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KR-20260065991-A - Random access and continuous loading capable high-volume nucleic acid extraction automation system

KR20260065991AKR 20260065991 AKR20260065991 AKR 20260065991AKR-20260065991-A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a large-scale nucleic acid extraction automation system. More specifically, the present invention relates to a large-scale nucleic acid extraction automation system capable of continuous loading, comprising an extraction subsystem and a controller including a plurality of extraction units. A nucleic acid extraction process is carried out by transferring sample plates between the plurality of extraction units, and while a nucleic acid extraction process for one sample plate is being carried out in one extraction unit, another extraction unit can receive another sample plate and carry out a nucleic acid extraction process.

Inventors

  • 천종윤

Assignees

  • 천종윤

Dates

Publication Date
20260512
Application Date
20251031
Priority Date
20241031

Claims (20)

  1. Continuously loading high-volume nucleic acid extraction automation system including the following: (a) An extraction subsystem that receives a sample plate and material and extracts nucleic acid; The above extraction subsystem includes one or more extraction modules, and The above extraction module is (a1) A working station comprising three or more extraction units configured to perform nucleic acid extraction, wherein each of the three or more extraction units comprises one or more functions selected from the group consisting of shaking, heating, and magnetic field generation; and each of the three or more extraction units is used sequentially once during the extraction of the sample plate; (a2) Multichannel liquid handling unit; and (a3) Includes a plate transfer unit that transfers the sample plate between the extraction units, and (b) Controller; The above controller controls the process so that while the nucleic acid extraction process for one sample plate is being carried out in one of the three or more extraction units, another extraction unit can receive another sample plate and carry out the nucleic acid extraction process.
  2. In claim 1, the extraction subsystem is a nucleic acid extraction automation system comprising a plurality of extraction modules.
  3. In claim 2, the extraction module comprises an additional working station comprising at least three extraction units configured to perform nucleic acid extraction, and the multichannel liquid handling unit is configured to access each of the working stations of the extraction module, thereby forming an automated nucleic acid extraction system.
  4. In claim 2, the nucleic acid extraction automation system configured such that the plurality of extraction modules can perform different extraction protocols.
  5. In claim 2, the nucleic acid extraction automation system wherein the controller determines an extraction module to which nucleic acid extraction is to be performed on the sample plate based on identification information of the sample plate, and controls the sample plate to be transferred to the determined extraction module.
  6. A nucleic acid extraction automation system according to claim 1, wherein the controller controls the plate transfer unit so that the sample plate is sequentially transferred and received by two or more of the three or more extraction units while the nucleic acid extraction process for the one sample plate is in progress.
  7. In claim 6, the above controller is a nucleic acid extraction automation system that controls the extraction module so that a part of the nucleic acid extraction process proceeds in an extraction unit in which the sample plate is received.
  8. In claim 6, the extraction module is configured to selectively perform two or more extraction protocols, and the controller determines the extraction protocol to be used in the extraction module according to the type of sample in a nucleic acid extraction automation system.
  9. In claim 8, the nucleic acid extraction automation system wherein the controller determines, according to the determined extraction protocol, an extraction unit to be used for nucleic acid extraction of the sample among three or more extraction units included in the extraction module.
  10. In claim 8, the nucleic acid extraction automation system comprising a multifunctional extraction unit configured to have two or more functions, wherein the three or more extraction units are configured to have two or more functions.
  11. In claim 10, the multifunctional extraction unit is a nucleic acid extraction automation system configured to selectively perform two or more functions.
  12. In claim 11, the above three or more extraction units are a nucleic acid extraction automation system comprising two or more of the above multifunctional extraction units.
  13. In claim 12, the nucleic acid extraction automation system wherein the controller selects the function to be performed by each of the two or more multifunctional extraction units included in the extraction module according to the determined extraction protocol.
  14. In claim 10, the nucleic acid extraction automation system wherein the controller controls the change of the function of the extraction unit in which the sample plate is received while the nucleic acid extraction process for the sample plate is in progress.
  15. In claim 6, the above-mentioned controller is a nucleic acid extraction automation system that controls the functions of the three or more extraction units so that two or more extraction protocols are continuously performed in one extraction module.
  16. In claim 10, the nucleic acid extraction automation system comprises two or more functions selected from the group consisting of a heating function, a shaking function, and a magnetic field generation function.
  17. In claim 1, the nucleic acid extraction automation system comprising three or more extraction units, wherein the extraction units include a temperature control means for controlling the temperature of the sample plate.
  18. In claim 1, the nucleic acid extraction automation system comprising three or more extraction units, wherein the extraction units include driving means for moving the sample plate to shake the solution within the sample plate.
  19. In claim 1, the nucleic acid extraction automation system comprising three or more extraction units, wherein the extraction units include magnetic means for applying magnetic force to the sample plate.
  20. In claim 1, the nucleic acid extraction automation system in which the three or more extraction units are arranged in a first direction at the working station.

Description

Random access and continuous loading capable high-volume nucleic acid extraction automation system The present invention relates to a large-scale nucleic acid extraction automation system. More specifically, the present invention relates to a large-scale nucleic acid extraction automation system capable of continuous loading, comprising an extraction subsystem including a plurality of extraction units and a controller. Molecular diagnostics is a method of determining the presence of disease or infection by analyzing genetic information contained in samples or biological markers contained in proteins using molecular biological techniques. Due to the nature of infectious disease diagnosis, a large volume of identical tests is required when a specific infectious disease is prevalent. Therefore, a centralized model has been primarily used, in which specimens collected from local clinics and public health centers are rapidly transported and processed for molecular testing from large-scale screening centers equipped with mass testing systems. To be applied to this centralized screening system, an automated molecular testing system was developed to process large volumes of samples simultaneously, extract nucleic acids, and carry out test reactions. However, existing automated systems designed to process large volumes of samples simultaneously and perform identical tests are primarily developed as batch-type systems, requiring operator intervention whenever a batch is completed. Furthermore, existing high-volume extraction systems were developed based on the premise of routine testing methods that perform the same type of test on identical samples. Consequently, when the extraction of one type of sample is completed and the extraction of another type begins, manual operator intervention is required, such as exchanging buffers and reconfiguring protocols. If the frequency and duration of operator intervention increase relative to the extraction system operation time, the number of systems manageable per operator decreases, and this causes an increase in costs for the screening center. Therefore, there is a need to develop a high-throughput extraction system capable of automatically performing various nucleic acid extractions for diverse samples for various molecular tests, and enabling continuous loading to minimize operator intervention. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a large-scale nucleic acid extraction automation system according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a large-scale nucleic acid extraction automation system according to other exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an extraction module of a large-scale nucleic acid extraction automation system according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating processing units placed at a working station of a large-scale nucleic acid extraction automation system according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and an exemplary continuous loading method using the same. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating working stations and extraction units according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating the arrangement of a supply station and reagents and consumables mounted thereon according to other exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating the structure of a storage subsystem according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating the structure of a storage subsystem for supplying material to each nucleic acid module in a large-scale nucleic acid extraction automation system having a plurality of nucleic acid modules according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating a material transfer module of a transfer subsystem according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating a sample transfer module of a transfer subsystem according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 11 is a block diagram schematically illustrating the control configuration of a controller according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. Hereinafter, an automated nucleic acid extraction system according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. In the attached drawings, the same or similar reference numerals are used for identical or similar components. In this specification, specific structural or functional descriptions are merely illustrative for the purpose of explaining the embodiments of this disclosure. The embodiments of this disclosure may be implemented in various forms and should not be interpreted as being limited to the embodiments described in