阅读说明：本技术 离心处理单元 (Centrifugal processing unit ) 是由 M·斯皮斯 F·施黑泽尔 A·萨格 M·沃尔夫 于 2018-05-16 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种用于引导样品处理盒(2)内的物质运动的离心处理单元(1),包括：用于接收样品处理盒(2)的转子(3)；用于产生离心力(F)的转子驱动器,其中离心处理单元(1)还包括布置在转子(3)上用于接收样品处理盒(2)的枢转容纳部(31)和固定容纳部(32),其中每个枢转容纳部(31)适于允许所接收的样品处理盒(2)绕各自的枢转轴线(310)的自由枢转运动,其中每个枢转轴线(310)正交于转子轴线(300)且正交于离心力(F)的相应力矢量。(A centrifugal processing unit (1) for guiding the movement of a substance within a sample processing cartridge (2), comprising: a rotor (3) for receiving a sample processing cartridge (2); rotor drive for generating a centrifugal force (F), wherein the centrifugal processing unit (1) further comprises a pivot receptacle (31) and a stationary receptacle (32) arranged on the rotor (3) for receiving a sample processing cartridge (2), wherein each pivot receptacle (31) is adapted to allow a free pivotal movement of a received sample processing cartridge (2) about a respective pivot axis (310), wherein each pivot axis (310) is orthogonal to the rotor axis (300) and to a respective force vector of the centrifugal force (F).)

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) for receiving the sample processing cartridge (2);

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

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

characterized in that the centrifugal processing unit (1) further comprises at least one pivoting receptacle (31) and at least one stationary receptacle (32) arranged on the at least one rotor (3) for receiving the sample processing cartridge (2), wherein each pivoting receptacle (31) is adapted to allow free pivoting movement of the received sample processing cartridge (2) about a respective pivot axis (310), wherein each pivot axis (310) is orthogonal to the rotor axis (300) and to a respective force vector of the centrifugal force (F).

2. Centrifugal processing unit (1) according to claim 1, wherein the centrifugal processing unit (1) comprises two or more rotors (3) and wherein each rotor comprises only pivoting receptacles (31) or only fixed receptacles (32).

3. The centrifugal processing unit (1) according to claim 1, wherein each receptacle (31, 32) 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 3, wherein the angular rotation is a rotation around more than 0 to 180 degrees, in particular 90 degrees or 180 degrees.

5. Centrifugal processing unit (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least one receptacle (31, 32) comprises a frame (311, 321) for receiving the sample processing cartridge (2).

6. The centrifugal processing unit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one pivot receptacle (31) comprises an abutment (313) which 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 at least one receptacle (31, 32).

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 (6) 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, a heating station, a detection/quantification station, an identification station or any other commonly known station for processing the contents of a sample processing cartridge (2) 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 the sample processing cartridge (2) into the pivot receptacle (32);

-rotating the at least one rotor (3) about a respective rotor axis (300) to generate a centrifugal force (F) while allowing a free pivotal movement of the inserted sample processing cartridge (2) thereby generating a force vector (F1) in a first direction relative to the sample processing cartridge (2);

-removing the sample processing cartridge (2) from the pivot accommodation (31);

-inserting the sample processing cartridge (2) into a fixed housing (32);

-rotating the at least one rotor (3) about a respective rotor axis (300) to generate a centrifugal force (F) while preventing a free pivotal movement of the inserted sample processing cartridge (2), thereby generating a force vector (F2) in a second direction relative to the sample processing cartridge (2).

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

-rotating the sample processing cartridge (2) around a central axis (200) parallel to the rotor axis (300) before inserting the sample processing cartridge (2) into the stationary receptacle (32), thereby enabling a force vector (F3) to be generated in a third direction relative to the sample processing cartridge (2) when the at least one rotor (3) is rotated around the respective rotor axis (300).

14. The method according to any one of claims 12 and 13, 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 of claims 12 to 14, wherein the insertion, removal, rotation and/or positioning of the sample processing cartridge is performed by at least one manipulator (6).

16. 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 pivot receptacle (31) with an abutment (313) 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 and slidable along a respective 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 the movement of a substance within a sample processing cartridge according to the present invention comprises: at least one rotor for receiving a sample processing cartridge, at least one rotor drive for rotating the at least one rotor about a respective rotor axis to generate centrifugal forces, and control means for accelerating and decelerating the at least one rotor. The centrifugal processing unit further comprises at least one pivot receptacle and at least one stationary receptacle arranged on the at least one rotor for receiving a sample processing cartridge. Each pivot receptacle is adapted to allow free pivotal movement of the received sample processing cartridge about a respective pivot axis, wherein each pivot axis is orthogonal to the rotor axis and to a respective force vector of the centrifugal force.

Because there is no relative movement between the rotor and the sample processing cartridge in the direction of rotation, there is no abutment and thus no undesirable force vector. A force vector of the centrifugal force acts on the cartridge received in the pivot accommodating portion in the first direction and acts on the cartridge received in the fixed accommodating portion in the second direction. The second direction depends on the rotational speed of the rotor. The faster the rotor rotates, the greater the centrifugal force and the greater the angular offset of the cassette with respect to its rest position. The deflection angle is in the range of greater than 0 degrees to less than 90 degrees. This design will work if the rotor rotates in one of its two directions of rotation about the rotor axis.

