阅读说明：本技术 离心处理单元 (Centrifugal processing unit ) 是由 M·斯皮斯 A·萨格 F·施黑泽尔 M·沃尔夫 于 2018-05-24 设计创作，主要内容包括：用于引导物质在样品处理盒(2)中的运动的离心处理单元(1),该离心处理单元(1)包括转子(3)和转子驱动器,该转子具有用于接收样品处理盒(2)的至少一个容纳部(33),该转子驱动器用于使至少一个转子(3)绕各自的转子轴线(300)旋转以产生离心力(F)。离心处理单元(1)还包括阻挡元件(34),从而当转子(3)沿第一方向旋转时允许至少一个容纳部(33)在释放位置的自由枢转运动,并且当转子(3)沿相反方向旋转时阻止在阻挡位置的自由枢转运动。(A centrifugal processing unit (1) for guiding a movement of a substance in a sample processing cartridge (2), the centrifugal processing unit (1) comprising a rotor (3) having at least one receptacle (33) for receiving the sample processing cartridge (2), and a rotor drive for rotating the at least one rotor (3) about a respective rotor axis (300) to generate a centrifugal force (F). The centrifugal processing unit (1) further comprises a blocking element (34) allowing a free pivotal movement of the at least one accommodation (33) in the release position when the rotor (3) is rotated in a first direction and preventing a free pivotal movement in the blocking position when the rotor (3) is rotated in an opposite direction.)

1. A centrifugal processing unit (1) for guiding a movement of a substance within a sample processing cartridge (2), the centrifugal processing unit (1) comprising:

at least one rotor (3) having at least one receptacle (33) for receiving the sample processing cartridge (2), the at least one receptacle (33) allowing only free pivotal movement of the cartridge (2) about a respective pivot axis (330), wherein each of the pivot axes (330) is orthogonal to the rotor axis (300) and to a respective force vector (F1, F2, F3) of the centrifugal force (F);

at least one rotor drive for rotating the at least one rotor (3) about the respective rotor axis (300) to generate a centrifugal force (F);

-control means for accelerating and decelerating said at least one rotor (3);

at least one blocking element (34) allowing free pivoting movement of the cartridge (2) in a release position and preventing free pivoting movement in a blocking position,

the blocking element (34) is movable to the release position when the rotor (3) is rotated in a first rotational direction, and the blocking element (34) is movable to the blocking position when the rotor (3) is rotated in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction.

2. Centrifugal processing unit (1) according to claim 1, wherein the blocking element (34) is arranged on the rotor (3).

3. The centrifugal processing unit (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one receptacle (33) is adapted to receive the sample processing cartridge (2) in a first orientation and to receive the sample processing cartridge (2) in a second orientation, wherein the second orientation corresponds to an angular rotation of the sample processing cartridge (2) around a central axis (200) parallel to the rotor axis (300).

4. Centrifugal processing unit (1) according to claim 4, wherein the angular rotation is a rotation around more than 0 to 180 degrees, in particular 90 degrees or 180 degrees.

5. The centrifugal processing unit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one receptacle (33) comprises a frame (331) for receiving the sample processing cartridge (2).

6. The centrifugal processing unit (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one receptacle (33) comprises an abutment (333) that prevents the sample processing cartridge (2) from pivoting beyond a predetermined angle (a).

7. A centrifugal processing system (10) for directing movement of a substance within a sample processing cartridge (2), the centrifugal processing system (10) comprising:

-a centrifugal processing unit (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6; and

at least one manipulator (4) adapted to enable the sample processing cartridge (2) to be arranged in or removed from the at least one receptacle (33).

8. The centrifugal processing system (10) according to claim 7, wherein the manipulator (4) is adapted to be able to move the sample processing cartridge (2) in any horizontal or vertical direction (X, Y, Z).

9. The centrifugal processing system (10) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the manipulator (4) is adapted to be able to perform an angular rotation of the sample processing cartridge (2) about an axis (Z) parallel to the rotor axis (300).

10. The centrifugal processing system (10) according to claim 9, wherein the angular rotation is a rotation around more than 0 degrees, in particular 90 degrees or 180 degrees.

