Long Term Storage and Precision Dispensing of Precious Liquids

描述（由申请人提供）：综合疾病表型和细胞基因型研究是通过使用已知特征的受试者的DNA、cDNA或其他珍贵液体的存储水样来测试假设来推进的。许多生命科学实验室储存了数千个这样的水样数年或数十年，这些研究人员完全依赖于准确的库存知识和已知的样品来源。目前用于储存这些珍贵液体样品的方法是临时的，容易受到污染和错误识别。这在很多方面降低了研究人员的生产力和满意度。该项目的目标是开发一种系统，用于在标准化容器中长期储存贵重液体，并具有机器可读的标识，以便对其内容物进行积极和明确的识别。自动精密分配器，不需要移液管侵入，将确保样品的完整性，同时分配微升等量的珍贵液体。自动点胶设备和实验室数据库之间的接口将保持准确的库存控制，并允许改进实验计划。该系统将大大提高基因组研究的效率，降低错误率，确保宝贵的液体样品无污染，保持其浓度水平，并正确和积极地识别。完成后，该系统将通过向生命科学实验室、法医实验室和医院销售来实现商业化。本方案的技术创新是标准化存储容器的专利设计；一种新型且专有的无污染滴注1 ul滴剂的方法，以及容器识别方法和数据库接口协议。在项目的第一阶段，将设计和制造具有机器可读ID的一次性容器原型（具体目标1），将开发专有的新滴剂技术（具体目标2），并将规划用于系统与实验室数据库之间通信的软件接口协议（具体目标3）。每一个原型都将在一个运行中的生命科学实验室里进行初步测试。在第二阶段，将构建一个与用户实验室数据库直接接口的全自动系统。公共卫生将直接受益于拟议工作的结果，因为它减少或消除了对宝贵液体DNA、cDNA和其他宝贵液体源材料的最佳利用的主要障碍，这些材料构成了连接表型和基因型研究的基础。与目前的方法相比，该技术将大大提高研究效率，减少污染和处理样品的人工成本。数据库接口将允许研究人员在研究过程中更容易地处理有趣的异常样本，并允许他们在计划实验时更容易地处理完整的样本集。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Integrated disease phenotype and cellular genotype research is advanced by testing hypotheses using stored aqueous samples of DNA, cDNA or other precious liquids from subjects with known characteristics. Many life science laboratories store thousands of such aqueous samples for years or decades, and these researchers rely absolutely on accurate inventory knowledge and known provenance of the samples. The methods used today for storing these precious liquid samples are ad-hoc and prone to contamination and mis-identification. This reduces the productivity and satisfaction of researchers in a variety of ways. The goal of this project is to develop a system for long term storage of precious liquids in standardized containers with machine-readable identification for positive and unambiguous identification of their contents. An automated precision dispenser which does not require pipette intrusion will ensure sample integrity while dispensing microliter aliquots of precious liquid. An interface between the automated dispensing equipment and the laboratory database will maintain accurate inventory control and allow improved experiment planning. This system will greatly increase the efficiency and reduce the error rate of genomic research by ensuring that the precious liquid samples are contamination-free, maintain their concentration levels, and are correctly and positively identified. When completed, the system will be commercialized by marketing it to life-science laboratories, forensic laboratories and hospitals. Technical innovations in this program are the patented design of the standardized storage container; a novel and proprietary means for dispensing 1 ul drops without contamination, and the container identification method and database interface protocols. During Phase 1 of the project, prototypes of the disposable container with machine-readable ID will be designed and built (Specific Aim 1), the proprietary new drop dispensing technology will be developed (Specific Aim 2), and software interface protocols for communicating between the system and the laboratory database will be planned (Specific Aim 3). As each prototype is built, it will be alpha tested in an operating life-science laboratory. During Phase 2, a fully automated system with direct interface to the user laboratory database will be constructed. Public health will directly benefit from the results of the proposed work by reducing or eliminating a major impediment to optimal utilization of precious liquid DNA, cDNA, and other precious liquid source materials which form the bedrock of research linking phenotype and genotype. Compared to present methods, this technology will greatly improve research efficiency by reducing contamination and labor costs in handling samples. The database interface will allow researchers to address interesting outlier samples much more easily during the research process, and permit them to address their complete sample sets more readily when planning experiments.