Cartridge for use with electrochemical sensor

• US 20050196855A1
• Filed: 09/14/2004
• Published: 09/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GeneFluidics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: GeneFluidics, Inc.
• Inventors: Chang, Arvin Trung, Gau, Jen-Jr
• Granted Patent: US 7,476,360 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/287.2
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/027 for microfluidic devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/028 Modular arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0684 Venting, avoiding backpressure, avoid gas bubbles
• 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 2300/0645 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 2400/0481 squeezing of channels or chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0487 fluid pressure, pneumatics
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0655 pinch valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0683 mechanically breaking a wall or membrane within a channel or chamber
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502707 characterised by the manufacture of the container or its components by shaping or joining plastic parts B29C59/00, B29C65/00; by laminating B32B37/00; manufacture of microstructural devices in general B81C
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502723 characterised by venting arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502738 characterised by integrated valves microvalves F16K99/0001
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/523 with means for closing or opening
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 7/00 Heating or cooling apparatus autoclaves B01J3/04; Heat insulating devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/527 for microfluidic devices, e.g. used for lab-on-a-chip
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 2099/0078 using moulding or stamping
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 2099/0084 Chemistry or biology, e.g. "lab-on-a-chip" technology
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0001 : Microvalves microdevices B81B1/00; manufacture or treatment of devices or systems in or on a substrate B81C1/00; microfluidic structures B01L3/5027; micropumps F04B19/006
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0015 : Diaphragm or membrane valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0057 : the fluid being the circulating fluid itself, e.g. check valves
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00029 : provided with flat sample substrates, e.g. slides G01N35/028 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1002 : Reagent dispensers

Abstract

A cartridge is disclosed. The cartridge includes an independent storage component and transport component. The storage component can be coupled with the transport component. The storage component includes one or more pockets that each contain a solution to be used in an assay. The transport component is configured to transport the solutions from the pockets of the storage component to a sensor positioned in the transport component.

Claims

1. A cartridge, comprising:

a storage component including one or more reservoirs that each contain a solution;

a transport component configured to be coupled with the storage component, the transport component being configured to transport the solutions from one or more of the reservoirs to a sensor held by the transport component, the sensor being configured to detect the a presence and/or amount of an agent in a liquid sample.

2. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the transport component is independent from the transport component.

3. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the transport component includes one or more disruption mechanisms configured to disrupt the sealing integrity of a material on the storage component upon coupling of the transport component and the storage component, the sealing integrity being disrupted so as to provide an outlet through which a solution in a reservoir can flow out of the storage component.

4. The cartridge of claim 3, wherein the transport mechanism includes one or more lumens positioned so as to transport the solution flowing from the reservoir into the transport component.

5. The cartridge of claim 2, wherein one or more of the disruption mechanisms includes a piercing mechanism configured to pierce the material.

6. The cartridge of claim 5, wherein a lumen extends through the piercing mechanism.

7. The cartridge of claim 2, wherein one or more of the disruption mechanisms include a cup.

8. The cartridge of claim 7, wherein a lumen extends from the bottom of the cup into the transport component.

9. The cartridge of claim 2, wherein the storage component includes at least one structure configured to limit the disruption created by one of the mechanisms to a localized region of the medium.

10. The cartridge of claim 9, wherein the storage component includes a base having one or more openings extending through the base, each opening being configured to receive a disruption mechanism.

11. The cartridge of claim 9, wherein the storage component includes a base having one or more recesses extending into the base, each opening being configured to receive a disruption mechanism.

12. The cartridge of claim 2, wherein one or more of the disruption mechanisms is configured to stretch a sealing medium on the storage component upon coupling of the storage component and the transport component.

13. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the storage component includes a cover having a plurality of pockets extending from a side of a common platform.

14. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the storage component includes a cover positioned on a base, the base including one or more openings extending through the base.

15. The cartridge of claim 14, wherein the storage component includes a sealing medium poisoned on the base so as to seal the openings.

16. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the transport component includes a valve configured to control the flow of a solution around an obstruction positioned between an input channel in the transport component and an output channel in the transport component, the valve including a flexible material positioned over the obstruction and a portion of the input channel and a portion of the output channel.

17. The cartridge of claim 16, wherein an opposite side of the input channel from the flexible material slopes toward the flexible material.

