Patent Application
20050282293
The invention relates to the field of sample delivery and microfluidics.
Blood samples are routinely drawn for diagnostic purposes in standardized glass collection tubes containing anticoagulants such as EDTA, citrate, or heparin. The Vacutainer brand (e.g., from Becton Dickinson) of tubes facilitates drawing of patient blood samples by virtue of a partial vacuum in the tube, which is retained during storage of the tubes by a silicone rubber stopper/septum. It is however difficult to transfer cells from such containers to analytical devices in an automated way. For example, blood cells may sediment potentially leading to inaccurate blood counts. In addition, the transfer of blood and subsequent mixing with reagents or diluents may lead to cell loss, sample contamination from the environment, or risk of infection to personnel.
Thus, there is a need for improved methods of transfer of blood from storage containers to analytical devices.
The invention features methods and devices for the delivery of a fluid medium containing analytes, e.g., particles, solutes, or solvents, to an analytical device. The systems are designed to minimize contact with potentially hazardous, fragile, or valuable samples. The systems allow for the dilution, mixing, and introduction of the fluid medium to an analytical device, followed by possible further analysis or sample manipulation.
In one aspect, the invention features a method for delivering analytes to an analytical device including the steps of providing a sample container having an outlet and containing a fluid medium including the analyte; the analytical device; and a transfer line fluidically connecting the outlet and the analytical device; and pumping at least a portion of the fluid medium through the outlet and the transfer line into the analytical device, during which the fluid medium in the sample container is agitated to substantially maintain homogeneity. The transfer line may include a diluent inlet through which diluent can be introduced in order to dilute the sample prior to introduction into the analytical device. The transfer line or the analytical device may further include a mixer capable of mixing the fluid medium and the diluent.
The invention also features an alternative method for delivering analytes to an analytical device including providing a sample container having an outlet and containing a fluid medium including the analytes; the analytical device; a fluidic switch; and a diluent reservoir containing diluent, wherein the outlet is fluidically connected to the analytical device, and the fluidic switch is fluidically connected to the analytical device and the diluent reservoir; pumping the diluent through the fluidic switch and the analytical device into the sample container to dilute the sample, wherein the fluidic switch directs the diluent into the analytical device; and pumping at least a portion of the diluted sample through the outlet and into the analytical device, during which the diluted sample in the sample container is agitated to substantially maintain homogeneity. In this method, the diluted sample may be pumped through the analytical device, e.g., in its entirety. The fluidic switch may prevent the diluted sample from entering the diluent reservoir, e.g., by directing the sample that has passed through the analytical device to a waster container.
Another method of the invention for delivering analytes to an analytical device includes providing a sample container having an outlet and containing a fluid medium including the analytes; the analytical device; and a diluent reservoir containing diluent, wherein the outlet is fluidically connected to the analytical device, and the analytical device is fluidically connected to the diluent reservoir; pumping diluent from the diluent reservoir through the analytical device and the outlet into the sample container to dilute the sample; and pumping at least a portion of the diluted sample from the sample container through the outlet into the analytical device, during which the diluted sample in the sample container is agitated to substantially maintain homogeneity.
An additional method of the invention for delivering analytes to an analytical device includes providing a sample container having an outlet and containing a fluid medium comprising the analytes; a diluent reservoir containing diluent; and the analytical device, wherein the outlet is fluidically connected to the diluent reservoir, and the diluent reservoir is fluidically connected to the analytical device; pumping at least a portion of the fluid medium from the sample container through the outlet into the diluent reservoir to dilute the sample, during which the fluid medium in the sample container is agitated to substantially maintain homogeneity; and pumping at least a portion of the diluted sample from the diluent reservoir into the analytical device, during which the diluent reservoir is agitated to substantially maintain homogeneity in the diluted sample.