11. The centrifugal processing system (10) according to any of claims 7 to 10, wherein the centrifugal processing system (10) further comprises at least one additional station, wherein the at least one additional station can be selected from a loading/unloading station (5), a sealing station (6), an irradiation station (7), a heating station (8), a detection/quantification station (9) and an identification station (90) or any other commonly known station for processing the contents of a sample processing cartridge or for operating a sample processing cartridge.

12. A method for guiding a substance in a sample processing cartridge (2), the method comprising the steps of:

-providing a centrifugal processing unit (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6;

-inserting a sample processing cartridge (2) into the at least one receptacle (33);

-rotating the at least one rotor (3) in the first rotational direction about a respective rotor axis (300) thereby moving the blocking element (34) into the release position thereby allowing a free pivotal movement of the at least one receptacle (33), thereby generating a first force vector (F1) in a first direction relative to the inserted sample processing cartridge (2);

-stopping the rotation, thereby allowing the sample processing cartridge (2) to return to its initial position;

-rotating said at least one rotor (3) in said second rotational direction opposite to said first rotational direction, thereby moving said blocking element (34) into said blocking position, thereby preventing a free pivoting movement of said at least one housing (33), thereby generating a second force vector (F2) in a second direction with respect to the inserted sample processing cartridge (2).

13. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

-removing the sample processing cartridge (2) from the at least one receptacle (33);

-rotating the sample processing cartridge (2) about an axis (Z) parallel to the rotor axis (300);

-inserting the sample processing cartridge (2) into the at least one receptacle (33);

thereby enabling generation of a third force vector (F) in a third direction relative to the sample processing cartridge (2) when the at least one rotor (3) is rotated in the second rotational direction.

14. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that the method further comprises the steps of:

-positioning the sample processing cartridge (2) in at least one additional station before or after inserting the sample processing cartridge (2) in a pivoting receptacle (31) or a fixed receptacle (32), wherein the at least one additional station can be selected from: loading/unloading station (5), sealing station (6), irradiation station (electromagnetic, radiation), heating station (contact, convection), detection/quantification station, unloading station, identification station.

15. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein the free pivotal movement of the sample processing cartridge (2) is partially restricted by providing the receptacle (33) with an abutment (333) prior to rotation of the at least one rotor (3).

Description of the Related Art

Such a centrifugal processing unit is disclosed in US 4,236,666. It comprises two hoppers (magazines) for several sample containers, wherein the hoppers are arranged on arms extending outwards from the axis of rotation and opposite to each other. Each hopper is rotatable about a respective axis and slidable along the axis. On each arm, a locking pin is arranged on one side of the respective bin, and each bin comprises a corresponding recess for said locking pin. If the axis of rotation is rotated in one direction, each hopper rests on the side of the arm without the aid of a locking pin and can rotate about its axis. If the axis of rotation is rotated in the opposite direction, each hopper slides along its axis by means of a locking pin against the side of the arm, thus preventing its rotation about its axis. Sliding and abutting create additional undesirable force vectors.

Summary of The Invention

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a centrifugal processing unit for guiding the movement of substances within a sample processing cartridge, whereby additional undesired force vectors are avoided.

This problem is solved by a centrifugal processing unit having the features of claim 1. Further embodiments of the centrifugal processing unit, the centrifugal processing system and the method for guiding the movement of a substance within a sample processing cartridge are defined by the features of the further claims.

A centrifugal processing unit for directing movement of a substance within a sample processing cartridge, comprising: at least one rotor having at least one receptacle for receiving a sample processing cartridge, the at least one receptacle allowing only free pivotal movement of the cartridge about a respective pivot axis, wherein each pivot axis is orthogonal to the rotor axis and to a respective force vector of a centrifugal force; at least one rotor drive for rotating at least one rotor about a respective rotor axis to generate centrifugal force; control means for accelerating and decelerating the at least one rotor; at least one blocking element allowing and preventing free pivotal movement of the cartridge or container in the release position, wherein the blocking element is movable to the release position when the rotor is rotated in a first rotational direction, and wherein the blocking element is movable to the blocking position when the rotor is rotated in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction.

