Apparatus and methods for integrated sample preparation, reaction and detection
First Claim
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
- an isolation module including a first housing and a second housing, the first housing defining a first chamber and a second chamber, at least the first chamber configured to contain a sample, the second housing including a side wall and a puncturable member, the side wall and the puncturable member collectively defining a first volume configured to contain a first substance, a portion of the second housing configured to be disposed within the first housing such that the first volume is in fluid communication with the first chamber when a portion of the puncturable member is punctured; and
a reaction module defining a reaction chamber and a second volume configured to contain a second substance, the reaction module configured to be coupled to the isolation module such that the reaction chamber and the second volume are each in fluid communication with the second chamber of the first housing,the reaction module including a plunger at least partially disposed within the second volume, the plunger configured exert a force on the second substance to transfer the second substance from the second volume into at least one of the reaction chamber or the second chamber when the plunger is moved within the second volume.
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Abstract
Cartridges for the isolation of a biological sample and downstream biological assays on the sample are provided. In one embodiment, a nucleic acid sample is isolated from a biological sample and the nucleic acid sample is amplified, for example by the polymerase chain reaction. The cartridges provided herein can also be used for the isolation of non-nucleic acid samples, for example proteins, and to perform downstream reactions on the proteins, for example, binding assays. Instruments for carrying out the downstream biological assays and for detecting the results of the assays are also provided.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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an isolation module including a first housing and a second housing, the first housing defining a first chamber and a second chamber, at least the first chamber configured to contain a sample, the second housing including a side wall and a puncturable member, the side wall and the puncturable member collectively defining a first volume configured to contain a first substance, a portion of the second housing configured to be disposed within the first housing such that the first volume is in fluid communication with the first chamber when a portion of the puncturable member is punctured; and a reaction module defining a reaction chamber and a second volume configured to contain a second substance, the reaction module configured to be coupled to the isolation module such that the reaction chamber and the second volume are each in fluid communication with the second chamber of the first housing, the reaction module including a plunger at least partially disposed within the second volume, the plunger configured exert a force on the second substance to transfer the second substance from the second volume into at least one of the reaction chamber or the second chamber when the plunger is moved within the second volume. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus, comprising:
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a first module defining a first chamber and a second chamber, the first module including a first transfer mechanism configured to transfer a sample between the first chamber and the second chamber while maintaining fluid isolation between the first chamber and the second chamber; a second module defining a first volume configured to contain a first substance, a portion of the second module configured to be disposed within the first chamber of the first module when the second module is coupled to the first module such that the first volume is configured to be selectively placed in fluid communication with the first chamber; and a third module defining a reaction chamber and a second volume, the second volume configured to contain a second substance, the third module configured to be coupled to the first module such that the reaction chamber is in fluid communication with the second chamber and such that the second volume is in fluid communication with the reaction chamber, the third module including a second transfer mechanism and a third transfer mechanism, the second transfer mechanism configured to transfer a portion of the sample between the second chamber and the reaction chamber, the third transfer mechanism configured to transfer a portion of the second substance between the second volume and the reaction chamber. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An apparatus, comprising:
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a first module including a reaction vial, a substrate and a first transfer mechanism, the reaction vial defining a reaction chamber, the substrate defining at least a portion of a first flow path and a second flow path, the first flow path configured to be in fluid communication with the reaction chamber and an isolation chamber of an isolation module, the first transfer mechanism configured to transfer a sample from the isolation chamber to the reaction chamber when the first transfer mechanism is actuated, the first transfer mechanism including a plunger movably disposed within a housing such that the housing and the plunger define a first volume, the first volume containing a first substance, a portion of the plunger disposed within the first flow path such that the first volume is fluidically isolated from the reaction chamber when the plunger is in a first position within the housing, the portion of the plunger disposed apart from the first flow path such that the first volume is in fluid communication with the reaction chamber when the plunger is in a second position within the housing, the plunger configured to produce a vacuum within the reaction chamber when the plunger is moved from the first position to the second position; and a second module including a second transfer mechanism and defining a second volume configured to contain a second substance, the second module configured to be coupled to the first module such that the second volume can be selectively placed in fluid communication with the reaction chamber via the second flow path, the second transfer mechanism configured to transfer the second substance from the second volume to the reaction chamber when the second transfer mechanism is actuated. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification