Sample carrier and sample carrier processing apparatus

Abstract

A sample carrier for carrying one or more samples to be processed by a sample processing apparatus includes at least one sample processing channel, the channel including a first region configured to carry a first fluid and at least a second region, wherein the first fluid in the first region is moved to the second region via compression of the first region. A sample processing apparatus for processing samples carried by sample carriers including at least one raised vessel carrying at least one a sample or a processing material includes a sample carrier receiving region configured to receive one of the sample carriers and a displacer configured to apply physical pressure to the raised vessel which causes compression of the raised vessel, thereby moving a fluid in the raised vessel to another region of the sample carrier for at least one of mixing or processing by the at least one processing component.

1 . A sample carrier for carrying one or more samples to be processed by a sample processing apparatus, the sample carrier comprising:
 at least one sample processing channel, the channel including:
 a first region configured to carry a first fluid; and 
 at least a second region, wherein the first fluid in the first region is moved to the second region via compression of the first region. 
   
     
     
         2 . The sample carrier of  claim 1 , the sample carrier including a surface and the first region, comprising:
 a first sub-portion extending from and raised above the surface, and enclosing a material free cavity; and   a second sub-portion that closes the first sub-portion, forming a close fluid vessel containing the first fluid.   
     
     
         3 . The sample carrier of  claim 2 , wherein the first sub-portion is compressible and collapsible towards the surface in response to applying a predetermined force on the first sub-portion. 
     
     
         4 . The sample carrier of  claim 3 , wherein the second sub-portion is configured to allow the first fluid to egress therefrom in response to applying the predetermined force on the first sub-portion. 
     
     
         5 . The sample carrier of  claim 4 , wherein the second sub-portion is disposed next to the at least second region, and the first fluid is displaced from the first region to the second region in response to applying the predetermined force on the first sub-portion. 
     
     
         6 . The sample carrier of  claim 5 , further comprising a plurality of serially linked additional regions, wherein the first fluid is sequentially moved from region to region in response to sequentially applying the predetermined force on the regions with the first fluid. 
     
     
         7 . The sample carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the first second region includes one of a sample carrying region, a sample processing region, an agent region, or a fluid mixing region. 
     
     
         8 . The sample carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the at least the second region includes a fluid mixing or a sample processing region. 
     
     
         9 . The sample carrier of  claim 1 , wherein further comprising:
 a third region configured to carry a third fluid, wherein the first and third fluids are concurrently moved to the second region via compression of the first and third regions.   
     
     
         10 . The sample carrier of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a channel configured to route fluid from the first region to the at least second region, wherein the channel is raise above the surface.   
     
     
         11 . The sample carrier of  claim 1 , the sample processing apparatus comprising:
 a displacer; and   a controller, wherein the displacer, under control of the controller, applies pressure which causes the compression of the first region.   
     
     
         12 . The sample carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the first region and the second region are different layers of the sample carrier, and the first region is affixed to the second region. 
     
     
         13 . The sample carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the first region and the second region are part of a same layer of the sample carrier. 
     
     
         14 . A sample processing apparatus for processing samples carried by sample carriers including at least one raised vessel carrying at least one a sample or a processing material, the sample processing apparatus, comprising:
 a sample carrier receiving region configured to receive one of the sample carriers; and   a displacer configured to apply physical pressure to the raised vessel which causes compression of the raised vessel, thereby moving a fluid in the raised vessel to another region of the sample carrier for at least one of mixing or processing by the at least one processing component.   
     
     
         15 . The sample processing apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a controller that controls the displacer to apply the pressure to the raised vessel.   
     
     
         16 . The sample processing apparatus of  claim 14 , the displacer comprising:
 a roller that rolls over the raised vessel, thereby compressing the raised vessel.   
     
     
         17 . The sample processing apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the roller sequentially rolls over a plurality of raised vessel, thereby moving the fluid from raise vessel to raised vessel. 
     
     
         18 . The sample processing apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the raised vessel includes a sample to be processed and the displacer moves the sample from the vessel to a mixing region or a processing region of the sample carrier. 
     
     
         19 . The sample processing apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the raised vessel includes a processing agent and the displacer moves the processing agent from the raised vessel to a mixing region or a processing region of the sample carrier. 
     
     
         20 . The sample processing apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the raised vessel includes a sample to be processed, and further comprising a second raised vessel including a processing agent, wherein the displacer moves the sample and the processing agent to a mixing region or a processing region of the sample carrier. 
     
     
         21 . A method comprising:
 controllably moving a fluid in a sample carrier via compression during DNA analysis.