Automated system for isolating, amplifying and detecting a target nucleic acid sequence

Abstract

A system and method for preparing and testing of targeted nucleic acids is presented. The system integrates a pipetter, extractor, assay reader, and other components, including a selectively compliant articulated robot arm (SCARA). This synergistic integration of previously separate diagnostic tools creates a system and method whereby a minimum of human intervention is required. The resulting system provides a substantially more accurate and precise method of isolating, amplifying and detecting targeted nucleic acids for diagnosing diseases.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An automated system for processing a component of interest contained in at least one sample, comprising: 
 an extraction device, adapted to extract said component of interest from the sample;    a detection device, adapted to detect for the presence of said component of interest extracted by said extraction device; and    a robot, adapted to automatically transfer said extracted component of interest from said extraction device to said detection device, wherein, said robot includes a selectively compliant articulated robot arm (SCARA).    
     
     
         2 . An automated system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said component of interest includes a nucleic acid;    said extraction device is adapted to extract said nucleic acid from the sample;    said detection device is adapted to detect the presence of said extracted nucleic acid; and    said robot is adapted to automatically transfer said extracted nucleic acid to said detection device.    
     
     
         3 . An automated system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said extracted component of interest includes a nucleic acid; and    said detection device includes a device for amplifying said nucleic acid.    
     
     
         4 . An automated system as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein: 
 said amplifying device includes a heater.    
     
     
         5 . An automated system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said extraction device is adapted to perform non-specific capture of said component of interest to extract said component of interest from the sample.    
     
     
         6 . An automated system as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said component of interest is a nucleic acid.  
     
     
         7 . An automated system as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said component of interest is a protein.  
     
     
         8 . An automated system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said robot is further adapted to transfer fluid to and remove fluid from said extractor to assist said extractor in extracting said component of interest.    
     
     
         9 . An automated system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the extraction device and detection device are integrated as a single unit.  
     
     
         10 . An automated system as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a sample rack, adapted for receiving at least one container containing the sample; and    said robot being adapted to automatically transfer the sample from the container to the extraction device.    
     
     
         11 . An automated system for extracting nucleic acid from a sample, comprising: 
 a selectively compliant articulated robot arm (SCARA); and    an extractor adapted to extract the nucleic acid from the sample.    
     
     
         12 . An automated system as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said SCARA is adapted to move the sample from a container to an extractor.  
     
     
         13 . An automated system as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein: 
 said SCARA is further adapted to move said extracted nucleic acid from said extractor to a detector which is adapted to detect for the presence of said nucleic acid.    
     
     
         14 . An automated system for extracting a target nucleic acid from a sample, comprising: 
 an extractor, adapted to perform non-specific capture of the target nucleic acid, to extract the nucleic acid from the sample without separating the target nucleic acid from non-target nucleic acid that may exist in the sample;    an amplifier, adapted to amplify said extracted nucleic acid; and    a robot, adapted to automatically convey said extracted nucleic acid to the amplifier.    
     
     
         15 . An automated system as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein: 
 said robot is further adapted to transfer the sample from a container to said extractor.    
     
     
         16 . An automated system as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein: 
 said robot is further adapted to transfer fluid to the extractor to assist the extractor in extracting the target nucleic acid.    
     
     
         17 . A method for processing a component of interest contained in a sample, comprising: 
 operating an extraction device to extract said component of interest from the sample;    operating a detector to detect for the presence of said component of interest extracted by said extraction device; and    automatically transferring said extracted component of interest from said extraction device to said detection device, wherein said automatically transferring includes operating a selectively compliant articulated robot arm (SCARA) to perform said transferring.    
     
     
         18 . A method as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein: 
 said component of interest includes a nucleic acid;    said extraction device operating step extracts said nucleic acid from the sample;    said detection device operating step detects the presence of said extracted nucleic acid; and    said automatically transferring step transfers the sample to the extraction device, and automatically transfers said extracted nucleic acid to said detection device.    
     
     
         19 . A method as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein: 
 said extracted component of interest includes a nucleic acid; and    said detection device operating step includes amplifying said nucleic acid.    
     
     
         20 . A method as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein: 
 said amplifying includes heating said nucleic acid.    
     
     
         21 . A method as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein: 
 said extraction device operating step performs non-specific capture of said component of interest to extract said component of interest from the sample.    
     
     
         22 . The method as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein said component of interest is a nucleic acid.  
     
     
         23 . The method as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein said component of interest is a protein.  
     
     
         24 . A method as claimed in  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 automatically transferring fluid to said extractor to assist said extractor in extracting said component of interest.    
     
     
         25 . The method as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the extraction device and detection device are integrated as a single unit.  
     
     
         26 . The method as claimed in  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 receiving at least one container containing the sample in a sample rack; and    automatically transferring the sample from the container to the extraction device using said SCARA.    
     
     
         27 . A method for automatically extracting nucleic acid from a sample, comprising: 
 operating a selectively compliant articulated robot arm (SCARA); and    extracting the nucleic acid from the sample with an extractor.    
     
     
         28 . The method as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the step of operating said SCARA comprises: 
 moving the sample from a container to the extractor.    
     
     
         29 . A method as claimed in  claim 27 , further comprising: 
 operating said SCARA to move said extracted nucleic acid from said extractor to a detector which is adapted to detect for the presence of said nucleic acid.    
     
     
         30 . A method for automatically extracting a target nucleic acid from a sample, comprising: 
 operating an extractor to perform non-specific capture on the target nucleic acid to extract the nucleic acid from the sample without separating the target nucleic acid from non-target nucleic acid that may exist in the sample;    operating an amplifier to amplify said extracted nucleic acid; and    automatically transferring said extracted nucleic acid from said extractor to the amplifier.    
     
     
         31 . A method as claimed in  claim 30 , further comprising: 
 automatically transferring the sample from a container to said extractor.    
     
     
         32 . A method as claimed in  claim 30 , further comprising: 
 automatically transfer fluid to the extractor to assist the extractor in extracting the target nucleic acid.    
     
     
         33 . An automated process for isolating and amplifying a target nucleic acid sequence that may be present in a sample, said process comprising: 
 automatically separating the target sequence from the fluid sample at a separation station by performing non-specific binding on the target sequence without the need to separate the target sequence from any non-target sequence that may exist in the sample; and    automatically transporting the separated target sequence from the separation station to an amplifying incubation station.