Microfluidic metering and delivery system
First Claim
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1. A cartridge for collecting a target analyte for testing, the cartridge comprising:
- a metering stack configured to receive and distribute a target analyte along a first channel, wherein the first channel has a bottom that comprises a porous or mesh material and one or more venting holes located along the first channel;
an assay stack comprising at least one assay component, the assay component comprising one or more assay pads, each comprising a reagent for performing an assay on the target analyte or a portion thereof; and
a spacer layer disposed between the metering stack and the assay stack,wherein the spacer layer provides a gap between the metering stack and the assay stack that prevents the target analyte from flowing from the metering stack into the assay stack when the cartridge is in an uncompressed state; and
wherein the porous or mesh material permits the target analyte to flow from the metering stack to the assay stack only when the cartridge is sufficiently compressed to bring the metering stack in contact with the assay stack.
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Abstract
This invention provides devices, systems, and methods for performing point-of-care, analysis, including multiplexed analysis, of a biological fluid analyte, such as blood. The invention includes a cartridge for collecting the biological fluid analyte. The cartridge is configured to be inserted into an assay reader, in which one or more assay reactions may be performed. The assay reader is designed to read and report the results of the one or more assay reactions.
33 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A cartridge for collecting a target analyte for testing, the cartridge comprising:
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a metering stack configured to receive and distribute a target analyte along a first channel, wherein the first channel has a bottom that comprises a porous or mesh material and one or more venting holes located along the first channel; an assay stack comprising at least one assay component, the assay component comprising one or more assay pads, each comprising a reagent for performing an assay on the target analyte or a portion thereof; and a spacer layer disposed between the metering stack and the assay stack, wherein the spacer layer provides a gap between the metering stack and the assay stack that prevents the target analyte from flowing from the metering stack into the assay stack when the cartridge is in an uncompressed state; and wherein the porous or mesh material permits the target analyte to flow from the metering stack to the assay stack only when the cartridge is sufficiently compressed to bring the metering stack in contact with the assay stack. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of fabricating a cartridge, the method comprising
obtaining a first layer comprising (1) a layer of polymeric material with a channel formed therein, wherein the channel comprises at least one venting hole disposed along the channel, and (2) a porous or mesh material attached on a bottom surface of the polymeric material such that the channel is bounded on a bottom surface by the porous or mesh material; -
obtaining a second layer comprising one or more assay pads, each comprising a porous material capable of absorbing analyte from the bottom of the channel, and a reagent for performing an assay on the target analyte or a portion thereof; and obtaining a compressible intermediate layer comprising a compressible material; and combining the first layer, compressible intermediate layer, and second layer in a cartridge housing such that the compressible intermediate layer separates the first layer and the second layer when the compressible intermediate layer is in an uncompressed state, and the channel is aligned with the two or more assay pads in a direction perpendicular to the first layer. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A cartridge for collecting blood for testing, the cartridge comprising:
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a metering stack configured to receive and distribute the blood along a first channel, wherein the first channel has a bottom that comprises a porous or mesh material and one or more venting holes located along the first channel; an assay stack comprising at least one assay component, the assay component comprising one or more assay pads, each comprising a reagent for performing an assay on the blood or a portion thereof; and a spacer layer disposed between the metering stack and the assay stack, wherein the spacer layer provides a gap between the metering stack and the assay stack that prevents the blood or any portion thereof from flowing from the metering stack into the assay stack when the cartridge is in an uncompressed state; and wherein the porous or mesh material permits the blood or a portion thereof to flow from the metering stack to the assay stack only when the cartridge is sufficiently compressed to bring the metering stack in contact with the assay stack. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification