Sample plate systems and methods
A sample plate comprising a sample well is disclosed. The sample well can comprise one or more bead retaining chambers. Also provided herein is a method of using the sample plate and kits comprising the sample plate.
1. A sample plate comprising a sample well, wherein said sample well comprises a base portion, wherein said base portion comprises a plurality of recesses, wherein a bead is located in each recess, each recess having a circular cross-section and comprising:
(a) a tapered section or
(b) a diameter less than a diameter of said bead located in said recess.
2. The sample plate of claim 1 , wherein said tapered section has a taper of at least about 1°.
3. The sample plate of claim 1 , wherein said tapered section has a taper of between 1° and 15°.
4. The sample plate of claim 1 , wherein said diameter of said recess is at least about 5% smaller than said diameter of said bead.
5. The sample plate of claim 1 , wherein said recess comprises a countersunk portion.
6. The sample plate of claim 1 , wherein said sample plate comprises a plurality of sample wells.
7. The sample plate of claim 1 , wherein said sample well comprises between 2 and 20 recesses.
8. The sample plate of claim 1 , wherein said sample well comprises at least 10 recesses.
9. The sample plate of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of recesses is arranged circumferentially around a central portion of said sample well.
10. The sample plate of claim 9 , wherein said central portion comprises a central recess.
11. The sample plate of claim 9 , wherein said central portion does not comprise a recess.
12. The sample plate of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of recesses is arranged in a substantially symmetrical or regular manner.
13. The sample plate of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of recesses is arranged in a substantially asymmetrical or irregular manner.
14. The sample plate of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of recesses is arranged in a substantially linear manner.
15. The sample plate of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of recesses is arranged in a substantially curved manner.
16. The sample plate of claim 6 , wherein said plurality of sample wells is arranged in an A×B format, wherein A and B are perpendicular axes, and a number of wells along said A axis is greater than, less than, or equal to a number of wells along said B axis.
17. The sample plate of claim 16 , wherein said number of wells along said A axis or B axis is at least 2.
18. The sample plate of claim 17 , wherein said number of wells along said A axis or B axis is between 2 and 15.
19. The sample plate of claim 6 , wherein at least one of said plurality of sample wells is connected to another sample well of said plurality of samples wells by a frangible region.
20. The sample plate of claim 1 , wherein said sample plate comprises a base comprising a docking portion for securing said sample plate to a corresponding docking portion of a plate frame holder.
21. The sample plate of claim 1 , wherein each of said beads is attached to a probe.
22. The sample plate of claim 21 , wherein said probe is a nucleic acid, antibody, antibody fragment, protein, peptide, aptamer, or chemical compound.
23. The sample plate of claim 21 , wherein said probe is an oligonucleotide.
24. The sample plate of claim 21 , wherein said sample plate comprises a plurality of probes, wherein a subset of said plurality of probes differs from another subset of said plurality of probes.
25. The sample plate of claim 24 , wherein said plurality of probes comprises at least 3 different probes.
26. A bead dispensing system comprising:
(a) a bead dispenser comprising a plurality of beads;
(b) a sample plate comprising a sample well, wherein said sample well comprises a base portion, wherein said base portion comprises a plurality of recesses, each recess having a circular cross-section and comprising:
i) a tapered section or
ii) a diameter less than a diameter of a bead of said plurality of beads; and
(c) a control system configured to control dispensing of said beads from said bead dispenser into respective ones of said recesses.
27. The bead dispensing system of claim 26 , wherein said bead dispenser comprises:
(i) a syringe body comprising an annular chamber surrounding a longitudinal bore, wherein said annular chamber is configured to channel a bead within said annular chamber towards a chamber provided in said bore;
(ii) a plunger provided within said longitudinal bore; and
(iii) a barrel or nozzle;
wherein said plunger is configured to dispense a bead from said chamber into said barrel or nozzle.
28. The bead dispensing system of claim 26 , wherein said bead dispenser is configured to dispense said plurality of beads automatically.
29. A method of dispensing beads comprising:
(a) providing a bead dispenser comprising a plurality of beads;
(b) providing a sample plate comprising a sample well, wherein said sample well comprises a base portion, wherein said base portion comprises a plurality of recesses, each recess having a circular cross-section and comprising
i) a tapered section or
ii) a diameter less than a diameter of a bead of said plurality of beads; and
(c) controlling the dispensing of said beads from said bead dispenser into respective ones of said recesses.
30. The method of claim 29 , wherein said dispensing is performed automatically.
31. A kit for detecting an analyte comprising:
(a) a plurality of beads; and
(b) a sample plate comprising a sample well, wherein said sample well comprises a base portion, wherein said base portion comprises a plurality of recesses, each recess having a circular cross-section and comprising
i) a tapered section or
ii) a diameter less than a diameter of a bead of said plurality of beads.
32. The kit of claim 31 , wherein said plurality of beads comprises one or more probes.
33. The kit of claim 32 , wherein said probe is a nucleic acid, antibody, antibody fragment, protein, peptide, aptamer, or chemical compound.
34. The kit of claim 32 , wherein said probe is an oligonucleotide.