US-12618861-B2 - Sample preparation and test lid for automated analysis of biological and chemical samples

Abstract

A sample preparation lid, comprising a lid body, a first sample preparation vial that extends over the lid body and a second sample preparation vial that extends over the lid body. A first conduit extends between the first sample preparation vial and the second sample preparation vial. The first conduit opens into the first sample preparation vial and into the second sample preparation vial. A second conduit extends through the lid body. The second conduit opens into the first sample preparation vial.

Inventors

• Okhtay MONTAZERI

Assignees

• Spectacular Labs, Inc.

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20221209

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A sample preparation lid, comprising: a lid body; a first sample preparation vial that extends over the lid body; and a second sample preparation vial that extends over the lid body, wherein a first conduit extends between the first sample preparation vial and the second sample preparation vial, wherein the first conduit opens into the first sample preparation vial and into the second sample preparation vial, wherein a second conduit extends through the lid body, wherein the second conduit opens into the first sample preparation vial, and wherein the second conduit comprises a duct that extends a depth into the first sample preparation vial from an aperture that extends through the lid body.
2. 2 . The sample preparation lid of claim 1 , wherein the first conduit is an interconnective channel that extends within the lid body between the first sample preparation vial and the second sample preparation vial.
3. 3 . The sample preparation lid of claim 2 , wherein the first sample preparation vial comprises a first groove that extends along a first interior surface of the first sample preparation vial, and wherein the first groove is contiguous with a first end of the interconnective channel.
4. 4 . The sample preparation lid of claim 3 , wherein the second sample preparation vial comprises a second groove that extends along a second interior surface of the second sample preparation vial, and wherein the second groove is contiguous with a second end of the interconnective channel.
5. 5 . The sample preparation lid of claim 1 , wherein the first conduit is a tube that extends over the lid body between the first sample preparation vial and the second sample preparation vial.
6. 6 . The sample preparation lid of claim 1 , wherein an aperture opens into the first sample preparation vial.
7. 7 . The sample preparation lid of claim 1 , wherein the first sample preparation vial comprises a first vent and the second sample preparation vial comprises a second vent.
8. 8 . The sample preparation lid of claim 7 , wherein the first vent comprises a first gas-permeable membrane and the second vent comprises a second gas-permeable membrane.
9. 9 . The sample preparation lid of claim 1 , wherein the first sample preparation vial comprises a first reagent sac, and wherein the second sample preparation vial comprises a second reagent sac.
10. 10 . The sample preparation lid of claim 9 , wherein a first tube extends between the first reagent sac and the second reagent sac, and wherein a second tube extends from the first reagent sac through an aperture within the lid body.
11. 11 . The sample preparation lid of claim 1 , wherein the lid body comprises a lid portion and a laboratory portion, wherein the laboratory portion is detachable from the lid portion, and wherein the laboratory portion comprises at least one sample preparation vial.
12. 12 . The sample preparation lid of claim 11 , wherein the laboratory portion comprises a plate and an opening in the plate, and wherein a seal is over the opening.
13. 13 . The sample preparation lid of claim 11 , wherein the lid portion comprises one or more clips, and wherein the one or more clips are operable to secure the laboratory portion against the lid portion.
14. 14 . A system, comprising: an automated analysis station, comprising; a first receiving chamber; a second receiving chamber; a first pumping mechanism coupled to the first receiving chamber; and a second pumping mechanism coupled to the second receiving chamber; and a sample preparation lid comprising: a lid body; a first sample preparation vial that extends over the lid body; and a second sample preparation vial that extends over the lid body, wherein a first conduit extends between the first sample preparation vial and the second sample preparation vial, wherein a first end of the first conduit opens into the first sample preparation vial and a second end of the first conduit opens into the second sample preparation vial, wherein a second conduit extends through the lid body, wherein the second conduit opens into the first sample preparation vial, and wherein the second conduit comprises a duct that extends a depth into the first sample preparation vial from an aperture that extends through the lid body.
15. 15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the automated analysis station further comprises a processor electrically coupled to the first pumping mechanism and the second pumping mechanism.
16. 16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the automated analysis station further comprises: a light source, a light detector, at least one optical window within a wall of the second receiving chamber, wherein the processor is electrically coupled to the light source and to the light detector; and a temperature controller, wherein the temperature controller is electrically coupled to one or more heating elements that are adjacent to the first receiving chamber and the second receiving chamber, and wherein the processor is electrically coupled to the temperature controller.
17. 17 . A method, comprising: providing a sample preparation lid comprising a first sample preparation vial and a second sample preparation vial, wherein the first sample preparation vial and the second sample preparation vial extend over a lid body; adding a sample into a liquid medium contained within a fluid container; attaching the sample preparation lid to the fluid container; incubating the liquid medium; and inserting the first sample preparation vial and the second sample preparation vial into a first chamber and into a second chamber, respectively, of an automated analysis station.
18. 18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising drawing a first volume of the liquid medium into the first sample preparation vial, wherein the first sample preparation vial contains a first reagent.
19. 19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein drawing the first volume of the liquid medium into the first sample preparation vial comprises reducing a first pressure of the first chamber.
20. 20 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising: ramping a first temperature of the first chamber to a first setpoint temperature, wherein the first reagent reacts with the first volume of the liquid medium for a first duration; transferring a second volume of the first reagent into the second sample preparation vial, wherein the second sample preparation vial contains a second reagent; and ramping a second temperature of the second chamber to a second setpoint temperature, wherein the second reagent reacts with the second volume of the first reagent for a second duration.

