Integrated Apparatus for Performing Nucleic Acid Extraction and Diagnostic Testing on Multiple Biological Samples
First Claim
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1. A diagnostic apparatus, comprising:
- a first module configured to extract nucleic acid simultaneously from a plurality of nucleic-acid containing samples, wherein the first module comprises;
one or more racks, each configured to accept a number of samples and a corresponding number of holders, wherein each holder comprises a process chamber, a waste chamber, one or more pipette tips, and one or more receptacles, wherein the one or more receptacles contain respectively sufficient quantities of one or more reagents for carrying out extraction of nucleic acid from a sample;
a magnetic separator configured to move relative to the process chambers of each holder;
a heater assembly configured to independently heat each of the process chambers; and
a liquid dispenser configured to carry out fluid transfer operations on two or more holders simultaneously;
anda second module configured to simultaneously amplify the nucleic acid extracted from the plurality of samples, wherein the second module comprises;
one or more bays, each configured to receive a microfluidic cartridge, wherein the cartridge is configured to separately accept and to separately amplify the nucleic acid extracted from multiple samples; and
one or more detection systems.
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Abstract
The technology described herein generally relates to systems for extracting polynucleotides from multiple samples, particularly from biological samples, and additionally to systems that subsequently amplify and detect the extracted polynucleotides. The technology more particularly relates to microfluidic systems that carry out PCR on multiple samples of nucleotides of interest within microfluidic channels, and detect those nucleotides.
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Citations
73 Claims
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1. A diagnostic apparatus, comprising:
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a first module configured to extract nucleic acid simultaneously from a plurality of nucleic-acid containing samples, wherein the first module comprises; one or more racks, each configured to accept a number of samples and a corresponding number of holders, wherein each holder comprises a process chamber, a waste chamber, one or more pipette tips, and one or more receptacles, wherein the one or more receptacles contain respectively sufficient quantities of one or more reagents for carrying out extraction of nucleic acid from a sample; a magnetic separator configured to move relative to the process chambers of each holder; a heater assembly configured to independently heat each of the process chambers; and a liquid dispenser configured to carry out fluid transfer operations on two or more holders simultaneously; and a second module configured to simultaneously amplify the nucleic acid extracted from the plurality of samples, wherein the second module comprises; one or more bays, each configured to receive a microfluidic cartridge, wherein the cartridge is configured to separately accept and to separately amplify the nucleic acid extracted from multiple samples; and one or more detection systems. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 41, 42, 45, 46, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69)
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2-3. -3. (canceled)
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8-10. -10. (canceled)
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15. (canceled)
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20. (canceled)
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24-40. -40. (canceled)
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43-44. -44. (canceled)
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47-54. -54. (canceled)
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64. (canceled)
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70. A diagnostic apparatus comprising:
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one or more racks, on each of which is mounted a number of nucleic acid containing samples and a corresponding number of holders, wherein each holder comprises a process chamber, a waste chamber, one or more pipette tips, and one or more receptacles, wherein the one or more receptacles contain, respectively, sufficient quantities of one or more reagents for carrying out extraction of nucleic acid from a sample; a magnetic separator movable from a first position to a second position adjacent to the process chamber of each of the one or more holders; a heater assembly comprising a number of heater units, each of which is in thermal contact with one of the process chambers; one or more bays, each bay having a shape complementary to a shape of a microfluidic cartridge, wherein the cartridge comprises a number of inlets each of which is in fluid communication with one of a number of channels in which nucleic acid extracted from one of the number of samples is amplified, and wherein the cartridge further comprises one or more windows that permit detection of amplified nucleic acid; a liquid dispenser having one or more dispensing heads, wherein the liquid dispenser is movable from a first position above a first holder to a second position above a second holder, and is movable from the first position above the first holder to a different position above the first holder, and is further movable from a position above one of the holders to a position above one of the number of inlets; and one or more detection systems positioned in proximity to the one or more windows.
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71. A diagnostic instrument comprising:
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a liquid handling unit that extracts nucleic acid from a sample in a unitized reagent strip; a microfluidic cartridge that, in conjunction with a heater element, carries out real-time PCR on nucleic acid extracted from the sample; and a detector that provides a user with a diagnosis of whether the sample contains a nucleotide of interest. - View Dependent Claims (72)
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73-299. -299. (canceled)
Specification