In various embodiments, the agitation, e.g., used to reduce sedimentation of particles in the medium, occurs by applying mechanical or acoustical force or by circulating the medium. The sample container may also have an inlet, which may or may not be in fluid contact with the fluid medium. Such an inlet may be coaxial with the outlet. Any container, e.g., for sample or diluent, that is pressurized in the methods of the invention may contain a pressure release valve. Pumping may occur, for example, by introducing a pressurizing fluid into a container to force at least a portion of the fluid out of the container. The fluid medium may be, for example, a biological fluid including blood, lymph, semen, urine, cerebrospinal fluid, saliva, or a cell suspension, and the analytes may include particles, such as cells. When the analytes are delivered to the analytical device, they may be analyzed, e.g., by contacting the analytes with a labeling moiety (for example, for in situ hybridization analysis of cells). A portion of the analytes may also be selectively retained in the analytical device, e.g., through binding to capture moieties or size, shape, or deformability based retention. The analytical device may also be rinsed after analytes are introduced therein. In addition, additional diluents, e.g., containing reagents or rinses, may be introduced into the analytical device. The introduction of such additional diluents may be controlled by a fluidic switch.
In another aspect, the invention features a delivery system including an analytical device; a transfer line fluidically connected to the analytical device, wherein a sample container is capable of being fluidically connected to the transfer line; and an agitator capable of substantially maintaining homogeneity in a fluid medium. As above, the transfer line comprises a diluent inlet through which diluent can be introduced. The transfer line may also include a mixer capable of mixing diluent and a fluid medium.
Another delivery system of the invention includes an analytical device capable of being fluidically connected to a sample container; a fluidic switch; a diluent reservoir; and an agitator capable of substantially maintaining homogeneity in a fluid medium, wherein the fluidic switch is fluidically connected to the analytical device and the diluent reservoir, and wherein the fluidic switch is capable of preventing the flow of fluid between the analytical device and the diluent reservoir.
The invention also features a delivery system including an analytical device capable of being fluidically connected to a sample container; a diluent reservoir, wherein the analytical device is fluidically connected to the diluent reservoir; and an agitator capable of substantially maintaining homogeneity in a fluid medium.
An additional delivery system of the invention includes a diluent reservoir capable of being fluidically connected to a sample container; an analytical device fluidically connected to the diluent reservoir; and an agitator capable of substantially maintaining homogeneity in a fluid medium.
In another aspect, the invention features a plug for a sample container. The plug has a top having a depression and a bottom, and, when inserted into a sample container, the top is in contact with the sample. A first port traverse the plug from the top to the bottom and is in fluidic connection with the depression, and a second port traverses the plug from the top to the bottom and is not in fluidic contact with the depression. The second port may be connected to a pressure source, and the first port may be connected to a transfer line capable of being connected to an analytical device.
The systems and plugs of the invention may be employed in the methods described herein. In addition, the wetting methods described herein may be used to enhance the introduction of fluid media in the methods and systems of the invention.
By “analyte” is meant a molecule, other chemical species, e.g., an ion, or particle. Exemplary analytes include cells, viruses, nucleic acids, proteins, carbohydrates, and small organic molecules.
By “analytical device” is meant any device suitable for preparation, separation, modification, analysis, storage, or performing any other desirable activity on a sample.
By “capture moiety” is meant a chemical species to which an analyte binds. A capture moiety may be a compound coupled to a surface or the material making up the surface. Exemplary capture moieties include antibodies, oligo- or polypeptides, nucleic acids, other proteins, synthetic polymers, and carbohydrates.
By “diluent” is meant any fluid that is miscible with the fluid medium of a sample. Typically diluents are liquids. A diluent, for example, contains agents to alter pH (e.g., acids, bases, or buffering agents) or reagents to chemically modify analytes in a sample (e.g., to label an analyte, conjugate a chemical species to an analyte, or cleave a portion of an analyte) or to effect a biological result (e.g., growth media or chemicals that elicit a cellular response or agents that cause cell lysis). A diluent may also contain agents for use in fixing or stabilizing cells, viruses, or molecules. A diluent may also be chemically or biologically inert.
By “microfluidic” is meant having one or more dimensions of less than 1 mm. For example, a microfluidic device includes a microfluidic channel having a height, width, or length of less than 1 mm.
By “particle” is meant an object that does not dissolve in a solution on the time scale of an analysis.
By “specifically binding” a type of analyte is meant binding analytes of that type by a specified mechanism, e.g., antibody-antigen interaction, ligand-receptor interaction, nucleic acid complementarity, protein-protein interaction, charge-charge interaction, and hydrophobic-hydrophobic or hydrophilic-hydrophilic interactions. The strength of the bond is generally enough to prevent detachment by the flow of fluid present when analytes are bound, although individual analytes may occasionally detach under normal operating conditions.
By “specifically retained” is meant retained based on a specific characteristic, e.g., size, shape, deformability, or chemical identity.
