Cartridges and instruments for sample analysis

• US 10,191,071 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2014
• Issued: 01/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IntegenX Inc. (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: IntegenX Inc. (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ogg, James, Eberhart, David, Nielsen, William D., Franklin, Helen, Jovanovich, Stevan B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Priest, Aaron A
• Application Number:
  US15/037,039
• Publication Number:
  US 20160305972A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,534 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/026 Fluid interfacing between devices or objects, e.g. connectors, inlet details
• 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 2200/0689 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/10 Integrating sample preparation and analysis in single entity, e.g. lab-on-a-chip concept
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/16 Reagents, handling or storing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/044 pierceable, e.g. films, membranes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0627 Sensor or part of a sensor is integrated
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0645 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0672 Integrated piercing tool
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0864 comprising only one inlet and multiple receiving wells, e.g. for separation, splitting
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0867 Multiple inlets and one sample wells, e.g. mixing, dilution
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/087 Multiple sequential chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0887 Laminated structure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/12 Specific details about materials
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/123 Flexible; Elastomeric
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/18 Means for temperature control
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1827 using resistive heater
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0421 electrophoretic flow
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0478 : pistons
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0487 : fluid pressure, pneumatics
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0622 : distribution valves, valves having multiple inlets and/or outlets, e.g. metering valves, multi-way valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0638 : membrane valves, flap valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0644 : rotary valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0655 : pinch valves
• 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 3/502715 : characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50273 : characterised by the means or forces applied to move the fluids micropumps F04B19/006, of the membrane type F04B43/043
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502738 : characterised by integrated valves microvalves F16K99/0001
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502746 : characterised by the means for controlling flow resistance, e.g. flow controllers, baffles B01L3/502738 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 7/52 : with provision for submitting samples to a predetermined sequence of different temperatures, e.g. for treating nucleic acid samples amplification or hybridisation processes per se C12Q1/68; controlling sequential reactions for synthesis B01J19/0046
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/6818 : involving interaction of two or more labels, e.g. resonant energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/686 : Polymerase chain reaction [PCR]
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/6888 : for detection or identification of organisms
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00673 : of reagents
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00663 : of consumables

Abstract

Provided herein are instruments and cartridges for processing samples. The cartridges include fluidic circuits in which fluid movement can be regulated by diaphragm valves. In certain cartridges, deformable material providing a diaphragm contacts an interface in the instrument that actuates the diaphragm directly, without intervening actuation layer. Certain cartridges have a plurality of fluidic circuits and fluid distribution channels or pneumatic distribution channels configured to deliver fluids or pneumatic pressure to any of the fluidic circuits, selectively. Certain cartridges have compartments containing on-board reagents. Compartments can be closed by a film attached to a body the cartridge through a heat seal.

Claims

1. A fluidic device comprising:

a fluidics layer comprising one or more fluidic channels in a thermoplastic material;

a deformable membrane covering the one or more fluidic channels and comprising a heat seal material capable of plastic deformation, the heat seal material being thermally bonded to the fluidics layer;

one or more diaphragm valves, each diaphragm valve configured to regulate fluid flow in an associated fluidic channel, wherein each diaphragm valve comprises;

a) a diaphragm comprised in the deformable membrane;

b) a valve seat in the associated fluidic channel and recessed from a surface of the fluidics layer that contacts the deformable membrane; and

c) a valve inlet and a valve outlet comprised in the fluidics layer;

wherein the one or more diaphragm valves are each configured for activation by a ram such that mechanical pressure by the ram on the deformable membrane presses the membrane against the valve seat, thereby closing the valve.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the deformable membrane does not comprise an elastomer.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the deformable membrane comprises a laminate.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the deformable material has a durometer value of between 10 to 80 Shore D.

5. The device of claim 1, comprising a plurality of diaphragm valves.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the deformable membrane comprises a permanent deformation.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic material comprises polypropylene.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the valve seat has the shape of a sphere, an inverted dimple, a dome, or a saddle.

9. The device of claim 1, comprising one or more fluidic circuits.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the fluidics layer further comprises a fluidic compartment in fluid communication with a fluidic channel.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the fluidics layer further comprises an exit port in fluidic communication with a fluidic channel.

12. The device of claim 1, further comprising a ram configured to actuate the diaphragm.

13. The device of claim 1, which does not comprise an actuation layer.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the deformable membrane comprises a material selected from polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, cycloolefin co-polymer (COC) and polyacetate.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein valve can be opened by releasing pressure of the ram against the deformable membrane.