US 12,449,434 B2
Automated assay processing methods and systems
Liyun Sang, Cambridge, MA (US); Guang Chen, Newton, MA (US); Qiang Liu, Cambridge, MA (US); and Brian Wee, Somerville, MA (US)
Assigned to ACCURE HEALTH INC., Cambridge, MA (US)
Filed by ACCURE HEALTH INC., Cambridge, MA (US)
Filed on Mar. 22, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/209,082.
Application 17/209,082 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2019/054906, filed on Oct. 6, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/742,889, filed on Oct. 8, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0208169 A1, Jul. 8, 2021
Int. Cl. G01N 35/00 (2006.01); B01F 31/23 (2022.01); B01L 3/00 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 35/0098 (2013.01) [B01F 31/23 (2022.01); B01L 3/5027 (2013.01); B01L 3/502707 (2013.01); G01N 35/00584 (2013.01); G01N 2035/00524 (2013.01); G01N 2035/00564 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for assay automation, comprising:
an assay processing tube assembly of a pre-configured shape, the assay processing tube assembly including one or more assay processing tubes, each assay processing tube including a reaction chamber for receiving a reagent, a built-in waste chamber at one end of the reaction chamber, and an absorbent material deposited in the waste chamber to accelerate reagent removal during a draining process, wherein the assay processing tube has a longitudinal axis along which the reaction chamber and the waste chamber are aligned, and the assay processing tube is configured to rotate about a horizontal axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the assay processing tube assembly;
a magnet assembly including one or more magnets secured on a magnet holder, a number of magnets corresponding to a number of assay processing tubes, the magnet assembly being driven to move vertically in line with a longitudinal axis of the one or more magnets; and
a controller configured to control coordinated movements of the assay processing tube assembly and the magnet assembly to perform an assay processing sequence, wherein each magnet of the one or more magnets interfaces intermittently with its corresponding assay processing tube in more than one area during an assay processing sequence, wherein the assay processing sequence comprises one or more of reagent mixing, draining, incubation, magnetic separation, electrochemical reaction, or measurement, and wherein the longitudinal axis of the one or more magnets is perpendicular to the horizontal axis of the assay processing tube assembly.