Assay cartridges and methods of using the same
First Claim
1. A method of performing a plurality of biochemical assays using a plurality of electrodes comprising the steps of:
- applying electrical energy between first and second electrodes of said plurality of electrodes;
measuring an assay dependent signal at said second electrode;
applying electrical energy between said second electrode and a third electrode of said plurality of electrodes; and
measuring an assay dependent signal at said third electrode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Assay modules, preferably assay cartridges, are described as are reader apparatuses which may be used to control aspects of module operation. The modules preferably comprise a detection chamber with integrated electrodes that may be used for carrying out electrode induced luminescence measurements. Methods are described for immobilizing assay reagents in a controlled fashion on these electrodes and other surfaces. Assay modules and cartridges are also described that have a detection chamber, preferably having integrated electrodes, and other fluidic components which may include sample chambers, waste chambers, conduits, vents, bubble traps, reagent chambers, dry reagent pill zones and the like. In certain preferred embodiments, these modules are adapted to receive and analyze a sample collected on an applicator stick.
482 Citations
209 Claims
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1. A method of performing a plurality of biochemical assays using a plurality of electrodes comprising the steps of:
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applying electrical energy between first and second electrodes of said plurality of electrodes;
measuring an assay dependent signal at said second electrode;
applying electrical energy between said second electrode and a third electrode of said plurality of electrodes; and
measuring an assay dependent signal at said third electrode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 22)
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15. An apparatus for performing a plurality of biochemical assays comprising:
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a plurality of electrodes comprising at least one dedicated working electrode, at least one dual-role electrode and at least one dedicated counter electrode, said dedicated working and dual-role electrodes having deposited thereon an assay reagent, wherein said dual-role electrode is configured to operate first as the working electrode and then as the counter electrode. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A cartridge for conducting a plurality of assays, comprising:
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a flow cell having an inlet, an outlet and a detection chamber, the inlet, detection chamber and outlet defining a flow path through the flow cell, said detection chamber comprising;
a plurality of electrodes wherein at least a first electrode has a first assay reagent immobilized thereon, said electrodes being arranged in a one-dimensional array along the flow path;
a plurality of electrical leads for supplying electrical energy to said plurality of electrodes;
- View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33)
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- 34. A method of performing a plurality of assays comprising measuring assay dependent signals using a plurality of electrodes, wherein at least one of said plurality of electrodes is used as a working electrode for measuring an assay dependent signal and, subsequently, as a counter electrode for measuring a different assay dependent signal at a different one of said plurality of electrodes.
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37. A method of conducting an electrochemiluminescence measurement, said method comprising the steps of:
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measuring the impedance between two electrodes in a measurement chamber to detect the presence of air bubbles, said measurement using electrical potentials that are insufficient for generating electrochemiluminescence at said electrodes; and
inducing electrochemiluminescence at one of said two electrodes.
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38. (canceled)
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39. A method of depositing assay reagents on an electrode surface to form an assay domain, the method comprising the steps of:
dispensing a predetermined volume of said assay reagents on said electrode surface using impact-driven fluid spreading to coat a predefined region on said electrode surface, said predefined region having a predefined assay reagent area.
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40-70. -70 (canceled)
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71. A method of forming a plurality of assay domains, the method comprising the steps of:
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a. treating one of a plurality of predefined region of a surface with solution of a biotin-binding protein so as to form an adsorbed biotin-binding protein layer within said predefined region of said surface;
b. treating said adsorbed biotin-binding protein layer with a solution comprising an assay reagent wherein said assay reagent is linked to biotin; and
c. repeating steps a. and b. for each of said plurality of assay domains.
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72-102. -102 (canceled)
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103. A method of forming a plurality of assay domains, the method comprising the steps of:
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A. treating one of a plurality of predefined region of a surface with solution of a second binding partner so as to form an adsorbed second binding partner layer within said predefined region of said surface;
B. treating said adsorbed second binding partner layer with a solution comprising an assay reagent wherein said assay reagent is linked to or comprises a first binding partner and wherein said first and second binding partners specifically bind each other; and
C. repeating steps a. and b. for each of said plurality of assay domains.
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104-119. -119 (canceled)
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120. A cartridge for conducting a plurality of assays, comprising:
a flow cell having an inlet, an outlet and a detection chamber, said inlet, detection chamber and outlet defining a flow path through the flow cell, said detection chamber comprising;
a plurality of working electrodes having assay reagents immobilized thereon, said electrodes being arranged in a one-dimensional array along the flow path;
a common counter electrode.
