Instrument for cassette for sample preparation
A parallel preceding system for processing samples is described. In one embodiment, the parallel processing system includes an instrument interface parallel controller to control a tray motor driving system, a close-loop heater control and detection system, a magnetic particle transfer system, a reagent release system, a reagent pre-mix pumping system and a wash buffer pumping system.
1. A system comprising:
a plurality of stackable enclosures stacked one on top of the other, wherein each stackable enclosure of the plurality of stackable enclosures comprises:
(i) at least one opening configured to receive one or more cassettes,
(ii) at least one actuator assembly, said actuator assembly comprising a plurality of plungers configured to be movable between a first position and a second position such that the plurality of plungers are configured to engage a surface of the one or more cassettes when the plurality of plungers are moved from the first position to the second position; and
(iii) at least one sub-system computer;
a system controller module comprising a single, touch-panel display and a main computer configured to communicate with the single, touch-panel display and the sub-system computer in the plurality of stackable enclosures.
2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a cassette disposed within at least one of the plurality of stackable enclosures.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the cassette contains a sample of cells.
4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the cassette contains a cell lysis solution.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the single touch-panel display is a liquid crystal display (LCD).
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises a networking peripheral device.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein each stackable enclosure of the plurality of stackable enclosures has two openings configured to receive one or more cassettes.
8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a tray driving motor system.
9. The system of claim 7 , wherein each stackable enclosure has a first opening and a second opening configured to receive one or more cassettes, and further wherein the tray driving motor system comprises:
(i) an alignment plate;
(ii) a first drive shaft retention block coupled to the alignment plate;
(iii) a second drive shaft retention block coupled to the alignment plate;
(iv) a load driving shaft;
(v) a main driving motor coupled with the load driving shaft via the first drive shaft retention block and the second drive shaft retention block;
(vi) a first parallel shaft;
(vii) a second parallel shaft;
(viii) a first parallel linear drive movably coupled to the first parallel shaft,
(ix) a second parallel linear drive movably coupled to the second parallel shaft;
(x) a first load resistance tray configured to receive the one or more cassettes;
(xi) a first door configured to cover the first opening;
(xii) a second load resistance tray configured to receive the one or ore cassettes; and
(xiii) a second door a second door configured to cover the second opening.
10. The system of claim 1 further comprising a heater and temperature sensor assembly, the heater and temperature sensor assembly comprising a plurality of heaters and temperature sensors.
11. The system of claim 1 , wherein each stackable enclosure of the plurality of stackable enclosures comprises at least two actuator assemblies, each actuator assembly comprising a plurality of plungers configured to be movable between a first position and a second position such that the plurality of plungers are configured to engage a surface of the one or more cassettes when the plurality of plungers are moved from the first position to the second position.
12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the main computer communicates with the sub-system computer via a universal asynchronous receiver-transmitter (UART).
13. A system comprising: a plurality of stackable enclosures stacked one on top of the other, wherein each stackable enclosure of the plurality of stackable enclosures comprises:
(i) at least one opening configured to receive one or more cassettes,
(ii) at least on actuator assembly, said actuator assembly comprising a plurality of plungers configured to be movable between a first position and a second position such that the plurality of plungers are configured to engage a surface of the one or more cassettes when the plurality of plungers are moved from the first position to the second position;
(iii) at least one heater and temperature sensor assembly; and
(iv) at least one sub-system computer;
at least one cassette containing a sample of cells disposed within each stackable enclosure of the plurality of stackable enclosures; and
a system controller module comprising a single display and a main computer configured to communicate with the single display and the sub-system computer in the plurality of stackable enclosures.
14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the system further comprises a networking peripheral device.
15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the main computer communicates with the sub-system computer via a universal asynchronous receiver-transmitter (UART).
16. The system of claim 13 , wherein each stackable enclosure of the plurality of stackable enclosures has two openings configured to receive one or more cassettes.
17. A method for processing a sample of cells comprising:
adding a sample of cells to a cassette containing a lysis solution and a wash buffer;
inserting the cassette in one of the plurality of stackable enclosures of the system of claim 1 ; and
selecting a protocol for processing the sample in the stackable enclosure using the single, touch-panel display of the system of claim 1 .
18. The method of claim 17 comprising:
adding a plurality of samples of cells to a plurality of cassettes containing a lysis solution and a wash buffer;
inserting the plurality of cassettes in the plurality of stackable enclosures of the system of claim 1 ; and
selecting a protocol for processing the plurality of samples in the plurality of stackable enclosures using the single, touch-panel display of the system of claim 1 .
19. The method of claim 17 further comprising inserting the cassette in a magazine prior to inserting the cassette in the stackable enclosure.
20. The method of claim 18 further comprising inserting the plurality of cassettes in a plurality of magazines prior to inserting the plurality of cassettes in the plurality of stackable enclosures.