BIOSENSOR WITH MULTI-CHAMBER CARTRIDGE

• US 20110206560A1
• Filed: 10/27/2009
• Published: 08/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Ovsyanko, Mikhail M., Maas, Joost Hubert, Bruls, Dominique Maria, Nieuwenhuis, Jeroen Hans, Neijzen, Jacobus Hermanus Maria, Immink, Albert Hendrik Jan, Wimberger-Friedl, Reinhold
• Application Number:
  US13/126,000
• Publication Number:
  US 20110206560A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/69
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502761 specially adapted for handling suspended solids or molecules independently from the bulk fluid flow, e.g. for trapping or sorting beads, for physically stretching molecules investigating characteristics of particles G01N15/00
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 25/00 Nanomagnetism, e.g. magnetoimpedance, anisotropic magnetoresistance, giant magnetoresistance or tunneling magnetoresistance
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/745 for detecting magnetic beads used in biochemical assays concerning the assays G01N33/54326; sensors therefor G01R33/1269; automatic analysers therefor G01N35/0098
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54326 Magnetic particles
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/093 using multilayer structures, e.g. giant magnetoresistance sensors thin magnetic films H01F10/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/1269 of molecules labeled with magnetic beads magnetic particles for bio assay G01N33/54326

Abstract

The present invention provides a biosensor comprising a cartridge for accommodating a fluid sample, the cartridge comprising at least two chambers, wherein each chamber comprises a sensor surface with one or more binding sites. The biosensor further comprises means for generating a magnetic field at the binding sites of the sensor surfaces of the at least two chambers. The biosensor also comprises means for detecting particles accumulated at/and or proximate the binding sites of the sensor surfaces of the at least two chambers. Therein, the magnetic field at the binding sites has a sufficiently large gradient to actuate magnetic label particles towards the binding sites.

Claims

1. A biosensor comprising:

a) a cartridge (1) for accommodating a fluid sample, the cartridge (1) comprising at least two chambers (2), each chamber (2) comprising a sensor surface (3) with one or more binding sites (4);

b) means (5) for generating a magnetic field at the binding sites (4) of the sensor surfaces (3) of the at least two chambers (2); and

c) means for detecting particles accumulated at and/or proximate the binding sites of the sensor surfaces of the at least two chambers;

wherein the magnetic field at the binding sites (4) has a sufficiently large gradient to actuate magnetic label particles towards the binding sites.

2. Biosensor according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic field gradient at the binding sites has a maximum-to-minimum variation of less than 20%, preferably less than 15% and most preferably of about 10% over the fraction of the sensor surface area containing the binding sites.

3. Biosensor according to claim 2, wherein the fraction of the sensor surface containing the binding sites has an area per chamber of at least 0.05 mm², preferably larger than 0.25 mm² and most preferably larger than 2 mm².

4. Biosensor according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic field gradient at the binding sites is larger than 40 T/m, preferably larger than 50 T/m and most preferably about 60 T/m.

5. Biosensor according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic force generated by the magnetic field gradient at the binding sites is substantially perpendicular to the sensor surface.

6. Biosensor according to claim 1, wherein the chambers (2) of the cartridge (1) are substantially not in direct fluid communication with each other.

7. Biosensor according to claim 1, wherein the detection means comprises an optical detector and an optical path between the optical detector and each of the binding sites is not obstructed by the means for generating a magnetic field.

8. Biosensor according to claim 1, wherein the means for generating a magnetic field comprises one or a combination of the following:

horseshoe magnet, trident magnet, quadrupole magnet, multi-pole magnet.

9. Biosensor according to claim 1, wherein the means (5) for generating a magnetic field comprises one or more electromagnetic coils (6a, 6b, 6c) with a core and a pole tip (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e), wherein the pole tips (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e) have a shape adapted to provide a high magnetic field gradient at the binding sites (4).

10. Biosensor according to claim 1, wherein the means (5) for generating a magnetic field is moveable with respect to the cartridge (1).

11. Biosensor according to claim 1, wherein the one or more binding sites of the sensor surfaces contain a reagent or a combination of several reagents.

12. Biosensor according to claim 11, wherein the reagent or combination of several reagents at the one or more binding sites is different for different chambers.

13. Biosensor according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge (1) comprises 3, 4, 5 or more chambers (2).

14. Biosensor according to claim 13, wherein each chamber (2) comprises a sensor surface (3) with 2, 3, 4 or more binding sites (4).

15. Biosensor according to claim 14, wherein each binding site (4) within one chamber (2) contains a different reagent or a different combination of several reagents.