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121-134. -134 (canceled)
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135. An assay cartridge comprising:
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a cartridge body having a first side and one or more first side cover layers mated to said first side such that said cartridge body and said first side cover layers define one or more first side fluidic networks therebetween, wherein said assay cartridge includes a sample chamber having a sample introduction port with a sealable closure, a sample chamber vent port connected to said sample chamber;
a first waste chamber, a first waste chamber vent port connected to said waste chamber and a first detection chamber connected to said sample chamber by a first sample conduit and to said first waste chamber by a first waste conduit. - View Dependent Claims (136, 137, 138)
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139-161. -161 (canceled)
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162. An assay cartridge for analyzing a sample collected with an applicator stick comprising a shaft and a sample collection head, said cartridge comprising
a sample chamber having an elongated cavity that has a first elongated region and a second elongated region, said regions oriented at an angle with respect to each other, wherein said angle is selected to bend said shaft upon insertion of said applicator stick into said sample chamber and promote fracture of said shaft.
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163-166. -166 (canceled)
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167. An assay cartridge comprising
an extraction reagent chamber for holding an extraction reagent; -
a sample chamber adapted to receive an applicator stick, said sample chamber connected to said extraction reagent chamber by an extraction reagent conduit, said sample chamber having a sample introduction port with a sealable closure;
a first detection chamber connected to said sample chamber by a first sample conduit.
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168-176. -176 (canceled)
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177. A method of performing a cartridge based assay, said cartridge comprising
a sample chamber having a sample chamber vent port, said sample chamber connected to a sample conduit having a first sample conduit branch containing a first dry reagent, a first waste chamber, a first waste chamber vent port connected to said waste chamber; -
a first detection chamber connected to said sample chamber by said first sample conduit branch and to said first waste chamber by a first waste conduit;
a first reagent chamber containing a volume of a first liquid reagent, said first reagent chamber being connected to said sample conduit through a first reagent conduit;
a first reagent chamber vent port connected to said first reagent chamber;
an air vent port connected to said sample conduit or said first reagent conduit;
said method comprisingmoving said sample from said sample chamber into said first sample conduit branch;
reconstituting said first dry reagent in said sample;
moving a slug of said sample having a predetermined volume into said first detection chamber; and
moving said sample in said first detection chamber into said first waste chamber;
moving said first liquid reagent into said first detection chamber;
measuring a signal from said first detection chamber.
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178-199. -199 (canceled)
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200. A method of performing a cartridge based assay, said cartridge comprising
a sample chamber having a sample chamber vent port, said sample chamber connected to a sample conduit comprising a first dry reagent, a first waste chamber connected through a first waste chamber conduit to said sample conduit, a first waste chamber vent port connected to said waste chamber; -
a first reagent chamber containing a volume of a first liquid reagent;
a first reagent chamber vent port connected to said first reagent chamber;
a first detection chamber connected to said sample chamber by said sample conduit and to said first reagent chamber by a first reagent chamber conduit;
an air vent port connected to said sample conduit or said first reagent conduit;
said method comprising moving said sample from said sample chamber into said first sample conduit;
reconstituting said first dry reagent in said sample;
moving a first slug of said sample having a predetermined volume into said first detection chamber; and
moving said sample in said first detection chamber into said first waste chamber;
moving said first liquid reagent into said first detection chamber;
measuring a signal from said first detection chamber.
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201-207. -207 (canceled)
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208. A method for preparing sample for analysis comprising
inserting an applicator stick used to collect a sample into a cartridge comprising a sample chamber, said applicator stick comprising a shaft and a sample collection head; -
breaking the shaft of said applicator stick into a shaft segment and a head segment;
sealing said head segment in said sample chamber.
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209-224. -224 (canceled)
Specification