Description

BACKGROUND The ability to rapidly detect pathogens and other microbes at food preparation facilities such as consumer product manufacturers and food processing plants is paramount for the public health while ensuring timely distribution of products. To date, some important bacteriological and viral assays require culturing to achieve sufficient confidence in detection and identification of pathogens. Culturing of microbes may generally take 24 to 72 hours or longer. In many situations, samples are sent to an off-site bacteriological laboratory which requires additional transportation and wait times. Therefore, the total turn-around time from sampling to results may take several days, in practice. In some cases where the initial microorganism load is assumed to be relatively high, rapid assay analyzers which are commercially available, may be used for use in on-site industrial laboratories. These rapid assay analyzers do not require culturing as the initial load is assumed to be sufficiently high. The assays themselves may take minutes to hours to complete. Most rapid assay analyzers may be relatively small and modular units that employ automated or robotic sample preparation and detection. They may be based on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) protocols or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocols. While these rapid apparatuses might serve their purpose, without an initial culturing or enrichment they have a limited set of use cases. Enrichment is needed to ensure that the sample is safe, not just for immediate consumption, but for the duration of its expected shelf-life, which may be days, weeks, or months in the future. Specifically, an initial enrichment is required to ensure that a) the microorganisms in question are indeed viable and not dead, and b) very low initial microorganism levels are amplified to make their detection reliable and reproducible. As such, combining rapid testing with enrichment in a smart and easy to use system can help prevent many outbreaks that currently go undetected. Such an approach offers a significant improvement over currently available rapid test systems that only rely on DNA fragments for pathogen identification, and do not test for microorganism viability. These rapid test systems do not include an enrichment step, and as a result are relatively insensitive to microorganism-viability resulting in high false positives. Other systems requiring prolonged incubation periods without integrating incubation and rapid testing may result in delaying timely reporting of results. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The embodiments of the disclosure will be understood more fully from the detailed description given below and from the accompanying drawings of various embodiments of the disclosure, which, however, should not be taken to limit the disclosure to the specific embodiments, but are for explanation and understanding only. FIG. 1A illustrates a cross sectional view in the x-z plane of a sample preparation lid, in accordance with at least one embodiment. FIG. 1B illustrates a plan view in the x-y plane of a first side of the sample preparation lid of FIG. 1A, in accordance with at least one embodiment. FIG. 1C illustrates a plan view in the x-y plane of a second side of the sample preparation lid of FIG. 1A, in accordance with at least one embodiment. FIG. 2A illustrates an exploded cross-sectional view in the x-z plane of a sample preparation lid, in accordance with at least one embodiment. FIG. 2B illustrates an assembled cross-sectional view in the x-z plane of the sample preparation lid of FIG. 2A, in accordance with at least one embodiment. FIG. 2C illustrates a plan view in the x-y plane of a first side of the sample preparation lid of FIG. 2B, in accordance with at least one embodiment. FIG. 2D illustrates a plan view in the x-y plane of a second side of the sample preparation lid of FIG. 2B, in accordance with at least one embodiment. FIG. 3A illustrates a cross-sectional view in the x-z plane of a sample preparation lid comprising an embedded channel, in accordance with at least one embodiment. FIG. 3B illustrates a cross-sectional view in the x-z plane of a first side of the sample preparation lid of FIG. 3A, in accordance with at least one embodiment. FIG. 3C illustrates a plan view in the x-y plane of a second side of the sample preparation lid of FIG. 3A, in accordance with at least one embodiment. FIG. 3D illustrates a cross sectional view in the x-z plane of a sample preparation lid comprising peristaltic chambers within a peristaltic pumping structure, in accordance with at least one embodiment. FIG. 3E illustrates a plan view in the x-y plane of the sample preparation lid shown in FIG. 3D, in accordance with at least one embodiment. FIG. 3F illustrates an exploded cross-sectional view of a sample preparation lid assembly comprising separate lid and laboratory portions, in accordance with at least one embodiment. FIG. 3G illustrates an assembled cross-s