first reagent cartridge assembly comprising the first reagent cartridge and a first flow cell.
13. 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the system comprises a flow cell interface to receive the first flow cell.
14. 14. The apparatus of any one of claims 12 - 13, wherein the first reagent cartridge assembly comprises a lid.
15. 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first reagent cartridge assembly comprises a body to which the lid is pivotably coupled.
16. 16. The apparatus of any one of claims 14 - 16, wherein the lid covers the flow cell.
17. 17. The apparatus of any one of claims 13 - 16, wherein the system comprises a pick-and-place assembly to move the first flow cell from the first reagent cartridge assembly to the flow cell interface.
18. 18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the pick-and-place assembly comprises an actuator and a gripper, the actuator to move the gripper, and the gripper to move the first flow cell from the first reagent cartridge assembly to the flow cell interface.
19. 19. An apparatus, comprising: a system, comprising: a sipper manifold assembly comprising a sipper; a queue to carry reagent cartridges; a cartridge moving assembly comprising a gantry, a carriage actuator, and a carriage, the carriage coupled to the gantry and the carriage actuator to move the carriage relative to the gantry; and a cartridge receptacle assembly comprising a cartridge receptacle, wherein the carriage is to move the reagent cartridges from the queue to the cartridge receptacle assembly.
20. 20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the gantry comprises a two-dimensional gantry.

Description

SYSTEMS AND RELATED REAGENT CARTRIDGE QUEUING METHODS RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/324,216, filed June 29, 2023, the content of each which is incorporated by reference herein in their entireties and for all purposes. BACKGROUND [0001] Instruments such as sequencing instruments may include temperature controlled components. Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to devices, systems, and methods providing biological or chemical analysis. Various protocols in biological or chemical research involve performing a large number of controlled reactions on local support surfaces or within predefined reaction chambers. The designated reactions may then be observed or detected, and subsequent analysis may help identify or reveal properties of chemicals involved in the reaction. For example, in some multiplex assays, an unknown analyte having an identifiable label (e.g., fluorescent label) may be exposed to thousands of known probes under controlled conditions. Each known probe may be deposited into a corresponding well of a flow cell channel. Observing any chemical reactions that occur between the known probes and the unknown analyte within the wells may help identify or reveal properties of the analyte. Other examples of such protocols include known DNA sequencing processes, such as sequencing-by-synthesis (SBS) or cyclic-array sequencing. [0002] While a variety of devices, systems, and methods have been made and used to perform biological or chemical analysis, it is believed that no one prior to the inventor(s) has made or used the devices and techniques described herein. SUMMARY [0003] Advantages of the prior art can be overcome and benefits as described later in this disclosure can be achieved through the provision of systems and related reagent cartridge queuing methods. Various implementations of the apparatus and methods are described below, and the apparatus and methods, including and excluding the additional implementations enumerated below, in any combination (provided these combinations are not inconsistent), may overcome these shortcomings and achieve the benefits described herein. [0004] In accordance with a first implementation, an apparatus, comprising: a first reagent cartridge; a second reagent cartridge; and a system, comprising: a sipper manifold assembly comprising a sipper; a queue to carry the first reagent cartridge and the second reagent cartridge; a cartridge moving assembly comprising a gantry, a carriage actuator, and a carriage, the carriage coupled to the gantry and the carriage actuator to move the carriage relative to the gantry; and a cartridge receptacle assembly comprising a cartridge receptacle to receive the first reagent cartridge or the second reagent cartridge, wherein the carriage is to move the first reagent cartridge from the queue and position the first reagent cartridge into the cartridge receptacle. [0005] In accordance with a second implementation, an apparatus, comprising: a system, comprising: a sipper manifold assembly comprising a sipper; a queue to carry reagent cartridges; a cartridge moving assembly comprising a gantry, a carriage actuator, and a carriage, the carriage coupled to the gantry and the carriage actuator to move the carriage relative to the gantry; and a cartridge receptacle assembly comprising a cartridge receptacle, wherein the carriage is to move the reagent cartridges from the queue to the cartridge receptacle assembly. [0006] In accordance with a third implementation, an apparatus, comprising: a system, comprising: a sipper manifold assembly comprising a sipper; a cartridge conveyor assembly having a stop; a vertical assembly comprising a plurality of cartridge slots to carry reagent cartridges; and a cartridge moving assembly comprising a carriage actuator and a carriage, the carriage actuator to move the carriage relative to the cartridge conveyor assembly and the vertical assembly, wherein the carriage is to move one of the reagent cartridges from the vertical assembly to the cartridge conveyor assembly. [0007] In accordance with a fourth implementation, an apparatus, comprising: a system, comprising: a sipper manifold assembly comprising a sipper; a first vertical assembly comprising a pusher, an actuator, and a plurality of first cartridge slots to carry reagent cartridges; a second vertical assembly comprising a second actuator and a plurality of second cartridge slots; and a conveyor extending between the first vertical assembly and the second vertical assembly, wherein the first actuator is to align one of the first cartridge slots with the conveyor and the second actuator is to align one of the second cartridge slots with the conveyor, and wherein the pusher is to move one of the reagent cartridges from the corresponding first cartridge slot onto the conveyor. [0008] In accordance with a fifth implementation, an apparatus, comprising: a system, compri