Other features and advantages will be apparent from the following description and the claims.
a is a schematic diagram of a delivery system including inline dilution.
b is a schematic diagram of a delivery system including an online mixer and online dilution.
c is a schematic diagram of a delivery system including on-chip mixing in a microfluidic device (i.e., chip) and online dilution.
a is a schematic diagram of a delivery system as described in Example 2.
b is a schematic diagram of a delivery system as described in Example 2.
c is a schematic diagram of a sample container having a cone-shaped bottom in order to maximize sample removal.
The drawings are not necessarily to scale.
It is often desirable to automate the transfer of a fluid medium containing analytes, e.g., blood cells, from a sample container to an analytical device. Automated transfer is also beneficial in situations where the analysis requires a relatively constant flow of fluid medium at relatively low flow rates, and avoiding sedimentation of any particles or separation of immiscible fluids is desirable. It may also be desirable to mix a sample with appropriate diluents, e.g., those containing anticoagulants or other reagents, to facilitate subsequent processing and analysis. Automated sample processing is also important for samples that may create hazardous aerosols or be biohazards or susceptible to contamination or degradation. With such samples, processing without a technician needing to open the container is preferable. Furthermore, when a sample is being delivered to an analytical device, especially a microfluidic device, for analysis, methods that enhance wetting of the device in order to avoid entrapping bubbles, which could interfere with the analysis, are desirable.
Several embodiments of a system that delivers a fluid medium, e.g., a homogeneous mixture of particles, such as blood, to an analytical device, while also providing the ability to mix diluents with the sample, are described below. Each of these embodiments will be described specifically with respect to a blood sample, but the methods and devices are broadly applicable to other fluid media, e.g., solutions, suspensions, or mixtures of particles in a fluid medium.
This system is described with reference to
The system is based on the serial fluidic connection of a blood container, an analytical device, and a diluent reservoir. The system makes use of both inlet and outlet connections to the analytical device to enable priming or wetting of the device while diluting the blood sample to any desired volume.
With reference to
In this embodiment, the system contains two containers in series, a sample container and a diluent reservoir. An amount of blood is pumped by positive displacement from the sample container into the diluent reservoir, both of which are disposed on a mechanical rocker for mixing and sedimentation control. In this embodiment, dilution occurs in a pre-determined volume of buffer in a second tube. A controllable vent may be kept open until the blood sample is displaced into the second tube, after which the vent may be closed to allow subsequent positive displacement pumping to be used to displace the diluted sample from the second tube into an analytical device. A frit or filter on the vent outlet would prevent the discharge of cell-containing aerosols, and any contamination from the outside environment.
One skilled may alter the specific components of the systems described in the above-examples to achieve the same purpose. For example, controlling the sedimentation of particles (or otherwise maintaining a homogenous fluid medium), i.e., agitation, may be achieved by any means, including introduction of mechanical or acoustical energy or by circulating the fluid. Examples include a mechanical rocking, magnetic stirring, sonication, or fluid circulating. The frequency and amplitude of sonic waves may be optimized for the particular analytes involved, e.g., living biological cells, to aid in mixing without any deleterious effects on the analytes. For magnetic stirring, a small magnet, preferably poly(tetrafluoroethylene)-coated, could be placed in container requiring mixing, with the container located on a magnetic stir-plate. A relatively low rotational speed such as 1 per second may be employed to avoid damaging the analytes. Furthermore, although separate a input and output are described in the above-examples, a spike containing both or a co-axial input and output may be employed. It is also envisioned that a pressure relief device, e.g., a valve, may be incorporated into any container to be pressurized to avoid hazardous release of analytes, e.g., aerosolized blood, or loss of sample, in the event of a blockage of the tubing or flow passage to the analytical device. Any suitable positive displacement pump may be used to transport fluids. Examples include syringe pumps, positive displacement, such as through introduction of a pressurizing fluid, preferably immiscible in the sample, to a container or through the use of a syringe attached to a syringe pump as a sample container, and regulated pressure sources. One advantage of using a regulated pressure source to drive fluids is that the pressure in the system is limited to the regulated source pressure. Fluids may also be transported via gravity feed, negative displacement (e.g., vacuum), gas pressure, or an immiscible fluid, such as mineral oil. Mixers may also be employed when two fluids are introduced into a transfer line when the Reynolds number is low are when diffusional mixing is insufficient. Such mixers may be employed in the transfer line or at an appropriate point in the analytical device. Such mixers are known in the art. Transfer lines, i.e., fluidic connections, between components of the system may be any material suitable for use with the analytes and fluids employed, e.g., plastics, ceramics, glass, or metals. Connections between components can be made by any suitable, liquid tight connection, as known in the art. In addition, when small sample volumes are employed, connections that have low dead volume are preferable.
