Assay Cartridges and Methods of Using the Same
First Claim
1. An assay cartridge comprising a sample chamber, a sample indicator window and an optical path from a reflecting surface to said indicator window, wherein said reflecting surface reflects a sample level in said sample chamber to said indicator window.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
Assay cartridges are 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 embodiments, these cartridges are adapted to receive and analyze a sample collected on an applicator stick. Also described are kits including such cartridges and a cartridge reader configured to analyze an assay conducted using an assay cartridge.
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Citations
120 Claims
- 1. An assay cartridge comprising a sample chamber, a sample indicator window and an optical path from a reflecting surface to said indicator window, wherein said reflecting surface reflects a sample level in said sample chamber to said indicator window.
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15. A method of determining a fluid level in an assay cartridge comprising a sample chamber, a sample indicator window, a reflecting surface, and an optical path connecting said sample chamber, said sample indicator window and said reflecting surface, said method comprising the steps of
(a) adding a volume of fluid to said sample chamber, wherein said fluid level effected via said optical path to said indicator window; -
(b) viewing said fluid level in said sample indicator window; and (c) comparing said fluid level relative to an indicating feature on said sample indicator window. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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- 18. 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 region and a second region, wherein said first and second regions are oriented at an angle with respect to each other and said angle is selected to bend said shaft upon insertion of said applicator stick into said sample chamber and promote fracture of said shaft, and wherein said sample chamber comprises a sample head retention feature.
- 44. An assay cartridge comprising a cartridge body including a reagent chamber adapted to receive a cylindrical ampoule, wherein said reagent chamber comprises side walls and a plurality of support brackets protruding from said side walls, wherein said support brackets are configured to provide a multi-point cradle support for said cylindrical ampoule.
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47. An assay cartridge comprising a sample chamber connected to a collection component via a collection conduit, said collection component comprising a collection chamber and a sensing chamber, wherein said collection chamber is connected to
(i) said collection conduit, wherein said collection conduit is connected to the top of said collection chamber and is positioned proximal to a wall of said collection chamber (ii) an output conduit connected to the bottom of said collection chamber; - and
(iii) a sensing conduit comprising a tube that extends down from the top of said collection chamber to a pre-defined height in said collection chamber, wherein said sensing chamber connects to said sensing conduit at the top of said sensing chamber and proximal to a wall of said sensing chamber and said sensing chamber also connects to a sensing chamber vent. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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57. A fluid flow path comprising:
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(a) a first resistance region; (b) a connecting region proximal to said first resistance region; and (c) a matching resistance region proximal to said connecting region and distal to said first resistance region, wherein the hydrodynamic resistance of said matching resistance region is substantially equivalent to the hydrodynamic resistance of said first resistance region and is substantially greater than the hydrodynamic resistance of said connecting region. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73)
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74. A method for moving fluid in a fluidic network comprising:
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(a) introducing a fluid slug into a hydrodynamic resistance matched fluid flow path within said fluidic network;
wherein said flow path comprises the following components;(i) a first resistance region; (ii) a connecting region proximal to said first resistance region; and (iii) a matching resistance region proximal to said connecting region and distal to said first resistance region; and (b) using air pressure to move said fluid slug through said flow path. - View Dependent Claims (75)
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76. A cartridge reader configured to analyze an assay conducted in an assay cartridge, said cartridge reader comprising
(a) an enclosure; -
(b) a cartridge tray for holding a cartridge during analysis in the cartridge reader; (c) a rail in said enclosure, wherein said cartridge tray is mounted on said rail such that said tray can move in and out of said enclosure by moving along said rail; (d) an actuator to move said cartridge tray along said rail; (e) a mounting frame in said enclosure, said mounting frame is configured to align said cartridge with one or more reader components; and (f) an alignment guide attached to said cartridge tray that is configured to engage with and control movement of said mounting frame. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120)
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Specification