CARTRIDGE AND APPARATUS FOR PREPARING A BIOLOGICAL SAMPLE

• US 20150316454A1
• Filed: 09/24/2013
• Published: 11/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Inventors: PRINS, MENNO WILLEM JOSE, WIMBERGER-FRIEDL, REINHOLD, VAN HEMERT, FREEK, VAN DE STOLPE, ANJA, VAN TOOREN, JOHANNES ADRIANUS
• Granted Patent: US 10,393,634 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/026 Fluid interfacing between devices or objects, e.g. connectors, inlet details
• 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 2400/0487 fluid pressure, pneumatics
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/082 Active control of flow resistance, e.g. flow controllers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502715 characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/523 with means for closing or opening
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/312 for samples mounted on planar substrates

Abstract

The invention relates to a cartridge (100) and an associated apparatus (150) for preparing a biological sample, particularly for staining a tissue or cell sample (1). The cartridge (100) comprises a reaction chamber (116) that can be closed by a substrate (140) carrying the sample (1), wherein the reaction chamber (116) is further connected to a fluidic inlet system (113,115) and a fluidic outlet system (123,125). When the substrate (140) closes the reaction chamber, the fluidic inlet system, the reaction chamber, and the fluidic outlet system constitute a fluidic system that is closed to the environment with respect to the exchange of liquids. A pressure-driven flow through the reaction chamber (116) may for example be induced by the actuation of deformable membranes (114,124).

Claims

1. A cartridge for processing a biological sample, comprising a cartridge-body with:

a) a reaction chamber with an opening that can be closed by a substrate carrying a sample;

b) a fluidic inlet system for providing at least one reagent fluid to the reaction chamber;

c) a fluidic outlet system for receiving fluid from the reaction chamber;

wherein the fluidic inlet system, the reaction chamber with a substrate closing its opening, and the fluidic outlet system are closed with respect to the exchange of liquids with the environment.

2. The cartridge according to claim 1,

characterized in that the opening of the reaction chamber is designed to be closed by a flat surface of the substrate.

3. The cartridge according to claim 1,

characterized in that the substrate is attachable to the cartridge-body by adhesion, gluing, an intermediate vacuum chamber in which an underpressure can be established, clamping and/or electromagnetic forces.

4. The cartridge according to claim 1,

characterized in that the height of the reaction chamber above a substrate closing its opening is less than about 200 μ

m, preferably less than about 50 μ

m.

5. The cartridge according to claim 1,

characterized in that at least one spacer element is disposed between the substrate and the cartridge-body.

6. The cartridge according to claim 1,

characterized in that it comprises a control element for fluid routing and/or a pumping element for inducing a pressure-driven fluid flow from the fluidic inlet system through the reaction chamber to the fluidic outlet system.

7. The cartridge according to claim 6,

characterized in that the pumping element can be moved and/or be deformed to induce fluid flow.

8. The cartridge according to claim 1,

characterized in that it comprises at least one reagent reservoir filled with reagents, said reservoir preferably being sealed.

9. The cartridge according to claim 1,

characterized in that it comprises at least one marker that can be localized by an external detector and/or at least one identifier that can be identified by an external detector.

10. The cartridge according to claim 1,

characterized in that it comprises at least one indicator for the status of a reagent and/or a reaction.

11. (canceled)

12. (canceled)

13. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

15. (canceled)