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.

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,   wherein said SCARA is adapted to move the sample from a container to said extractor.   
   
   
       12 . 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. 
   
   
       13 . 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   an articulated robot, adapted to automatically convey said extracted nucleic acid to the amplifier.   
   
   
       14 . An automated system as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein:
 said robot is further adapted to transfer the sample from a container to said extractor.   
   
   
       15 . An automated system as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein:
 said robot is further adapted to transfer fluid to the extractor to assist the extractor in extracting the target nucleic acid.   
   
   
       16 . 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.   
   
   
       17 . A method as claimed in  claim 16 , 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.   
   
   
       18 . A method as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein:
 said extracted component of interest includes a nucleic acid; and   said detection device operating step includes amplifying said nucleic acid.   
   
   
       19 . A method as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein:
 said amplifying includes heating said nucleic acid.   
   
   
       20 . A method as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein:
 said extraction device operating step performs non-specific capture of said component of interest to extract said component of interest from the sample.   
   
   
       21 . The method as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein said component of interest is a nucleic acid. 
   
   
       22 . The method as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein said component of interest is a protein. 
   
   
       23 . A method as claimed in  claim 16 , further comprising:
 automatically transferring fluid to said extractor to assist said extractor in extracting said component of interest.   
   
   
       24 . The method as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the extraction device and detection device are integrated as a single unit. 
   
   
       25 . The method as claimed in  claim 16 , 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.   
   
   
       26 . 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, wherein the operation of operating said SCARA comprises moving the sample from a container to said extractor.   
   
   
       27 . A method as claimed in  claim 26 , 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.   
   
   
       28 . 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 using a selectively compliant articulated robot arm (SCARA) to perform said transferring.   
   
   
       29 . A method as claimed in  claim 28 , further comprising:
 automatically transferring the sample from a container to said extractor.   
   
   
       30 . A method as claimed in  claim 28 , further comprising:
 automatically transfer fluid to the extractor to assist the extractor in extracting the target nucleic acid.   
   
   
       31 . 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 using a selectively compliant articulated robot arm (SCARA).