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KR-20260064708-A - Loading unit for analysis device

KR20260064708AKR 20260064708 AKR20260064708 AKR 20260064708AKR-20260064708-A

Abstract

An apparatus (1) for PCR analysis comprising a loading unit (2) having a first moving mechanism for moving a sample holder that receives one or more samples from one side to the other between an entry area and a loading area, wherein the apparatus (1) comprises a second moving mechanism (5) configured to move at least one sample between two areas selected from a list including the loading area, a heat and/or pressure area of a heat and/or pressure unit (3), and a scanning area of a scanning unit (4). A method for controlling such an apparatus (1), and a corresponding computer program and a computer-readable storage medium.

Inventors

  • 베르네, 세바스티앙
  • 밀레, 에릭
  • 바네이, 토마스
  • 레스파뇰, 막심

Assignees

  • 스틸라 테크놀로지스

Dates

Publication Date
20260507
Application Date
20240903
Priority Date
20230906

Claims (15)

  1. As a device (1), A loading unit (2) comprising an entry area (11), a loading area (12), and a first moving mechanism (25, 27) configured to move a sample holder (7) that receives or contains one or more samples from one side to the other between the entry area (11) and the loading area (12); A heat and/or pressure unit (3) defining a heat and/or pressure area (13) configured to accommodate one or more samples for heat and/or pressure operation; A scanning unit (4) defining a scanning area (14) configured to accommodate one or more samples for a scanning operation; and A device comprising a second moving mechanism (5) configured to move at least one sample between two areas selected from a list including the loading area (12), the heat and/or pressure area (13), and the scanning area (14).
  2. In paragraph 1, The first moving mechanism comprises a transfer member (25) configured to move the sample holder (7) from one side to the other between the entry area (11) and at least one intermediate area (105, 106) in cooperation with the sample holder (7).
  3. In paragraph 2, The above transfer member (25) comprises one or more hooks (31) configured to cooperate with the sample holder (7) to pull the sample holder (7) from the entry area (11) to the intermediate area (105, 106) and/or from the intermediate area (105, 106) to the entry area (11).
  4. In paragraph 2 or 3, The device comprises a carriage (27) configured to move the sample holder (7) from one side to the other between the intermediate area (105, 106) and the loading area (12) in cooperation with the sample holder (7).
  5. In paragraph 4, A device in which the above-mentioned transfer member (25) is movable along a first axis (A4) and the above-mentioned carriage (27) is movable along an axis (A6) that is inclined or perpendicular to the first axis (A4).
  6. In any one of paragraphs 1 through 5, The above loading unit (2) includes a storage module (26) defining compartments, each of which is intended to store a corresponding sample holder (7).
  7. In paragraph 6, A device comprising a storage area (105), wherein the storage module (26) is movable between several locations, and configured such that one of the corresponding sections at each of the locations forms the storage area (105).
  8. In paragraph 7, which includes the features of paragraph 2, The above transfer member (25) is configured to move the sample holder (7) from one side to the other between the entry area (11) and the storage area (105) and/or from one side to the other between the storage area (105) and the intermediate area (106).
  9. In paragraph 7 or 8, which includes the features of paragraph 2, The above storage module (26) is configured to move the transfer member (25) and/or the sample holder (7) to connect the transfer member (25) to the sample holder (7) or to separate the transfer member (25) from the sample holder (7).
  10. In any one of paragraphs 6 through 9, which include the features of paragraph 2, A device in which the transfer member (25) is movable along a first axis (A4) and the storage module (26) is movable along an axis (A5) that is perpendicular or inclined with respect to the first axis (A4).
  11. In any one of paragraphs 1 through 10, The above loading unit (2) is a device comprising a stopping member (28) that forms a stopping portion for the sample holder (7).
  12. In paragraph 11, which includes the features of paragraph 2, The above-mentioned stop member (28) is configured to move toward a release position under the movement action of the above-mentioned transfer member (25), forming a device.
  13. A method for controlling a device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, A loading step comprising moving a sample holder (7) from the entry area (11) to the loading area (12) using the first moving mechanism (25, 27), and/or An unloading step comprising moving the sample holder (7) from the loading area (12) to the entry area (11) using the first moving mechanism (25, 27), and/or For heat and/or pressure operation, the step of moving one or more of the samples from the loading area (12) to the heat and/or pressure area (13) by the second moving mechanism (5), and/or For a scanning operation, the step of moving one or more of the samples from the loading area (12) to the scanning area (14) using the second moving mechanism (5), and/or A method comprising the step of moving one or more of the samples from the heat and/or pressure region (13) and/or the scanning region (14) to the loading region (12) using the second moving mechanism (5).
  14. A computer program comprising instructions that cause a device according to any one of claims 1 through 12 to execute the steps of the method according to claim 13.
  15. A computer-readable storage medium having a computer program in accordance with paragraph 14 stored therein.

