Clamp devices for receiving a cartridge and methods for using same

• US 10,107,828 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2016
• Issued: 10/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Life Technologies Corporation (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Life Technologies Corporation (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hoshizaki, Jon
• Primary Examiner(s): Soderquist, Arlen
• Application Number:
  US15/259,191
• Publication Number:
  US 20170065981A1
• Time in Patent Office: 775 Days
• Field of Search: 422502-503, 436 50
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/025 Align devices or objects to ensure defined positions relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/027 for microfluidic devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/04 Exchange or ejection of cartridges, containers or reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/141 Preventing contamination, tampering
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/143 Quality control, feedback systems
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0627 Sensor or part of a sensor is integrated
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/18 Means for temperature control
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502715 characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/527 for microfluidic devices, e.g. used for lab-on-a-chip
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00158 Elements containing microarrays, i.e. "biochip"
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00029 provided with flat sample substrates, e.g. slides G01N35/028 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00623 of instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1095 for supplying the samples to flow-through analysers for a specific analyser see relevant groups, e.g. under G01N15/00, G01N21/00, G01N27/00, G01N30/00, H01J49/00

Abstract

A clamp device includes a frame; a carriage slidably engaged with the frame and including a receptacle to receive a cartridge including fluidics ports and electronic contacts, the carriage slidable between an open position and a closed position; a fluidics interface to engage the fluidics ports of the cartridge when the carriage is in a closed position; an electronic interface to engage the electronic contacts of the cartridge when the carriage is in the closed position; a driver to draw the fluidics interface and the electronic interface together, the cartridge secured between the electronic interface and the fluidics interface; and a sensor system to detect the presence of the cartridge in the receptacle and configured to prevent the driver from drawing the fluidics interface and electronic interface together when the cartridge is absent.

Claims

1. A clamp device comprising:

a frame;

a carriage slidably engaged with the frame and including a receptacle to receive a cartridge including fluidics ports and electronic contacts, the carriage slidable between an open position and a closed position;

a fluidics interface to engage the fluidics ports of the cartridge when the carriage is in a closed position;

an electronic interface to engage the electronic contacts of the cartridge when the carriage is in the closed position;

a driver to draw the fluidics interface and the electronic interface together, the cartridge secured between the electronic interface and the fluidics interface; and

a sensor system to detect the presence of the cartridge in the receptacle and configured to prevent the driver from drawing the fluidics interface and electronic interface together when the cartridge is absent.

2. The clamp device of claim 1, wherein the receptacle receives the cartridge in a vertical orientation.

3. The clamp device of claim 1, further comprising a driver to move the carriage between the open position and the closed position.

4. The clamp device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is an optical sensor.

5. The clamp device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is positioned in a path of the carriage between the open position and the closed position.

6. The clamp device of claim 5, wherein the frame includes an opening extending through the frame and positioned along the path of the carriage, the sensor sensing through the opening of the frame.

7. The clamp device of claim 1, further comprising a heat sink in thermal contact with the electronic interface.

8. The clamp device of claim 1, further comprising an electrothermal device in thermal contact with the electronic interface.

9. The clamp device of claim 1, wherein the carriage includes a handle.

10. A clamp device comprising:

a frame;

a carriage slidably engaged with the frame and including a receptacle to receive a cartridge including fluidics ports and electronic contacts, the carriage slidable between an open position and a closed position;

a fluidics interface to engage the fluidics ports of the cartridge when the carriage is in a closed position;

an electronic interface to engage the electronic contacts of the cartridge when the carriage is in the closed position;

a first driver to draw the fluidics interface and the electronic interface together, the cartridge secured between the electronic interface and the fluidics interface;

a second driver to move the carriage between the open position and the closed position; and

a sensor system to detect the presence of the cartridge in the receptacle and configured to prevent the second driver from moving the carriage between the open position and the closed position when the cartridge is absent.

11. The clamp device of claim 10, wherein the receptacle receives the cartridge in a vertical orientation.

12. The clamp device of claim 10, wherein the sensor is an optical sensor.

13. The clamp device of claim 10, wherein the sensor is positioned in a path of the carriage between the open position and the closed position.

14. The clamp device of claim 13, wherein the frame includes an opening extending through the frame and positioned along the path of the carriage, the sensor sensing through the opening of the frame.

15. The clamp device of claim 10, further comprising a heat sink in thermal contact with the electronic interface.

16. The clamp device of claim 10, further comprising an electrothermal device in thermal contact with the electronic interface.

17. The clamp device of claim 10, wherein the carriage includes a handle.

18. A method of engaging a cartridge including fluidic ports on a first side and electronic contacts on a second side opposite the first side, the method comprising:

applying the cartridge into a clamp device comprising;

a frame;

a carriage slidably engaged with the frame and including a receptacle to receive a cartridge including fluidics ports and electronic contacts, the carriage slidable between an open position and a closed position;

a fluidics interface to engage the fluidics ports of the cartridge when the carriage is in a closed position;

an electronic interface to engage the electronic contacts of the cartridge when the carriage is in the closed position;

a driver to draw the fluidics interface and the electronic interface together, the cartridge secured between the electronic interface and the fluidics interface; and

a sensor system to detect the presence of the cartridge in the receptacle;

motivating the carriage toward a closed position; and

detecting the cartridge with the sensor system, the sensor system preventing the driver from drawing the fluidics interface and the electronic interface together in the absence of the device.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the clamp device further includes a second driver to move the carriage between the open position and the closed position.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising heating the electronic interface.