CARTRIDGE FOR AUTOMATED MEDICAL DIAGNOSTICS

• US 20100151565A1
• Filed: 06/26/2006
• Published: 06/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biocartis NV (Biocartis Group NV)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: De Gier, Ronald Cornelis, De Jong, Michiel, Schaefer, Danny Genius Aldegonda, Van Haag, Chris, Van Den Bijgaart, Adrianus Wilhelmus Dionisius Maria
• Granted Patent: US 8,703,476 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/289.100
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/025 Align devices or objects to ensure defined positions relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/026 Fluid interfacing between devices or objects, e.g. connectors, inlet details
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/028 Modular arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/04 Exchange or ejection of cartridges, containers or reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/10 Integrating sample preparation and analysis in single entity, e.g. lab-on-a-chip concept
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/123 Flexible; Elastomeric
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1827 using resistive heater
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0481 squeezing of channels or chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50273 characterised by the means or forces applied to move the fluids micropumps F04B19/006, of the membrane type F04B43/043
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502738 characterised by integrated valves microvalves F16K99/0001

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cartridge for the detection of the presence, absence and/or amount of a target nucleotide sequence in a sample comprising one or more nucleic acid sequences. The cartridge comprises a first component and a second component being connectable to each other, the first component comprising at least a first fluid opening and a first sealing surface and the second component comprising at least a second fluid opening and a second sealing surface. Upon connection of the first and second component the first and second fluid opening are placeable in fluid communication and the first and second sealing surfaces are placeable against each other to seal the fluid communication between the first and second fluid opening. The invention is characterized in that the cartridge comprises biasing means for biasing the second sealing surface in the direction of the first sealing surface.

Claims

1. A cartridge for the detection of the presence, absence and/or amount of a target nucleotide sequence in a sample comprising one or more nucleic acid sequences, the cartridge comprising a first component and a second component being connectable to each other, the first component comprising at least a first fluid opening and a first sealing surface and the second component comprising at least a second fluid opening and a second sealing surface, wherein upon connection of the first and second component the first and second fluid opening are placeable in fluid communication and the first and second sealing surfaces are placeable against each other to seal the fluid communication between the first and second fluid opening, characterized in that the cartridge comprises biasing means for biasing the second sealing surface in the direction of the first sealing surface.

2. A cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the second component comprises a flexible part which is at least flexible in a direction perpendicular to the second sealing surface.

3. A cartridge according to claim 2, wherein the second component comprises two or more flexible parts, each having a second fluid opening and an associated second sealing surface and each being at least flexible in a direction perpendicular to the respective second sealing surface.

4. A cartridge according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second components comprises two or more fluid openings and corresponding first and second sealing surfaces, each of the first and second sealing surfaces being substantially flat, the planes of each of the first and second sealing surfaces, respectively, being substantially parallel to each other.

5. A cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the second component is disk shaped and comprises a ring shaped main body and a number of fingerlike flexible parts, one end of each flexible part being connected to the main body and an opposite end of the flexible part being free, the opposite end comprising the second fluid opening and the second sealing surface.

6. A cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the first component is a main part of the cartridge, and the second component is a PCR body comprising one or more thermocycling chambers.

7. A cartridge according to claim 6, wherein each second fluid opening is an inlet and outlet for one of the one or more thermocycling chambers.

9. A cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the biasing means is comprised in a locking device to lock the second component on the first component.

10. A cartridge according to claim 9, wherein the locking device comprises at least one spring element to bias the second sealing surface in the direction of the first sealing surface.

11. A cartridge according to claim 1, wherein after connection the second component is movable with respect to the first component between at least a first position wherein the first and second fluid openings are in fluid communication and a second position wherein the fluid communication is obstructed.

12. A cartridge according to claim 10, wherein after connection of the first and second component, the second component is rotatable with respect to the first component around an axis of rotation, and wherein the first and second component each comprise two or more fluid openings being substantially arranged in a circle around the axis of rotation.

13. A cartridge according to claim 11, wherein at least one of the first or second sealing surfaces is made of a relative soft material.

14. A cartridge according to claim 11, wherein at least one of the first and second components is provided with a seal element comprising the first fluid opening and sealing surface or second fluid opening and sealing surface, respectively, the valve element being configured to provide in the first position a fluid communication between the first and second fluid opening, and in the second position the obstruction of the fluid communication, the valve element further being configured to seal the first and second fluid opening from the environment in both the first and second position.

8. A cartridge according to claim wherein each of the one or more thermocycling chambers are being formed by a space between the main body and a flexible foil being joined to the main body at the edges of the space, the second fluid opening being in fluid communication with the space.

15. A cartridge according to claim 8, wherein the locking device is configured to be used to move the second component between the first and second position.