On-Chip Laboratory For Blood Analysis

• US 20120040468A1
• Filed: 04/27/2010
• Published: 02/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Le Neel & Partners LLP
• Original Assignee: E-Vitae Pte. Ltd.
• Inventors: Khaled, Mehdi
• Granted Patent: US 8,703,499 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 436/95
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1486 using enzyme electrodes, e.g. with immobilised oxidase
• 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 2200/16 Reagents, handling or storing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/024 Storing results with means integrated into the container
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0478 pistons
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502715 characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/14 Heterocyclic carbon compound [i.e. , O, S, N, Se, Te, as only ring hetero atom]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/142222 Hetero-O [e.g., ascorbic acid, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/144444 Glucose

Abstract

The application provides a laboratory. The laboratory (400) comprises a portable casing (404). The portable casing (404) comprises a tray unit (407), an actuator unit (405, 412), an analyzer unit (419), and a communication unit (402, 415, 438).

The tray unit (407) is used for receiving a cartridge (409). The cartridge (409) comprises an analyte reservoir (430) for receiving an analyte fluid, one or more chemical reagent reservoirs (432) for storing one or more chemical reagent fluids, and one or more channels (434) connecting the chemical reagent reservoirs (432) with the analyte reservoir (430). The channel (434) comprises a measurement area (436) whilst the measure measurement area (436) comprises a sensor. The actuator unit (405, 412) is used for reducing the volume of the analyte reservoir (430) and for reducing the volume of the chemical reagent reservoirs (432). The analyzer unit (419) is used for measuring a physical value in the measurement area (436) using the sensor. The communication unit (402, 415, 438) is used for outputting the physical value.

Claims

1. A laboratory comprising a portable casing comprising

a tray unit for receiving a cartridge, the cartridge comprising

an analyte reservoir for receiving an analyte fluid,

at least one chemical reagent reservoir for storing at least one chemical reagent fluid, and

at least one channel connecting the at least one chemical reagent reservoir with the analyte reservoir, the channel comprising a measurement area, the measure measurement area comprising a sensor,

an actuator unit

for reducing the volume of the analyte reservoir and

for reducing the volume of the at least one chemical reagent reservoir,

an analyzer unit for measuring a physical value in the measurement area using the sensor, and

a communication unit for outputting the physical value.

2. The laboratory of claim 1, wherein the measurement area comprises a mixture reservoir.

3. The laboratory of claim 1, wherein the actuator unit comprises an analyte actuator and a chemical reagent actuator.

4. The laboratory of claim 1, wherein

the actuator unit comprises a push area for manual actuation by a user of the laboratory.

5. The laboratory of claim 1, wherein

the tray is provided as a movable tray.

6. The laboratory of claim 1, wherein the cartridge further comprises at least one waste analyte reservoir and at least one chemical waste reservoir, the at least one waste analyte reservoir and the at least one chemical reagent waste reservoir are connected to the analyte reservoir and to the at least one chemical reagent reservoir via the at least one channel.

7. The laboratory of claim 1, wherein the cartridge further comprises a heater for heating the analyte fluid.

8. The laboratory of claim 1, wherein the cartridge further comprises a temperature sensor for monitoring a temperature of the analyte fluid.

9. The laboratory of claim 1, wherein the communication unit comprises a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card interface.

10. A personal health hub comprising

a laboratory of claim 1,

a computing device connecting to the laboratory, and

a device accessible by the computing device for storing at least one result of the laboratory.

11. A method of using a portable laboratory comprising

a cartridge receiving a analyte fluid and

placing the cartridge inside a portable casing for analyzing the analyte fluid, the analysis comprising

driving the analyte fluid to fill at least one channel and driving at least one chemical reagent fluid to fill the at least one channel such that the analyte fluid mixes with the at least one chemical reagent fluid to form at least one mixture,

measuring at least one value of the at least one mixture and

determining a result of the analyte fluid using the at least one measured value, and

outputting the result.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein

the analysis further comprising

heating any one of the analyte fluid and the at least one chemical reagent fluid.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein

the analysis further comprising

measuring temperature of the analyte fluid.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein

the result is outputted to at least one light.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein

the result is outputted to an external computing device.

16. A cartridge for a portable laboratory, the cartridge comprising

an analyte reservoir for receiving an analyte fluid,

at least one chemical reagent reservoir for storing at least one chemical reagent fluid,

at least one channel connecting the at least one chemical reagent reservoir with the analyte reservoir, the channel comprising a measurement area, the measurement area comprising a sensor for measuring a physical value in the measurement area and electrical contacts for accessing the sensor,

a first contact area in the vicinity of the analyte reservoir, the first contact area being provided for contacting with an actuator unit for reducing the volume of the analyte reservoir and

a second contact area in the vicinity of the chemical reagent reservoir, the second contact area being provided for contacting with the actuator unit for reducing the volume of the at least one chemical reagent reservoir.

17. The cartridge of claim 16, wherein

the measurement area comprises a mixture reservoir.

18. The cartridge of claim 16, wherein

the cartridge further comprises at least one waste analyte reservoir and at least one chemical waste reservoir, the at least one waste analyte reservoir and the at least one chemical reagent waste reservoir are connected to the analyte reservoir and to the at least one chemical reagent reservoir via the at least one channel.

19. The cartridge of claim 16, wherein

the cartridge further comprises a heater in the vicinity of the analyte reservoir.

20. The cartridge of claim 16, wherein

the cartridge further comprises a temperature sensor.