Since the mass of the blocking element is small relative to the mass of the rotor, the receptacle and the cartridge, no or only a small vibration is caused by its movement from the release position into the blocking position. Also, during the movement of the blocking element from the release position to the blocking position, the rotor may initially rotate slowly. After the blocking element reaches the blocking position, the rotor may accelerate.

This concept is applicable to any number of rotor arms. There may be two, four, six, eight, ten, twelve or any even number of rotor arms. The centrifuge reaches a weight balance when the arms are evenly distributed around the rotor. Alternatively, it is also possible to have any odd number of rotor arms distributed correspondingly around the rotor. The blocking element may block the pivoting movement of all receptacles or may block the pivoting movement of only a certain number of receptacles. The pivoting movement of every other receptacle may be blocked or the pivoting movement of a batch of adjacent receptacles may be blocked. In order to produce a symmetrical load distribution, the receptacles opposite to each other with respect to the rotor should have the same design, i.e. their pivoting movement should be blocked or unblocked at the same time.

In another embodiment, the blocking element is arranged on the rotor. By the arrangement on the rotor, all blocking elements can be moved together. This is possible when the pivoting movement of each receptacle is prevented or only a part thereof is prevented.

In a further embodiment, the at least one receptacle is adapted to receive the sample processing cartridge in a first orientation and to receive the sample processing cartridge in a second orientation, wherein the second orientation corresponds to a rotation of the sample processing cartridge through an angle about an axis parallel to the rotor axis. If the cartridges may be oriented in different directions in the accommodating portion, a plurality of force vectors acting on the cartridges may be generated due to centrifugal force generated during rotation.

For example, the angular rotation is a rotation of about more than 0 to 180 degrees, in particular 90 degrees or 180 degrees. Typically, the sample processing cartridge is disk-shaped, wherein its width and height are multiples of its thickness in its intended use position.

In another embodiment, at least one receptacle comprises a frame for receiving a sample processing cartridge. Such a frame may be adapted to receive a particular cassette or may be designed to be able to receive various cassettes having similar receiving portions. Such a frame allows greater flexibility with respect to the cassette to be received.

In further embodiments, the at least one receptacle includes an abutment that prevents the sample processing cartridge from pivoting beyond a predetermined angle. A corresponding abutment member may be arranged on the sample processing cartridge or on the frame for receiving the sample processing cartridge. Since the free pivoting movement allows for angular deviations of 0 degrees to about 90 degrees, the design with abutments allows for selectively setting the angular movement of the sample processing cartridge in a range of more than 0 degrees to less than 90 degrees. In this way, the contents of the sample processing cartridge may be moved at an angle relative to the orientation of the sample processing cartridge.

The features of the above-described embodiments of the centrifugal processing unit can be used in any combination, unless they contradict each other.

The centrifugal processing system for guiding the movement of a substance within a sample processing cartridge according to the present invention comprises a centrifugal processing unit according to one of the above-described embodiments and at least one manipulator adapted to be able to arrange a sample processing cartridge in or remove a sample processing cartridge from at least one receptacle. The manipulator prevents human operator error. Furthermore, in a clean environment, the manipulator allows handling the cartridge without risk of contamination during processing of the cartridge.

In an embodiment, the manipulator is adapted to be able to move the sample processing cartridge in any horizontal or vertical direction. The combination of the vertical movement and the at least one horizontal movement allows placing and removing the cassette in and from the centrifugal processing unit. By transferring the cartridge from one housing to the housing opposite thereto, the orientation of the cartridge relative to the rotor is changed. The same orientation change can be achieved by rotation of the cartridge.

In a further embodiment, the manipulator is adapted to be able to perform an angular rotation of the sample processing cartridge about an axis parallel to the rotor axis. The change in orientation of the cassette results in a change in orientation of the force vector of the centrifugal force during centrifugation of the corresponding cassette.

For example, an angular rotation is a rotation around an angle larger than 0, in particular 90 degrees or 180 degrees. Rotation of the cartridge by about 180 degrees allows for reversal of the force vector created by the applied centrifugal force.

