Form-Locking Gripping System

Abstract

The invention relates to an automated method of isolating and analyzing an analyte using a form-locking gripping mechanism. An analytical system comprising consumables and a handler, wherein the handler and consumable interact with a form-locking gripping mechanism are also included.

1 . A method for isolating and analyzing an analyte that may be present in a fluid sample, the method comprising the automated steps of:
 a) providing a fluid sample in a multiwell plate in a first station;   b) combining together a solid support material and said fluid sample in a well of said multiwell plate for a period of time and under conditions sufficient to permit said analyte to be immobilized on the solid support material;   c) isolating the solid support material from other material present in the fluid sample in a separation station; and   d) and purifying the analyte in the separation station by separating the fluid sample from the solid support material and washing the materials one or more times with a wash buffer;   wherein said multiwell plate is contacted by a handler and wherein said multiwell plate is transported between stations by said handler, wherein said contact between said handler and said multiwell plate is a form-locking contact.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , additionally comprising the step of analyzing said purified analyte in an analyzing station. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said analyzing is performed in a second multiwell plate. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said second multiwell plate is contacted by said handler and transported between stations, wherein said contact between said handler and said second multiwell plate is a form-locking contact. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said method additionally comprises the step of providing pipette tips in a tip rack, wherein said tip rack is contacted by said handler and transported between stations, wherein said contact between said handler and said tip rack vessel is a form-locking contact. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein one of said stations is a storage station. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said analyzing station is an amplification station. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , additionally comprising the step of combining said purified nucleic acid with reagents sufficient for amplifying said analyte in a vessel of a multiwell plate, wherein said multiwell plate is held in a holding station. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein one handler transports a multiwell vessel from a holding station to an air-lock, and a second handler transports said multiwell plate from said air-lock to said amplification station, wherein both handlers interact with said multiwell plate by a form-locking interaction. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said handler comprises gripper fingers and wherein said gripper fingers fit with a recess of the multiwell plate, wherein said fit is form-locking. 
     
     
         11 . A system for purifying and analyzing an analyte, comprising:
 a separation cell comprising a separation station for separating an analyte comprised in a vessel of a multiwell plate from a solid support material;   an analyzing cell comprising an analyzing station, wherein said station comprises an incubator to process said analyte to generate a signal indicative of the presence or absence of said analyte;   more than one consumable comprising openings wherein at least one opening is located on one side wall of the consumable and at least one opening is located on the opposing side wall of the consumable; and   a gripper system comprising at least one handler, wherein said at least one handler comprises at least one gripper finger on one side of the handler, and at least one gripper finger on the opposing side of the handler;   wherein said gripper fingers interact with said openings on the consumables and wherein said interaction is a form-locking interaction.   
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein said system additionally comprises a sample cell constructed and arranged to transfer a liquid sample from a sample vessel to a multiwell plate. 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein said multiwell plate is transported between cells with said gripper system. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein said multiwell plate is transported from said sample cell to said analyzing cell. 
     
     
         15 . The system according to any one of  claim 11 , wherein said more than one consumable comprise a multiwell plate and a tip rack.