Sample processing

mi iiiiiii ill mi mi ill Iiiijiiiijii lip mi linn mi mi mi

(12) United States Patent

Chen et al.

(io) Patent No.: (45) Date of Patent:

US 7,718,421 B2 May 18, 2010

(54) SAMPLE PROCESSING

(75) Inventors: Shuqi Chen, Brookline, MA (US);

Bertrand Lemieux, Brighton, MA (US);
Zihua Wang, Newton, MA (US); Kevin
R. Kopczynski, Cambridge, MA (US);
Lingjun Chen, Brookline, MA (US)

(73) Assignee: IQuum, Inc., Marlborough, MA (US)

( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 1464 days.

(21) Appl.No.: 10/773,775

(22) Filed: Feb. 5, 2004

(65) Prior Publication Data

US 2004/0161788 Al Aug. 19, 2004

Related U.S. Application Data

(60) Provisional application No. 60/445,304, filed on Feb. 5, 2003.

(51) Int. CI.

C12M1/36 (2006.01)

(52) U.S. CI 435/288.5; 206/219; 435/286.7;

435/299.2; 435/304.2; 435/810; 436/518

(58) Field of Classification Search None

See application file for complete search history.

(56) References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

A sample processing tubule may include a first segment, a second segment, and a third segment. Each segment may be defined by the tubule, may be fluidly isolated, at least in part by a breakable seal, may be so expandable as to receive a volume of fluid expelled from another segment, and may be so compressible as to contain substantially no fluid when so compressed. Each segment may contain at least one reagent.

63 Claims, 7 Drawing Sheets