In the simplest design, the centrifugal processing unit comprises a rotor with a pivot receptacle and a stationary receptacle, which are arranged on opposite sides of the rotor. This arrangement provides an even distribution of the masses to be moved, thus reducing vibrations due to mass imbalance and thus reducing stress on the device. Alternatively, two, four, six, eight, ten, twelve or more pivot receptacles and fixed receptacles may be arranged on the rotor. An even number of receptacles is easy to achieve mass balance when evenly distributed around the rotor. Alternatively, an odd number of receptacles or rotor arms may also be provided. It is advantageous to distribute the receptacles evenly around the rotor to prevent mass imbalance. The pivot receiving portions and the fixed receiving portions may be alternately arranged, or may be arranged in groups of two, three, four, five, six or more, or groups of half. The pivot accommodating portion and the fixed accommodating portion may be disposed opposite to each other with respect to the rotor. Alternatively, they may be arranged opposite to the same type of receptacle.

In one embodiment, the centrifugal processing unit comprises two or more rotors and wherein each rotor comprises only pivoting receptacles or only fixed receptacles, which differ from each other in design. For example, the fixed housing comprises a frame fixed to the respective rotor and having no pivot axis at all. A cassette from a pivot receptacle associated with one rotor may be transferred to a fixed receptacle associated with the other rotor and vice versa. The transfer may be done one after the other, or the cassettes may be transferred in groups or all together.

In further embodiments, each receptacle is adapted to receive a sample processing cartridge in a first orientation and to receive a sample processing cartridge in a second orientation, wherein the second orientation corresponds to rotation of the sample processing cartridge through an angle about a central axis parallel to the rotor axis. In theory, any possible rotation angle will result in any possible resultant force vector perpendicular to the central axis, which is parallel to the rotor axis acting on the sample processing cartridge.

In further embodiments, the angular rotation is a rotation of about more than 0 to 180 degrees, in particular 90 degrees or 180 degrees. Rotation of the cartridge received in the fixed receptacle by about 180 degrees causes a force vector of the centrifugal force to act in a third direction, wherein the third direction is directed in a direction opposite to the second direction. With this design, the first, second and third directions of the force vector acting on the cartridge lie in one plane. Thus, the substance within the sample processing cartridge may move within the plane.

According to an embodiment, the at least one receptacle comprises a frame for receiving the sample processing cartridge. The frame allows for receiving a variety of different cartridges. The frame of the pivot receptacle may pivot about a pivot axis. The pivoting of the fixing reception is prevented by the fixing element. Such a design allows the same components to be used for two different receptacles, except for the fixing element. The fixation element may be attached to the rotor, the box or the frame or to both. If the fixation element is attached to or forms part of the rotor, a part of the box or frame may abut against the fixation element. Alternatively, if the fixing element is attached to the box or the frame forming part of them, a part of the rotor may abut against the fixing element.

In further embodiments, the at least one pivot 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.

A centrifugal processing system for guiding the movement of a substance within a sample processing cartridge 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 arrangement and removal of the manipulator allows for an accurate and fast process.

In an embodiment, the manipulator is adapted to be able to move the sample processing cartridge in any horizontal or vertical direction. By means of such a manipulator, a cassette from one side of the rotor can be transferred to the opposite side of the rotor, so that the orientation of the cassette relative to the rotor has been changed by 180 degrees. In order to transfer another cassette, the rotor must be rotated through an angle corresponding to the angular distribution of the cassette accommodation around the rotor.

In a further embodiment, the manipulator is adapted to be able to perform an angular rotation of the sample processing cartridge about a central axis parallel to the rotor axis. This allows the cartridge to be rotated quickly and then centrifugal force is applied in the other direction. The rotor need not be rotated in order to transfer the cartridge in any one of the receptacles into the other receptacle. Alternatively, the rotor may be rotated to improve the accessibility of the cassette.

According to another embodiment, the angular rotation is a rotation around an angle larger than 0, in particular 90 degrees or 180 degrees. The advantages of which have been described above.

In 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 pipetting station, a sealing station, an irradiation station, a heating station, a detection/quantification station, 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 include a cover or lid that may be partially or fully 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.

In the pipetting station, reaction components such as sample, reagents, re-solution buffer (recirculation buffer) may be added, mixed or transferred.

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

In the irradiation station, the cassettes or their contents may be exposed to any kind of irradiation. The irradiation may be electromagnetic or radioactive, such as light, electromagnetic, radiation, and the like.

In the heating station, the contents of the cartridge may be exposed to heat introduced by contact, convection, conduction, or radiation. The heating station may be a thermostated incubator in which the temperature remains constant over time. A temperature of 4 to 98 degrees celsius is a suitable temperature range. Alternatively, the heating station may be a gradient incubator or a thermocycler, wherein a heating gradient or a cooling gradient, or a combination thereof, may be achieved. It is also possible to introduce a temperature plateau in which the temperature is kept constant over a period of time.

In the detection/quantification station, any kind of optical or electronic detection and/or quantification target of the detection may be realized.

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

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

A method for directing movement of a substance within a sample processing cartridge, the method comprising the steps of:

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

-inserting the sample processing cartridge into the pivot receptacle;

-rotating at least one rotor about a respective rotor axis to generate a centrifugal force while allowing free pivotal movement of an inserted sample processing cartridge, thereby generating a force vector in a first direction relative to the sample processing cartridge;

-removing the sample processing cartridge from the pivot receptacle;

-inserting the sample processing cartridge into the fixed receptacle;

-rotating the at least one rotor about the respective rotor axis to generate a centrifugal force while preventing free pivotal movement of the inserted sample processing cartridge, thereby generating a force vector in a second direction relative to the sample processing cartridge.

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 one embodiment, the method further comprises the steps of:

-rotating the sample processing cartridge about a central axis parallel to the rotor axes prior to inserting the sample processing cartridge into the fixed receptacle, such that a force vector can be generated in a third direction relative to the sample processing cartridge when the at least one rotor is rotated about the respective rotor axis.

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 in the pivot receptacle or the fixed 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 pivot accommodation with an abutment before the 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 can be used in any combination, unless they contradict each other.