18. The cartridge of the claim 16, wherein a height of the input channel decreases moving toward the valve, the height of the channel at a point along the channel being measured in a direction perpendicular to the flexible material and extending from the flexible material across the channel to the point of the opposing side located furthest from the flexible material.

19. The cartridge of claim 16, wherein the transport component includes a vent channel extending away from the valve, the vent channel being configured to vent gasses from the channel during operation of the valve.

20. The cartridge of claim 19, wherein an opposite side of the vent channel from the flexible material slopes toward the flexible material.

21. The cartridge of the claim 19, wherein a height of the vent channel decreases moving toward the valve when the valve is closed, the height of the channel at a point along the channel being measured in a direction perpendicular to the flexible material and extending from the flexible material across the channel to the point of the opposing side located furthest from the flexible material.

22. The cartridge of claim 16, wherein the transport component includes a cover positioned on a base, the cover and the base defining the input channel and an output channel, the base including:

a first valve channel extending through the base and positioned over a portion of the input channel; and

a second valve channel extending through the base and positioned over a portion of the output channel, the flexible material being positioned over the first valve channel opening and over the second valve channel.

23. The cartridge of claim 16, wherein the cover and the base define a vent channel, the first valve channel being positioned over a portion of the vent channel.

24. A transport component for use with a cartridge, comprising:

a transport component configured to be coupled with a storage component having one or more reservoirs that each hold a solution, the transport component being configured to transport the solutions from one or more of the reservoirs to a sensor held by the transport component, the sensor being configured to detect the a presence and/or amount of an agent in a liquid sample.

25. The component of claim 24, wherein the transport component includes one or more disruption mechanisms configured to disrupt the sealing integrity of a material on the storage component upon coupling of the transport component and the storage component, the sealing integrity being disrupted so as to provide an outlet through which a solution in a reservoir can flow out of the storage component.

26. The component of claim 25, wherein the transport mechanism includes one or more lumens positioned so as to transport the solution flowing from the reservoir into the transport component.

27. The component of claim 25, wherein one or more of the disruption mechanisms includes a piercing mechanism configured to pierce the material.

28. The component of claim 27, wherein a lumen extends through the piercing mechanism.

29. The component of claim 25, wherein one or more of the disruption mechanisms include a cup.

30. The component of claim 29, wherein a lumen extends from the bottom of the cup into the transport component.

31. The component of claim 24, wherein the transport component includes a valve configured to control the flow of a solution from an input channel in the transport component to an output channel in the transport component, the valve includes a flexible material defining a portion of the input channel.

32. The component of claim 31, wherein the flexible material defines a portion of the outlet channel.

33. The component of claim 31, wherein an opposite side of the input channel from the flexible material slopes toward the flexible material.

34. The component of claim 31, wherein a height of the input channel decreases moving toward the valve, the height of the channel at a point along the channel being measured in a direction perpendicular to the flexible material and extending from the flexible material across the channel to the point of the opposing side located furthest from the flexible material.

35. The component of claim 31, wherein the transport component includes a vent channel extending away from the valve, the vent channel being configured to vent gasses from the channel during operation of the valve.

36. The component of claim 35, wherein the flexible material is positioned over a portion of the vent channel and a side of the vent channel opposite from the flexible material slopes toward the flexible material.

37. The component of claim 35, wherein a height of the vent channel decreases moving toward the valve when the valve is closed, the height of the channel at a point along the channel being measured in a direction perpendicular to the flexible material and extending from the flexible material across the channel to the point of the opposing side located furthest from the flexible material.

38. The component of claim 33, wherein the transport component includes a cover positioned on a base, the cover and the base defining the input channel and the output channel, the base including:

a first valve channel extending through the base and positioned over a portion of the input channel; and

a second valve channel extending through the base and positioned over a portion of the output channel, the flexible material being positioned over the first valve channel and over the second valve channel.

39. The component of claim 33, wherein the cover and the base define a vent channel, the first valve channel being positioned over a portion of the vent channel.

40. A method, comprising:

coupling a storage component with a transport component so as to form a cartridge, the storage component including one or more reservoirs that each contain a solution and the transport component configured to transport the solutions from one or more of the reservoirs to a sensor held by the transport component, the sensor being configured to detect the a presence and/or amount of an agent in a liquid sample.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the transport mechanism includes one or more disruption mechanisms and the storage component is coupled with the transport component such that one or more of the disruption mechanisms disrupt the sealing integrity of a material on the storage component so as to generate an outlet through which a solution in a reservoir can flow out of the storage component.

