High throughput chemical handling system

Abstract

A high throughput chemical handling system includes a chemical storage module, a transport module, and one or more liquid handling modules. The transport module may implement parallel chemical transport, and the system may include a plurality of asynchronously operable liquid handling modules coupled to the parallel transport module.

1 . A high throughput chemical screening system comprising: 
 a chemical library comprising storage locations for a plurality of multiwell plates, each of which comprises individual chemical wells for containing samples;    a computer controlled chemical well retriever for programmable selection and retrieval of at least one of said multiwell plates comprising selected ones of said chemical wells;    a transport path coupled to said chemical library for receiving said at least one multiwell plate from and returning said at least one multiwell plate to said chemical library; and    a plurality of automated liquid handling devices having aspiration/dispensation heads operatively coupled to said transport path, whereby said high throughput chemical screening system is configured to process at least approximately 25,000 chemical samples in a 24 hour period;    wherein said system is programmable via a user interface to retrieve and handle either (a) the samples from every one of the chemical wells of said at least one multiwell plate or (b) the samples from a subset of chemical wells within said at least one multiwell plate.    
     
     
         2 - 3 . (canceled)  
     
     
         4 . The chemical screening system of  claim 1 , wherein said transport path couples to at least one plate storage buffer.  
     
     
         5 . The chemical screening system of  claim 1 , additionally comprising an automated multi-well plate retriever associated with said chemical library.  
     
     
         6 . (canceled)  
     
     
         7 . The chemical screening system of  claim 1 , wherein said transport path couples to at least one plate storage buffer.  
     
     
         8 . A device for rapidly screening samples containing a molecular target, comprising: 
 a screening sample transporter programmably controlled to facilitate parallel processing of a plurality of sample wells, and    at least one workstation storage operably linked to said screening sample transporter and programmably integrated to said screening sample transporter.    
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein said screening sample transporter is configured to transport said sample wells at rate of at least 50,000 per day.  
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein said screening sample transporter comprises a plurality of non-circular transport paths.  
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein said transport paths comprise multiple parallel transport lanes.  
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of said transport lanes is configured to deliver sample wells toward a storage area, and wherein at least one of said transport lanes is configured to deliver sample wells to said at least one workstation.  
     
     
         13 . A chemical handling apparatus comprising: 
 a chemical storage module storing a set of chemical compounds, said chemical storage module comprising an automated retriever configured to retrieve selected ones of said chemical compounds;    a multi-lane transport module coupled to said chemical storage module which is positioned and configured to receive said selected ones of said chemical compounds from said automated retriever and to transport said selected ones of said chemical compounds away from said chemical storage module.    
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , additionally comprising an automated liquid handler coupled to said transport module which is positioned and configured to receive said selected ones of said chemical compounds for processing.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said transport module comprises a two-dimensional array of orthogonal transport paths.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said set of chemical compounds in said chemical storage library is arranged as a two-dimensional array extending vertically and horizontally.  
     
     
         17 . A device for identifying useful chemicals, comprising: 
 a chemical well transfer path comprising a linearly extending transfer path and one or more additional transfer paths substantially transverse to said linearly extending transfer path;    a library of chemicals located at one end of said linearly extending transfer path; and    at least one chemical handling module operatively coupled to one of said one or more transverse transfer paths, whereby chemicals in said chemical library are delivered to said at least one chemical handling module from said library of chemicals.    
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein said linearly extending transport path is bi-directional.  
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein said linearly extending transport path comprises at least two lanes operable to transport wells in one direction along said linearly extending transfer path.  
     
     
         20 - 23 . (canceled)