System and Method for Nucleic Acids Containing Fluid Processing

Abstract

A system and method for the processing of nucleic acids containing fluids involving manipulation of magnetically responsive particles contained therein are disclosed. In the system, a holder holds a plurality of containers containing the fluids, a heating device applies thermal energy to the fluids for incubation, and a separating device magnetically separates the particles. The heating and separating devices move into at least one operative position for processing the fluids and at least one inoperative position with respect to the containers, in which the containers are kept stationary at least during and in-between incubating the fluids and manipulating the magnetically responsive particles.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for the processing of nucleic acids containing fluids, involving manipulating magnetically responsive particles contained therein, comprising:
 at least one rack to hold a plurality of containers containing the fluids; and   at least two processing devices including a heating device to apply thermal energy to the fluids for incubation and a separating device to apply a magnetic field to magnetically separate said particles contained in said containers,   wherein the processing devices are fixed to at least one actuator which moves each of the processing devices into at least one operative position and at least one inoperative position with respect to the containers, wherein the processing devices in the operative position process the fluids.   
     
     
         2 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the heating device in the operative position contacts the containers and in the inoperative position is removed from the containers. 
     
     
         3 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a cooling mechanism to actively cool the heating device in the inoperative position. 
     
     
         4 . The system as claimed in  claim 3 , further comprising a heat sink to contact the heating device in the inoperative position to transfer conductively heat from the heating device to the heat sink. 
     
     
         5 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said processing devices are fixed to a common carrier of the at least one actuator. 
     
     
         6 . The system as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said processing devices move into the operative and inoperative positions via commonly revolving around a single rotational axis. 
     
     
         7 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the rack provides access to the containers from their bottom sides. 
     
     
         8 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the rack provides at least one bottomless retaining section for accommodating the containers. 
     
     
         9 . The system as claimed in  claim 8 , in which the rack is movably supported by a work-plate, wherein the rack is movable between at least a loading/unloading position for loading/unloading of containers, and at least a processing position for processing the fluids contained in the containers. 
     
     
         10 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one pipettor provided with a plurality of pipettes to transfer fluids to or from the containers. 
     
     
         11 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one nucleic acids amplification device for amplifying nucleic acids. 
     
     
         12 - 20 . (canceled)