42. The method of claim 40, further comprising:

opening a valve on the transport component so as to control flow of a solution through the transport component.

43. The method of claim 42, further comprising:

applying pressure to a pocket on the storage component so as to drive the solution in the reservoir into the transport component.

44. A transport component for transporting solution to an electrochemical sensor, comprising:

a vent channel, an input channel and an output channel meeting at a valve, the valve being configured to control flow of a solution from the input channel to the output channel while venting gasses into the vent channel.

45. The component of claim 44, further comprising:

an obstruction positioned between the input channel and the output channel; and

a flexible material positioned over the obstruction such that a displacement between the obstruction and the flexible material changes during operation of the valve.

46. The component of claim 44, wherein a flexible material is positioned over a portion of the input channel and a portion of the output channel.

47. The component of claim 46, wherein the flexible material is positioned over a portion of the vent channel.

48. The component of claim 44, further comprising:

one or more electrochemical sensors configured to detect the presence and/or amount of an agent in a sample; and

one or more channels configured to transport the solution from the valve to the one or more sensors.

49. The component of claim 44, wherein the valve includes a flexible material defining a portion of the input channel such that the portion of the input channel defined by the flexible material has a volume that changes during operation of the valve.

50. The component of claim 45, wherein a portion of the input channel opposite from the flexible material slopes toward the flexible material as the channel approaches the valve.

51. The component of claim 45, wherein a height of the input channel decreases moving toward the valve when the valve is closed, the height of the channel at a point along the channel being measured in a direction perpendicular to the flexible material and extending from the flexible material across the input channel to the point of the opposing side located furthest from the flexible material.

52. The component of claim 45, wherein an opposite side of the vent channel from the flexible material slopes toward the flexible material.

53. The component of claim 45, wherein a height of the vent channel decreases moving toward the valve when the valve is closed, the height of the channel at a point along the channel being measured in a direction perpendicular to the flexible material and extending from the flexible material across the channel to the point of the opposing side located furthest from the flexible material.

54. The component of claim 44, wherein the transport component includes a cover positioned on a base, the cover and the base defining the channel and defining an output channel, the base including:

a first valve channel extending through the base and positioned over a portion of the input channel; and

a second valve channel extending through the base and positioned over a portion of the output channel, the flexible material being positioned over the first valve channel and over the second valve channel.

55. A transport component for transporting solution to an electrochemical sensor, comprising:

a valve configured to control flow of a solution around an obstruction positioned between an input channel and an output channel, the valve including a flexible material positioned over the obstruction such that a displacement between the obstruction and the flexible material changes during operation of the valve, a portion of the input channel sloping toward the flexible material when moving along the input channel toward the valve.

56. The component of claim 55, wherein the flexible material is positioned over a portion of the input channel and a portion of the output channel.

57. The component of claim 56, wherein the flexible material is positioned over a portion of the vent channel.

58. The component of claim 55, further comprising:

one or more electrochemical sensors configured to detect the presence and/or amount of an agent in a sample; and

one or more channels configured to transport the solution from the valve to the one or more sensors.

59. The component of claim 55, wherein the flexible material defines a portion of the input channel such that the portion of the input channel defined by the flexible material has a volume that changes during operation of the valve.

60. The component of claim 55, wherein a height of the input channel decreases moving toward the valve when the valve is closed, the height of the channel at a point along the channel being measured in a direction perpendicular to the flexible material and extending from the flexible material across the input channel to the point of the opposing side located furthest from the flexible material.

61. The component of claim 55, wherein an opposite side of the vent channel from the flexible material slopes toward the flexible material.

62. The component of claim 55, wherein a height of the vent channel decreases moving toward the valve when the valve is closed, the height of the channel at a point along the channel being measured in a direction perpendicular to the flexible material and extending from the flexible material across the channel to the point of the opposing side located furthest from the flexible material.

63. The component of claim 55, wherein the transport component includes a cover positioned on a base, the cover and the base defining the input channel and defining the output channel, the base including:

a first valve channel extending through the base and positioned over a portion of the input channel; and

a second valve channel extending through the base and positioned over a portion of the output channel, the flexible material being positioned over the first valve channel and over the second valve channel.