Gen-probe, Inc.

Christopher B Davis

Byron J Knight

Haitao Li

Robert E Heinz

Robert F Scalese

Thanh N Nguyen

Gary D Lair

Jerzy A Macioszek

Florence Li

Norbert D Hagen

James T Tuggle

A method for performing a magnetic separation procedure that includes transporting a receptacle containing a fluid medium to a first location of a system, where the fluid medium contains both a sample material and a suspension of magnetically-responsive solid supports. At the first location, the fluid medium is exposed to a first magnetic field for a first dwell period, thereby isolating the solid supports within the receptacle, where no portion of the fluid medium is removed from the receptacle at the first location. The receptacle is then transported from the first location to a second location of the system, where the fluid medium is exposed to a second magnetic field for a second dwell period. Following the second dwell period, at least a portion of the fluid medium is removed from the receptacle. A suspension fluid is then dispensed into the receptacle, and the contents of the receptacle are agitated to suspend the solid supports within the suspension fluid.

Method for performing a magnetic separation procedure

A system for separating an analyte from other components of a sample includes a receptacle holding station and a magnetic separation station. The receptacle holding station includes one or more stationary, permanent magnets positioned to apply a magnetic field to the contents of a receptacle held stationary within the receptacle holding station. The magnetic separation station includes one or more permanent magnets and is configured to perform a magnetic separation procedure on the contents of a receptacle transported from the receptacle holding station to the magnetic separation station. The magnetic separation procedure includes isolating an analyte immobilized on a magnetically-responsive solid support within the receptacle and removing other components of the sample from the receptacle. The magnetic separation station is configured to provide relative movement between the receptacle and the one or more permanent magnets after the receptacle is transported to the magnetic separation station.

System for performing a magnetic separation procedure

A continuous process for performing multiple nucleic acid amplification assays, where at least a portion of a second subset of reaction mixtures are transferred to a heater while a first subset of reaction mixtures are being subjected to conditions for performing a nucleic acid amplification assay. During the process, a plurality of reaction mixtures from the first and second subsets of reaction mixtures are simultaneously subjected to conditions sufficient to perform multiple nucleic acid amplification assays in the reaction mixtures. The presence or absence of a target nucleic acid in the first subset of reaction mixtures is determined while the reaction mixtures are in the heater.

Continuous process for performing multiple nucleic acid amplification assays

A system for separating an analyte from other components of a sample contained in a receptacle, where the system includes a receptacle holding station and a magnetic separation station. The receptacle holding station is configured to receive and hold a receptacle and includes one or more magnets positioned to apply a magnetic field to the contents of the receptacle. When present in the receptacle holding station, a receptacle remains stationary relative to the one or more magnets. The magnetic separation station includes one or more magnets and is constructed and arranged to perform a magnetic separation procedure on the contents of a receptacle transported from the receptacle holding station to the magnetic separation station by an automated receptacle transport. The magnetic separation procedure includes isolating an analyte immobilized on a magnetically-responsive solid support within the receptacle and removing other components of the sample from the receptacle. The magnetic separation station is configured to provide relative movement between the receptacle and the one or more magnets after the receptacle is transported to the magnetic separation station.

Methods, systems, and apparatus are provided for automated isolation of selected analytes, to which magnetically-responsive solid supports are bound, from other components of a sample. An apparatus for performing an automated magnetic separation procedure includes a mechanism for effecting linear movement of a magnet between operative and non-operative positions with respect to a receptacle device. A receptacle holding station within which a receptacle device may be temporarily stored prior to moving the receptacle to the apparatus for performing magnetic separation includes magnets for applying a magnetic field to the receptacle device held therein, thereby drawing at least a proton of the magnetically-responsive solid supports out of suspension before the receptacle device is moved to the magnetic separation station. An automated receptacle transport mechanism moves the receptacle devices between the apparatus for performing magnetic separation and the receptacle holding station.

An automated analyzer for performing multiple diagnostic assays simultaneously includes multiple stations in which discrete aspects of the assay are performed on fluid samples contained in sample vessels. The analyzer includes stations for automatically preparing a sample, incubating the sample, preforming an analyte isolation procedure, ascertaining the presence of a target analyte, and analyzing the amount of a target analyte. An automated receptacle transporting system moves the sample vessels from one station to the next. A method for performing an automated diagnostic assay includes an automated process for isolating and amplifying a target analyte, and, in one embodiment, a method for real-time monitoring of the amplification process.

Method for continuous mode processing of the contents of multiple reaction receptacles in a real-time amplification assay

Method and system for performing a magnetic separation procedure

System for performing multi-formatted assays

Method for continuous mode processing of multiple reaction receptacles in a real-time amplification assay

Signal measuring system for conducting real-time amplification assays

Method for performing multi-formatted assays

An automated analyzer for performing multiple diagnostic assays simultaneously includes multiple stations in which discrete aspects of the assay are performed on fluid samples contained in reaction receptacles. The analyzer includes stations for automatically preparing a sample, incubating the sample, preforming an analyte isolation procedure, ascertaining the presence of a target analyte, and analyzing the amount of a target analyte. An automated receptacle transporting system moves the reaction receptacles from one station to the next. A method for performing an automated diagnostic assay includes an automated process for isolating and amplifying a target analyte, and, in one embodiment, a method for real-time monitoring of the amplification process.

Growing community of inventors

San Diego, CA, United States of America

Christopher B Davis