According to another embodiment, the centrifugal processing system further comprises at least one additional station, wherein the at least one additional station may be selected from a loading/unloading station, a sealing station, an irradiation station (electromagnetic, radiation), a heating station (contact, convection), a detection/quantification station and an identification station or any other commonly known station for processing the contents of or operating a sample processing cartridge. The inclusion of these additional stations provides a variety of options and allows for the widespread use of the system. The stations may be arranged adjacent to each other on a base. Furthermore, they may also be dispensed within an accessible housing. The housing may be partially or completely removed or opened.

The loading and unloading can be at the same location or can be distributed at different locations, i.e. loading and unloading stations. These stations may provide space for a single cassette or a carrier for several cassettes. The loading station may also include a pipetting station at which substances, reagents, samples or re-solution buffers (recycling buffers) may be added, mixed or transferred into respective compartments in the cartridge.

In the sealing station, the cartridge is sealed to prevent the substance from leaving or entering the cartridge.

In the irradiation station, the intermediate or final product may be exposed to any kind of irradiation. For example, the irradiation may be electromagnetic, such as light or heat, or radioactive.

In the heating station, the intermediate or final product may be exposed to any kind of heat, for example by contact or by convection. For example, the heat may be kept constant in a thermostatic incubator, for example in the range of 4 to 98 degrees celsius. In a gradient incubator or thermocycler, any heating or cooling gradients can be combined with each other or with temperature plateaus.

In the detection/quantification station, the intermediate or final product may be detected or quantified by any type of optical or electronic detection/quantification means.

In the identification station, the cartridge may be identified by means of a one-or two-dimensional barcode scanner, a matrix scanner, an RFID scanner or an imaging system.

The features of the above-described embodiments of the centrifugal processing system may be used in any combination, unless they contradict each other.

The method for guiding a substance in a sample processing cartridge according to the present invention comprises the steps of:

-providing a centrifugal processing unit according to one of the above embodiments;

-inserting a sample processing cartridge into at least one receptacle;

-rotating the at least one rotor in a first rotational direction about the respective rotor axis, thereby moving the movable element of the blocking element into the release position, thereby allowing free pivotal movement of the inserted sample processing cartridge, thereby generating a first force vector in the first direction relative to the inserted sample processing cartridge;

-stopping the rotation, thereby allowing the sample processing cartridge to return to its initial position;

-rotating the at least one rotor in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction, thereby moving the movable element of the blocking element into the blocking position, thereby preventing a free pivotal movement of the inserted sample processing cartridge, thereby generating a second force vector in the second direction with respect to the inserted sample processing cartridge.

In a further embodiment, the method further comprises the steps of:

-removing the sample processing cartridge from the at least one receptacle;

-rotating the sample processing cartridge about an axis parallel to the rotor axis;

-inserting a sample processing cartridge into at least one receptacle;

thereby enabling a third force vector in a third direction relative to the inserted sample processing cartridge when the at least one rotor is rotated in the second rotational direction.

The advantages of a centrifugal processing unit or centrifugal processing system are equally applicable to methods of guiding the movement of a substance within a sample processing cartridge.

In a further embodiment, the method further comprises the steps of:

-positioning the sample processing cartridge in at least one additional station before or after inserting the sample processing cartridge into the receptacle, wherein the at least one additional station may be selected from the same stations as in the centrifugal processing system.

According to further embodiments, the insertion, removal, rotation and/or positioning of the sample processing cartridge is performed by at least one manipulator.

According to a further embodiment, the free pivotal movement of the sample processing cartridge is partially restricted by providing the receptacle with an abutment prior to rotation of the at least one rotor. The abutment may be provided at the start of rotation of the rotor or just before rotation of the rotor. It is also possible to provide the receptacles with a limited angle from the beginning, as a factory setting or at the latest before the rotor is rotated by hand or by a manipulator, to place the abutments in the respective receptacles. It is also possible to dispense the abutment at the receiving position between these two points in time.

The features of the above-described embodiments of the method for guiding the movement of a substance within a sample processing cartridge may be used in any combination, unless they contradict each other.