SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SERIAL PROCESSING OF MULTIPLE NUCLEIC ACID ASSAYS
First Claim
1. A system for serial processing of nucleic acid assays, comprising:
- a microfluidic cartridge comprising an interface chip having at least one inlet port and microfluidic channel and a reaction chip having at least one microfluidic channel in fluid communication with an associated microfluidic channel of the interface chip;
a flow control module configured to control assay fluid flow through the at least one microfluidic channel and to selectively apply pneumatic pressures to the at least one microfluidic channel of the interface chip and the reaction chip;
said flow control module being configured to;
(a) draw a first fluid into the microfluidic channel of the interface chip via the inlet port of the interface chip;
(b) create a first fluid segment in the microfluidic channel of the reaction chip by drawing the first fluid from the associated microfluidic channel of the interface chip into the microfluidic channel of the reaction chip;
(c) draw a second fluid into the microfluidic channel of the interface chip via the inlet port of the interface chip while maintaining the position of the first fluid segment in the reaction chip; and
(d) create a second fluid segment in the microfluidic channel of the reaction chip by drawing the second fluid from the associated microfluidic channel of the interface chip into the microfluidic channel of the reaction chip;
a temperature measurement and control system configured to control and measure a temperature of one or more portions of the at least microfluidic channel of the reaction chip; and
a fluorescence imaging system comprising one or more excitation elements and an imaging sensor and configured to create images of fluorescent emissions from materials within the at least one microfluidic channel of the reaction chip.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for the rapid serial processing of multiple nucleic acid assays. More particularly, the present invention provides for the real time processing of nucleic acid during polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and thermal melt applications. According to an aspect of the invention, a system for the rapid serial processing of multiple nucleic acid assays is provided. In one embodiment, the system includes, but is not limited to: a microfluidic cartridge having microfluidic (flow-through) channels, a fluorescence imaging system, a temperature measurement and control system; a pressure measurement and control system for applying variable pneumatic pressures to the microfluidic cartridge; a storage device for holding multiple reagents (e.g., a well-plate); a liquid handling system comprising at least one robotic pipettor for aspirating, mixing, and dispensing reagent mixtures to the microfluidic cartridge; systems for data storage, processing, and output; and a system controller to coordinate the various devices and functions.
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Citations
47 Claims
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1. A system for serial processing of nucleic acid assays, comprising:
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a microfluidic cartridge comprising an interface chip having at least one inlet port and microfluidic channel and a reaction chip having at least one microfluidic channel in fluid communication with an associated microfluidic channel of the interface chip; a flow control module configured to control assay fluid flow through the at least one microfluidic channel and to selectively apply pneumatic pressures to the at least one microfluidic channel of the interface chip and the reaction chip;
said flow control module being configured to;(a) draw a first fluid into the microfluidic channel of the interface chip via the inlet port of the interface chip; (b) create a first fluid segment in the microfluidic channel of the reaction chip by drawing the first fluid from the associated microfluidic channel of the interface chip into the microfluidic channel of the reaction chip; (c) draw a second fluid into the microfluidic channel of the interface chip via the inlet port of the interface chip while maintaining the position of the first fluid segment in the reaction chip; and (d) create a second fluid segment in the microfluidic channel of the reaction chip by drawing the second fluid from the associated microfluidic channel of the interface chip into the microfluidic channel of the reaction chip; a temperature measurement and control system configured to control and measure a temperature of one or more portions of the at least microfluidic channel of the reaction chip; and a fluorescence imaging system comprising one or more excitation elements and an imaging sensor and configured to create images of fluorescent emissions from materials within the at least one microfluidic channel of the reaction chip. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An instrument for serial processing of multiple nucleic acid assays, comprising:
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a frame chassis; a processing drawer configured to be moveable relative to the frame chassis between an open position and a closed position and including a microfluidic device support structure configured to hold a microfluidic device; a cooling manifold assembly carried on a portion of said frame chassis adjacent said processing drawer and configured to be in an operative position with respect to the microfluidic device support structure when the processing drawer is in the closed position; a liquid handling system supported by the frame chassis, wherein the liquid handling system is configured such that a microfluidic device mounted on the microfluidic device support structure is accessible to the liquid handling system when the processing drawer is in the closed position, and an optical imaging system configured to create images of fluorescent emissions from materials within a microfluidic channel of a microfluidic device, the optical imaging system being carried on a portion of said frame chassis adjacent said processing drawer and configured to be in an operative position with respect to the microfluidic device support structure when the processing drawer is in the closed position. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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Specification