Sample Containers
In general, any sample container having at least one fluid port (e.g., an outlet) and being suitable to contain the fluid medium of the sample may be employed in the methods and systems described. Sample containers may also contain more than one port, e.g., for output and to introduce diluent or a pressurizing fluid (such as air, nitrogen, or a fluid immiscible in the sample on the time scale of pumping). A single port may also be used for dual purposes, e.g., input of diluent and output of diluted sample, as described.
In one embodiment, the sample container is closed with a plug as shown in
Analytical Devices
The methods of the invention may be employed in connection with any analytical device. Examples include affinity columns, particle sorters, e.g., fluorescent activated cell sorters, capillary electrophoresis, microscopes, spectrophotometers, sample storage devices, and sample preparation devices. Microfluidic devices are of particular interest in connection with the systems described herein.
In particular embodiments, the analytical device may be used to isolate various analytes from a mixture, e.g., for collection or further analysis. In one desirable embodiment, rare cells, e.g., fetal red blood cells or cancer cells, are retained in the device, as described in International Application No. PCT/USO3/30965. Analytes retained in the device may, for example, be labeled, e.g., with fluorescent or radioactive probes, subjected to chemical or genetic analysis (such as fluorescent in situ hybridization), or, if biological, cultured.
Analytical devices may or may not include microfluidic channels, i.e., may or may not be microfluidic devices. The dimensions of the channels of the device into which analytes are introduced may depend on the size or type of analytes employed. Preferably, a channel in an analytical device has at least one dimension (e.g., height, width, length, or radius) of no greater than 10, 9.5, 9, 8.5, 8, 7.5, 7, 6.5, 6, 5.5, 5, 4.5, 4, 3.5, 3,2.5, 2, 1.5, or 1 mm. Microfluidic devices employed in the systems and methods described herein preferably have at least one dimension of less than 1, 0.9, 0.8, 0.7, 0.6, 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2, 0.1, or even 0.05 mm. The dimensions of an analytical device can be determined by one skilled in the art based on the desired application.
Wetting of Devices
In devices that rely on the uniform flow of fluid media, such as buffer-diluted blood, supplied by the dispensing systems described herein, it is preferable to avoid uneven wetting of the analytical device, e.g., in microfluidic channels, that can cause uneven flow because of entrapped gas bubbles in unwet regions. Any wetting method can be employed in combination with an analytical device used in the systems described herein. Methods that address wetting include:
1) Initial flow of buffer containing surfactant: This approach involves using a special buffer tailored to enhance wetting by incorporating a surfactant. This concentration is desirably low enough to avoid damaging the integrity of any analytes.
2) Initial flow of buffer while exposing the device to acoustic vibrations: Acoustic vibration, especially in the ultrasonic regime, can have a beneficial effect in promoting the wetting of surfaces. In this approach, the ultrasonic transducer may be incorporated into the device.
3) Coating portions of the device, e.g., the device lid, with a chemical layer chosen to enhance wetting, e.g., a dried aqueous solution of sugar.
4) Plasma etching of the device: A reactive plasma etch process can reduce the surface tension of aqueous solutions on polymers and other surfaces. For example, improving the wettability of the device lid, e.g., a polymer film, can improve the wettability of the entire device.
5) Assemble the device while submerged under buffer to ensure that the device is substantially wetted and free of gas (e.g., air) bubbles.
Purging the device with carbon dioxide: The purge drives out air, and residual CO2 is rapidly dissolved into incoming priming buffer because of the high solubility of CO2 in aqueous solutions. Other gases may be employed in other solvent systems.
All publications, patents, and patent applications mentioned in the above specification are hereby incorporated by reference. Various modifications and variations of the described method and system of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention that are obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be within the scope of the invention.
Other embodiments are in the claims.
This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/549,680, filed Mar. 3, 2004, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60549680 | Mar 2004 | US |
