Sample preparation module with stepwise pressurization mechanism
First Claim
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1. A sample preparation module comprising:
- a housing having an interior surface;
a central shaft comprising a threaded section;
a pressure cap comprising;
a gasket engaged with the interior surface of the housing to create an airtight seal;
a central column extending centrally from the inner surface of the pressure cap, wherein the central column comprises threads configured to engage the threaded section of the central shaft such that rotation of the central shaft relative to the central column results in movement of said pressure cap linearly along the length of said central shaft;
a plurality of coaxially arranged layers engaged with the central shaft, at least one being a rotor and one being a stator, said coaxially arranged layers having complementary facing surfaces assembled in a frictional, sealed engagement, each layer having at least one passageway with an upstream entry and a downstream outlet capable for successive selective placement in communication to establish plural dedicated flow paths within the assembly, wherein the central shaft extends through the plurality of coaxially arranged layers, and wherein a first coaxially arranged layer engages with the interior surface of the housing to create an airtight seal; and
an airtight compartment formed by the interior surface of the housing engaged in said airtight seal with the gasket of the pressure cap and the interior surface of the housing engaged in the airtight seal with the first coaxially arranged layer,wherein rotation of the central column relative to the central shaft slidably moves the gasket of the pressure cap or the first coaxially arranged layer along the interior surface of the housing such that the compartment is compressed, thereby generating pressure against the upstream surface of the first coaxially arranged layer, andwherein rotation of said rotor around said central shaft selectively connects passageways of different coaxial layers thereby serially forming and disrupting a plurality of fluid paths.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to fluidic systems for controlling one or more fluids or reagents. These systems can be used in combination with one or more devices for assaying, processing, or storing samples. In particular, the systems and related methods can allow for controlled pressure and actuation of fluids.
23 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A sample preparation module comprising:
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a housing having an interior surface; a central shaft comprising a threaded section; a pressure cap comprising; a gasket engaged with the interior surface of the housing to create an airtight seal; a central column extending centrally from the inner surface of the pressure cap, wherein the central column comprises threads configured to engage the threaded section of the central shaft such that rotation of the central shaft relative to the central column results in movement of said pressure cap linearly along the length of said central shaft; a plurality of coaxially arranged layers engaged with the central shaft, at least one being a rotor and one being a stator, said coaxially arranged layers having complementary facing surfaces assembled in a frictional, sealed engagement, each layer having at least one passageway with an upstream entry and a downstream outlet capable for successive selective placement in communication to establish plural dedicated flow paths within the assembly, wherein the central shaft extends through the plurality of coaxially arranged layers, and wherein a first coaxially arranged layer engages with the interior surface of the housing to create an airtight seal; and an airtight compartment formed by the interior surface of the housing engaged in said airtight seal with the gasket of the pressure cap and the interior surface of the housing engaged in the airtight seal with the first coaxially arranged layer, wherein rotation of the central column relative to the central shaft slidably moves the gasket of the pressure cap or the first coaxially arranged layer along the interior surface of the housing such that the compartment is compressed, thereby generating pressure against the upstream surface of the first coaxially arranged layer, and wherein rotation of said rotor around said central shaft selectively connects passageways of different coaxial layers thereby serially forming and disrupting a plurality of fluid paths. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 30)
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23. A method of isolating a molecule of interest from a sample, the method comprising:
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a) providing a device comprising a pressure cap, a central shaft, and a plurality of coaxially arranged layers, including a reagent layer, a separation layer and a receiving layer; b) loading the reagent layer with a lysis solution, a wash solution and an elution solution, each solution occupying a separate passageway having an upstream entry and downstream outlet, wherein each of the downstream outlets of the passageways is occluded in a first position of the device; c) combining a sample with the lysis solution in the reagent layer to form a lysed mixture; d) rotating the central shaft to a second position, thereby 1) rotating the reagent layer relative to the separation layer to align the outlet of the passageway holding the lysed mixture with the upstream entry of a passageway in the separation layer, said passageway in the separation layer being occluded by a separation material capable of binding the molecule of interest; and 2) moving the pressure cap toward the plurality of coaxially arranged layers, thereby applying positive pressure to the lysed mixture and forcing the lysed mixture onto and through the separation material; e) rotating the central shaft to a third position, thereby 1) rotating the reagent layer relative to the separation layer to align the outlet of the passageway holding the wash solution with the upstream entry of the passageway in the separation layer occluded by the separation material; and 2) moving the pressure cap further toward the plurality of coaxially arranged layers, thereby applying additional positive pressure to force the wash solution through the separation material; and f) rotating the central shaft to a fourth position, thereby 1) rotating the reagent layer relative to the separation layer to align the outlet of the passageway holding the elution solution with the upstream entry of the passageway in the separation layer occluded by the separation material; 2) rotating the separation layer relative to the receiving layer to align the outlet of the passageway occluded with the separation material with the upstream entry of a first passageway in the receiving layer; and 3) moving the pressure cap further toward the plurality of coaxially arranged layers, thereby applying additional positive pressure to force the elution solution through the separation material to detach the molecule of interest from the separation material and collect the elution solution and molecule of interest in the passageway of the receiving layer. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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31. A sample preparation module comprising:
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a housing having an interior surface; a central shaft comprising a threaded section; a pressure cap comprising; a gasket engaged with the interior surface of the housing to create an airtight seal; a central column extending centrally from the inner surface of the pressure cap, wherein the central column comprises threads configured to engage the threaded section of the central shaft such that rotation of the central shaft relative to the central column results in movement of said pressure cap linearly along the length of said central shaft; a plurality of coaxially arranged layers engaged with the central shaft, at least one being a rotor and one being a stator, said coaxially arranged layers having complementary facing surfaces assembled in a frictional, sealed engagement, each layer having at least one passageway with an upstream entry and a downstream outlet capable for successive selective placement in communication to establish plural dedicated flow paths within the assembly, wherein the central shaft extends through the plurality of coaxially arranged layers, and wherein a first coaxially arranged layer engages with the interior surface of the housing to create an airtight seal; and an airtight compartment formed by the interior surface of the housing engaged in said airtight seal with the gasket of the pressure cap and the airtight seal with the first coaxially arranged layer, wherein rotation of the central column relative to the central shaft slidably moves the gasket of the pressure cap or the first coaxially arranged layer along the interior surface of the housing such that the compartment is compressed, thereby generating pressure against the upstream surface of the first coaxially arranged layer, and wherein rotation of the central shaft relative to the central column simultaneously i) slidably moves the pressure cap or the first layer along the interior surface of the housing such that the compartment is compressed, thereby generating pressure against the upstream surface of the first coaxially arranged layer, and ii) rotates the rotor relative to the stator to selectively connect passageways of different coaxial layers thereby serially forming and disrupting a plurality of fluid paths.
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Specification