System for performing a magnetic separation procedure
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.
1. A system for separating an analyte of interest from other components of a sample contained in a receptacle, the system comprising:
a receptacle holding station configured to receive and hold a receptacle delivered to the receptacle holding station by an automated receptacle transport, the receptacle holding station comprising at least one magnet subassembly, each magnet subassembly being attached to at least one wall of a pair of walls defining a receptacle slot, and each magnet subassembly including one or more stationary magnets positioned to apply a magnetic field to the contents of the receptacle held in the receptacle holding station, the receptacle holding station being configured to hold the receptacle stationary relative to the one or more stationary magnets when present in the receptacle holding station; and
a magnetic separation station comprising one or more magnets, the magnetic separation station being 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 by magnetically isolating an analyte immobilized on a magnetically-responsive solid support and removing other components of the sample from the receptacle wherein 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.
2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a receptacle transport configured to automatically move the receptacle between the receptacle holding station and the magnetic separation station.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the receptacle holding station is configured to receive and hold a receptacle device comprising a plurality of individual receptacles.
4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the receptacle holding station is configured to receive and hold at least two receptacle devices.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the receptacle holding station comprises:
a base block from which the pair of walls extends upwardly; and
a shroud at least partially covering the pair of walls, wherein the block, the shroud, and the pair of walls define a receptacle slot.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the receptacle holding station comprises at least two receptacle slots.
7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the receptacle holding station further comprises a resilient receptacle retaining element within the receptacle slot that is configured to releasably retain a receptacle within the receptacle slot.
8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the resilient receptacle retaining element comprises a clip disposed within a clip recess formed in one wall of the pair of walls.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the magnet subassembly comprises:
a plurality of magnets;
an upper holder plate disposed within holder plate grooves formed within the top surface of each of the magnets and which includes a separating projection at each end thereof and between adjacent magnets to hold each magnet within its respective position; and
a lower holder plate disposed within holder plate grooves formed in the lower surfaces of the magnets and which includes a separating projection at opposite ends thereof and between the adjacent magnets to hold each magnet within its respective position.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic separation station comprises a magnet moving apparatus constructed and arranged to move the one or more magnets of the magnetic separation station between a first position in which the magnets have substantially no effect on the magnetically-responsive solid supports contained within the receptacle and a second position in which the magnets cause the solid supports to become isolated within the receptacle.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the position of the one or more magnets of the magnetic separation station relative to the receptacle, when the magnets are in the second position, is the same relative position as the one or more stationary magnets included in the holding station relative to the receptacle.
12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the position of the one or more magnets of the magnetic separation station relative to the receptacle, when the magnets are in the first position, is below the bottom end of the receptacle.
13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the movement of the one or more magnets of the magnetic separation between the first and second positions is a vertical movement.
14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the movement of the one or more magnets of the magnetic separation between the first and second positions is a sloping vertical movement.
15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the receptacle holding station further comprises a resilient receptacle retaining element within the receptacle slot that is configured to releasably retain a receptacle within the receptacle slot.
16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the receptacle comprises an elongate tube having a top end, a bottom end, and one or more sidewall(s) extending between the top end and bottom end.
17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the magnetic separation station comprises a magnet moving apparatus constructed and arranged to move the one or more magnets of the magnetic separation station between a first position in which the magnets have substantially no effect on the magnetically-responsive solid supports contained within the receptacle and a second position in which the magnets cause the solid supports to become isolated within the receptacle, wherein the second position is adjacent to the one or more sidewall(s) of the receptacle.
18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the position of the one or more magnets of the magnetic separation station relative to the receptacle, when the magnets are in the second position, is the same relative position as the one or more stationary magnets included in the holding station relative to the receptacle.
19. The system of claim 2 , wherein the receptacle transport moves along a linear track between the receptacle holding station and the magnetic separation station.