Cassette for sample preparation

1. A method, comprising:

moving a plunger within a reagent chamber of a cartridge such that the plunger punctures a portion of a puncturable member defining a boundary of the reagent chamber, the moving the plunger including transferring a plurality of magnetic particles from the reagent chamber to a first chamber defined by a housing of the cartridge;

disposing a magnetic shaft at least partially within a movable valve member of a valve to attract the plurality of magnetic particles into a cavity defined by the movable valve member, the valve at least partially disposed within the first housing, the valve including the movable valve member and a valve housing;

rotating the movable valve member relative to the valve housing to transfer the plurality of magnetic particles between the first chamber of the housing and a second chamber defined by the housing while sealing the plurality of magnetic particles within the cavity;

disposing the magnetic shaft at least partially within a movable valve member of a second valve to attract the plurality of magnetic particles into a cavity defined by the movable valve member of the second valve, the second valve at least partially disposed within the housing, the second valve including the movable valve member and a valve housing; and

moving the valve member of the second valve relative to the valve housing of the second valve to transfer the plurality of magnetic particles between the second chamber of the housing and a third chamber defined by the housing.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising removing the magnetic shaft from within the movable valve member of the valve to release the plurality of magnetic particles from the cavity.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising removing the magnetic shaft from within the movable valve member of the second valve to release the plurality of magnetic particles from the cavity defined by the movable valve member of the second valve.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the valve member is moved relative to the valve housing by rotating the magnetic shaft disposed at least partially within the valve member.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the puncturable member is a thin film.

6. A method for isolating nucleic acids from a sample comprising:

(a) receiving a sample in a mixing chamber of a cassette, the cassette comprising the mixing chamber, a first washing chamber, a first valve comprising a valve housing defining a first valve opening in fluid communication with the mixing chamber and a second valve opening in fluid communication with the first washing chamber, a second valve comprising a valve housing defining a first valve opening in fluid communication with the first washing chamber and a second valve opening in fluid communication with a second washing chamber, a first reagent chamber configured to contain a lysis buffer, a second reagent chamber configured to contain magnetic particles, and a third reagent chamber configured to contain a binding buffer, wherein the first, second, and third reagent chambers each include a puncturable portion defining at least a portion of a boundary between the mixing chamber and the first, second, and third reagent chambers;

(b) transferring the lysis buffer to the mixing chamber by puncturing the puncturable portion of the first reagent chamber;

(c) transferring the magnetic particles to the mixing chamber by puncturing the puncturable portion of the second reagent chamber;

(d) transferring the binding buffer to the mixing chamber by puncturing the puncturable portion of the third reagent chamber;

(e) binding nucleic acids in the sample to the magnetic particles;

(f) receiving the magnetic particles and the bound nucleic acids in a cavity defined by a valve member disposed in the valve housing;

(g) transferring the magnetic particles and the bound nucleic acids from the mixing chamber to the first washing chamber by moving the valve member relative to the valve housing from a first position in which the cavity is in fluid communication with the mixing chamber to a second position in which the cavity is in fluid communication with the washing chamber.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the puncturable portion of the first reagent chamber is punctured by a piercing element of a plunger in the first reagent chamber.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the puncturable portion of the second reagent chamber is punctured by a piercing element of a plunger in the second reagent chamber.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the puncturable portion of the third reagent chamber is punctured by a piercing element of a plunger in the third reagent chamber.

10. The method of claim 6 , wherein the cassette further comprises a fourth reagent chamber configured to contain proteinase K (PK), wherein the fourth chamber includes a puncturable portion defining at least a portion of a boundary between the mixing chamber and the fourth reagent chamber.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising transferring the PK to the mixing chamber by puncturing the puncturable portion of the fourth reagent chamber.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the PK is transferred to the mixing chamber prior to adding the lysis buffer to the mixing chamber.

13. The method of claim 6 , wherein the cassette further comprises a pump in fluid communication with the mixing chamber.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the pump is a bellows pump.

15. The method of claim 13 , comprising actuating the pump to mix the sample with one or more of the lysis buffer, magnetic particles, or binding buffer in the mixing chamber.

16. The method of claim 6 , wherein the receiving and the transferring of the magnetic particles comprises inserting a magnet into the valve member to attract the magnetic particles and the bound nucleic acids to the cavity when the valve is in the first position, moving the valve to the second position, and withdrawing the magnet from the valve member.

17. The method of claim 6 , further comprising heating the sample and the lysis buffer in the mixing chamber.

18. The method of claim 6 , further comprising transferring a first washing solution to the first washing chamber, and mixing the washing solution with the magnetic particles and the bound nucleic acids in the first washing chamber.

19. The method of claim 6 , wherein the cassette further comprises:

a third valve comprising a valve housing defining a first valve opening in fluid communication with the second washing chamber and a second valve opening in fluid communication with an elution chamber.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising:

(a) receiving the magnetic particles and the bound nucleic acids in a cavity defined by a valve member disposed in the valve housing of the second valve;

(b) transferring the magnetic particles and the bound nucleic acids from the first washing chamber to the second washing chamber by moving the valve member relative to the valve housing of the second valve from a first position in which the cavity is in fluid communication with the first washing chamber to a second position in which the cavity is in fluid communication with the second washing chamber;

(c) transferring a second washing solution to the second washing chamber, and mixing the washing solution with the magnetic particles and the bound nucleic acids in the second washing chamber;

(d) receiving the magnetic particles and the bound nucleic acids in a cavity defined by a valve member disposed in the valve housing of the third valve; and

(e) transferring the magnetic particles and the bound nucleic acids from the second washing chamber to the elution chamber by moving the valve member relative to the valve housing of the third valve from a first position in which the cavity is in fluid communication with the second washing chamber to a second position in which the cavity is in fluid communication with the elution chamber.

21. The method of claim 20 , further comprising eluting the nucleic acids from the magnetic particles by transferring elution buffer to the elution chamber, and mixing the elution buffer with the magnetic particles and the nucleic acids in the elution chamber.

22. The method of claim 21 , further comprising heating the elution chamber.

23. The method of claim 21 , further comprising:

(a) receiving the magnetic particles in the cavity defined by the valve member disposed in the valve housing of the third valve; and

(b) transferring the magnetic particles from the elution chamber to the second washing chamber by moving the valve member relative to the valve housing of the third valve from the second position in which the cavity is in fluid communication with the elution chamber to the first position in which the cavity is in fluid communication with the second washing chamber.

24. The method of claim 6 , wherein the puncturable portion of the first, second, and third reagent chambers is a thin film.

25. The method of claim 6 , wherein the sample comprises cells.