System for performing a magnetic separation procedure
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.
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 laterally to the receptacle holding station by an automated receptacle transport, the receptacle holding station 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, wherein the receptacle holding station comprises:
a base block;
two or more walls extending upwardly from the base block; and
a shroud partially covering the two or more walls and defining a lateral receptacle slot between each adjacent pair of walls, wherein the shroud includes a top panel configured to cover a receptacle placed into the receptacle slot; 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 within the receptacle 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 first wall, a second wall, and a third wall extending upwardly from the base block and defining a first lateral receptacle slot between the first and second walls and a second lateral receptacle slot between the second and third walls.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the receptacle holding station further comprises a resilient receptacle retaining element within each receptacle slot and configured to releasably retain a receptacle within each receptacle slot.
7. The system of claim 6 , wherein each of the resilient receptacle retaining elements comprises a clip disposed within a clip recess formed in one wall of each pair of walls defining a receptacle slot.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the receptacle holding station further comprises a magnet subassembly attached to one wall of each pair of walls defining a receptacle slot, 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.
9. 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 support contained within the receptacle and a second position in which the magnets cause the solid support to become isolated within the receptacle.
10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the position of the one or more magnets relative to the receptacle when 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.
11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the position of the one or more magnets relative to the receptacle when in the first position is below the bottom end of the receptacle.
12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the movement of the one or more magnets of the magnetic separation between the first and second positions is a vertical movement.
13. The system of claim 9 , wherein the movement of the one or more magnets of the magnetic separation between the first and second positions is a sloping vertical movement.
14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the receptacle holding station further comprises a magnet subassembly attached to least one wall of a pair of walls defining a receptacle slot.
15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the receptacle holding station further comprises a resilient receptacle retaining element within each receptacle slot and configured to releasably retain a receptacle within each 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 relative to the receptacle when 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.