FLUID FREE INTERFACE FOR A FLUIDIC ANALYZER

• US 20070144277A1
• Filed: 12/27/2005
• Published: 06/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Rezachek, Tom, Padmanabhan, Aravind, Fritz, Bernard, Bird, Douglas, Bardell, Ron
• Granted Patent: US 7,485,153 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/864.810
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/027 for microfluidic devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0809 rectangular shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0877 Flow chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/123 Flexible; Elastomeric
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0481 squeezing of channels or chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502715 characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces
• 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 9/527 for microfluidic devices, e.g. used for lab-on-a-chip
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 13/001 Pumps for particular liquids
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2/18 with similar tooth forms F04C2/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00158 Elements containing microarrays, i.e. "biochip"
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/18 Water

Abstract

Instrument-cartridge interfaces for fluidic analyzers that have an instrument and a removable cartridge are disclosed. For example, and in one illustrative embodiment, the instrument may include a needle that is adapted to penetrate a septum on a removable cartridge. In another illustrative embodiment, the instrument may include a plunger that is adapted to deform a deformable membrane on a removable cartridge. In yet another illustrative embodiment, the instrument may include a nozzle that is adapted to mate and seal with a flow channel on a removable cartridge. Techniques for detecting the flow rate in a flow channel on a removable cartridge, as well as the position of fluid in a flow channel of a removable cartridge, are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A fluidic analyzer, comprising:

a cartridge having a flow channel defined by flow channel walls;

a chamber having a volume defined by one or more chamber walls, the chamber filled with a fluid that is in fluid communication with the flow channel;

an instrument for receiving the cartridge, the instrument adapted to selectively at least temporarily deform at least one of the chamber walls to change the volume of the chamber to thereby force at least some of the fluid in the chamber to induce a flow in the flow channel of the cartridge.

2. The fluidic analyzer of claim 1 wherein the instrument includes a plunger that is selectively moved by the instrument to at least temporarily deform at least one of the chamber walls to change the volume of the chamber and thereby force at least some of the fluid in the chamber to induce a flow in the flow channel of the cartridge.

3. The fluidic analyzer of claim 1 wherein the instrument includes a roller that is selectively rolled by the instrument along the cartridge to at least temporarily deform at least one of the chamber walls to change the volume of the chamber and thereby force at least some of the fluid in the chamber to induce a flow in the flow channel of the cartridge.

4. A fluidic analyzer, comprising:

a cartridge having a flow channel defined by flow channel walls, wherein an opening extends from outside of the cartridge and into the flow channel;

a resilient and/or flexible membrane disposed in or over the opening and secured to at least a portion of the cartridge via a fluid tight seal;

an instrument for receiving the cartridge, the instrument having a plunger that is in registration with the resilient and/or flexible membrane when the cartridge is received by the instrument; and

the instrument including a moving mechanism to move at least an end of the plunger into engagement with the resilient and/or flexible membrane and to deform the resilient and/or flexible membrane to thereby induce a flow in the flow channel of the cartridge.

5. The fluidic analyzer of claim 4, wherein the plunger includes a rigid end, and the moving mechanism moves the rigid end of the plunger toward the resilient and/or flexible membrane to deform the resilient and/or flexible membrane.

6. The fluidic analyzer of claim 4, wherein the end of the plunger includes a deformable membrane, and the moving mechanism includes a pressure source to create a pressure behind the resilient and/or flexible membrane of the plunger end to deform the resilient and/or flexible membrane of the plunger end toward the resilient and/or flexible membrane of the cartridge, and thereby deform the resilient and/or flexible membrane of the cartridge to induce a flow in the flow channel of the cartridge.

7. The fluidic analyzer of claim 4, wherein the moving mechanism moves the end of the plunger into engagement with the resilient and/or flexible membrane at a rate profile that induces a desired flow rate in the flow channel of the cartridge.

8. A method of inducing a flow in a disposable cartridge, the disposable cartridge includes a membrane that forms at least part of a wall of a fluid chamber in the cartridge, the method comprising:

aligning an object with at least part of the membrane; and

moving the object into engagement with at least part of the membrane to apply a force that at least temporarily deforms at least part of the membrane, thereby changing the volume of the fluid chamber, and inducing a flow in the disposable cartridge.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the object includes a plunger with a rigid end, and wherein the rigid end of the plunger is moved into engagement with the membrane.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the object includes a plunger with an end, wherein the end of the plunger includes a deformable resilient and/or flexible membrane, the method further comprising:

creating a pressure behind the resilient and/or flexible membrane of the plunger end to deform the resilient and/or flexible membrane of the plunger toward the membrane of the cartridge to thereby deform the membrane of the cartridge and change the volume of the fluid chamber to induce a flow in the disposable cartridge.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the object is moved into engagement with the membrane of the cartridge at a rate profile that induces a desired flow rate in the cartridge.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein, when the object is moved into engagement with at least part of the membrane, the object displaces at least part of the membrane into the cartridge.

13. A fluidic analyzer, comprising:

a cartridge having a chamber defined by one or more chamber walls;

an instrument for receiving the cartridge, the instrument having a force mechanism for applying a force to the cartridge that deforms at least part of one or more of the chamber walls to induce a flow in the cartridge.

14. The fluidic analyzer of claim 13 wherein the at least part of the one or more chamber walls includes a flexible membrane that deforms under the applied force, thereby changing the volume of the chamber and inducing a flow in the cartridge.

15. The fluidic analyzer of claim 13 wherein the at least part of the one or more chamber walls is a rigid but collapsible wall that collapses under the applied force, thereby changing the volume of the chamber.

16. The fluidic analyzer of claim 13 wherein the force mechanism includes a roller that when rolled along the cartridge, deforms at least part of one or more of the chamber walls to induce a flow in the cartridge.

17. A method of providing a flow of a fluid in a disposable cartridge, the cartridge having a fluid chamber and one or more flow channels in fluid communication with the fluid chamber, the cartridge adapted to be received by an instrument, wherein the instrument includes a roller, the method comprising:

inserting the cartridge into the instrument;

positioning the roller of the instrument adjacent the fluid chamber of the cartridge;

applying a force to the roller of the instrument against the fluid chamber of the cartridge to collapse at least part of the fluid chamber of the cartridge; and

rolling the roller along the fluid chamber.

18. A method of providing a flow of a fluid in a flow channel of a cartridge, the method comprising:

providing at least one pumping mechanism on the cartridge and in fluid communication with the flow channel of the cartridge;

inserting the cartridge into an instrument, the instrument adapted to power the at least one pumping mechanism; and

powering the at least one pumping mechanism via the instrument to thereby cause the pumping mechanism to pump fluid through the flow channel of the cartridge.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the at least one pumping mechanism includes a gear.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the at least one gear has paddle-like structures around the gear for pushing the fluid when the gear is turned.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein the instrument powers the at least one pumping mechanism via a rotating shaft.

22. The method of claim 18 wherein the instrument powers the at least one pumping mechanism at least in part via electrical energy.

23. The method of claim 18 wherein the instrument powers the at least one pumping mechanism at least in part via magnetic fields.