Plurality of reaction chambers in a test cartridge

• US 10,099,216 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2015
• Issued: 10/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qiagen GmbH (Qiagen NV)
• Original Assignee: Stat-Diagnostica & Innovation, S.L.
• Inventors: Bru Gibert, Rafael, Carrera Fabra, Jordi, Comenges Casas, Anna, Garcia Sanchez, Jose Antonio
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Young J
• Application Number:
  US14/743,310
• Publication Number:
  US 20150284771A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,216 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0605 Metering of fluids
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0627 Sensor or part of a sensor is integrated
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0848 Specific forms of parts of containers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0861 Configuration of multiple channels and/or chambers in a single devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0864 comprising only one inlet and multiple receiving wells, e.g. for separation, splitting
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/087 Multiple sequential chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/12 Specific details about materials
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/18 Means for temperature control
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1822 using Peltier elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1827 using resistive heater
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0475 specific mechanical means and fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502 with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures centrifugal-type cuvettes G01N21/07; analysis by separation into components G01N30/00; automatic analysers G01N35/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5027 by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip B01L3/5023 takes precedence; micromixers B01F33/30; microreactors for synthesis B01J19/0093; microcapillary devices in general B81B1/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/6806 Preparing nucleic acids for analysis, e.g. for polymerase chain reaction [PCR] assay C12Q1/6804 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/75 Systems in which material is subjected to a chemical reaction, the progress or the result of the reaction being investigated systems in which material is burnt in a flame or plasma G01N21/72, G01N21/73
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/50 Chemical analysis of biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Testing involving biospecific ligand binding methods; Immunological testing measuring or testing processes involving enzymes or microorganisms, compositions or test papers therefor; processes for forming such compositions, condition responsive control in microbiological or enzymological processes C12Q
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/5306 Improving reaction conditions, e.g. reduction of non-specific binding, promotion of specific binding

Abstract

A fluidic testing system is presented that includes a plurality of test chambers, a plurality of inlet channels, and a fluidic network that connects the inlet channels to one or more other chambers. The plurality of test chambers are each characterized by a length and a hydraulic diameter. The length of each test chamber is aligned substantially parallel to a gravity vector. Each of the test chambers has only one opening disposed along the length of the corresponding test chamber. Additionally, each of the test chambers is coupled via its respective opening to only one of the plurality of inlet channels.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

flowing liquid through each of a plurality of channels up to a liquid sensing area disposed in each channel, thus setting a pre-determined amount of liquid within each of the plurality of channels, each of the plurality of channels coupled to an opening of its own corresponding chamber of a plurality of chambers, wherein each of the chambers has a wall that defines a longest side of the chamber, and wherein the opening of each of the chambers is the only opening through the wall of each of the chambers;

simultaneously flowing only the pre-determined amount of liquid within each of the plurality of channels into each of the chambers.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more of the plurality of chambers includes one or more reagents, and the method further comprises re-suspending the one or more reagents in the pre-determined amount of liquid.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising re-suspending one or more reagents within premixing chambers coupled to each of the plurality of channels.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising heating at least one of the plurality of chambers.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the heating comprises heating with a Peltier device.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the heating comprises heating with resistive heating elements.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the heating comprises heating with forced air.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting one or more optical properties of contents in the liquid within at least one of the chambers.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the flowing is performed via a single pump source.