Description

Loading unit for analysis device The present invention relates to a genetic analysis technique, in particular to an apparatus for genetic analysis by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The present invention is particularly related to PCR technology known as "digital PCR" (dPCR), but is not limited thereto. U.S. Patent US9480987B2 discloses a device for process automation using a pin and bushing array. This type of device comprises one or more high-capacity plate stackers referred to as "hotels" having a rotating support and is very bulky. In the field of genetic analysis, particularly in dPCR technology, systems have been proposed for automatically moving consumables containing a sample to be analyzed between different functional areas, namely between an area for subjecting the sample to a thermal cycling operation and another area for subjecting the sample to a scanning operation. It is necessary to improve the structure of systems known in the prior art, and in particular, to optimize their compactness. The following non-limiting embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein, FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus according to the present invention, comprising a loading unit, a thermal cycler and a pressure unit, a scanning unit, and a moving mechanism configured to move one or more microfluidic chips from one side to the other between these units. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a device according to the present invention, illustrating a casing of a device that accommodates different units. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 2 with the casing removed, showing a loading unit, a thermal cycler and pressure unit, a scanning unit, and a moving mechanism. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a loading unit according to the present invention. Figure 5 is a partial cross-sectional side view of the loading unit of Figure 4. Figure 6 is a partial cross-sectional plan view of the loading unit of Figure 4. Figure 7 is a cross-sectional front view of the storage module panel of the loading unit of Figure 4. Figure 8 is a partial plan view of the loading unit of Figure 4. Figure 9 is a partial cross-sectional plan view of the loading unit of Figure 4. FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional side view of the loading unit of FIG. 4. FIG. 11 is a partial cross-sectional side view of the loading unit of FIG. 4. FIG. 12 is a partial cross-sectional plan view of the loading unit of FIG. 4. FIG. 13 is a partial cross-sectional side view of the loading unit of FIG. 4. FIG. 14 is a partial cross-sectional plan view of the loading unit of FIG. 4. FIG. 15 is a partial cross-sectional side view of the loading unit of FIG. 4. FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 2 with the casing removed. Fig. 17 is a partial enlarged view of Fig. 16. Since these embodiments are not limiting in any way, variations of the invention that include only a selection of features described or illustrated below and are separated from other features described or illustrated (even if such selection is taken from a sentence including such other features) may be considered if such selection of features provides a technical advantage or is sufficient to distinguish the invention from the prior art. Such selection includes at least one feature, preferably a functional feature without structural details, or only a part of a structural detail where such part provides a technical advantage or is sufficient to distinguish the invention from the prior art. FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a device (1) according to the present invention. The device (1) of FIG. 1 includes a loading unit (2), a heat and/or pressure unit (3), a scanning unit (4), and a moving mechanism (5) configured to move at least one microfluidic chip (6) from one of these units to another. In this example, the unit (3) is a thermal cycler and a pressure unit (3). Accordingly, the corresponding area (13) described below is also referred to as the “thermal cycling area” in the following description. Of course, in alternative embodiments, the unit (3) may include other types of thermal units—typically configured to control the temperature of at least one sample (6), of or from the sample holder, in a thermal area at a constant, variable, or periodic temperature—and/or pressure units—typically configured to control the pressure of at least one sample (6), of or from the sample holder (7), in a pressure area at a constant, variable, or periodic temperature—and define corresponding thermal and/or pressure areas (not shown). The heat and/or pressure unit (3) will be referred to as the heat unit (3), the thermal cycler unit (3), or the unit (3) in the following description for the sake of simplicity. The heat and/or pressure area (13) will be referred to as the heat area (13), the thermal cycling area (13), or the area (13) in the following description for the sake of simplicity. In this non-limiting example, the device (