Performance

• US 8,640,555 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2010
• Issued: 02/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Forensic Science Service Limited (Government of United Kingdom), Whitespace Enterprise Corporation
• Original Assignee: BioAccel Co.
• Inventors: Zenhausern, Frederic, Nordquist, Alan, Lenigk, Ralf, Hurth, Cedric, Yang, Jianing, Chen, Xiaojia, Lee-Edghill, John, Moran, Nina, Hopwood, Andrew, Koumi, Pieris
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Hezron E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Frank, Rodney T
• Application Number:
  US12/703,025
• Publication Number:
  US 20110100101A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,456 Days
• Field of Search: 738/631.1
• US Class Current: 73/863.11
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502715 characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502738 characterised by integrated valves microvalves F16K99/0001
• 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: B01L 7/52 with provision for submitting samples to a predetermined sequence of different temperatures, e.g. for treating nucleic acid samples amplification or hybridisation processes per se C12Q1/68; controlling sequential reactions for synthesis B01J19/0046
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 7/525 with physical movement of samples between temperature zones
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/6806 Preparing nucleic acids for analysis, e.g. for polymerase chain reaction [PCR] assay C12Q1/6804 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 9/00 Cells or assemblies of cells; Constructional parts of cells; Assemblies of constructional parts, e.g. electrode-diaphragm assemblies; Process-related cell features
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/10 in the liquid or fluent state burettes, pipettes B01L3/02; sampling of ground water E02D1/06; metering by volume of fluids or fluent solid material G01F11/00, G01F13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6484 Optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/01 Arrangements or apparatus for facilitating the optical investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6428 Measuring fluorescence of fluorescent products of reactions or of fluorochrome labelled reactive substances, e.g. measuring quenching effects, using measuring "optrodes" in vivo A61B5/00; immunoassay G01N33/53
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/645 Specially adapted constructive features of fluorimeters
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/062 LED's
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0846 Fibre interface with sample, e.g. for spatial resolution
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/44721 by optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/44791 Microapparatus sample containers with integrated microfluidic structures B01L3/5027
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/143333 Saccharide [e.g., DNA, etc.]

Abstract

Instruments, devices and methods of analysis are provided which fully integrate a significant number of process steps in a continuous operation. Accurate positioning and full contact between components is also provided by the relative movement the designs allow. An effect interface between a low cost disposable cartridge or device and the instrument to process it is also detailed.

Claims

1. An instrument for analysing a sample, the instrument including:

one or more sample processors;

electronics for operating the sample processors;

a device to instrument interface; and

a device location which recites the device in use;

wherein one or more of the sample processors are provided on a device provided in the instrument, the device being provided in a device location in opposition to the device to instrument interface; and

wherein the device to instrument interface includes components, the components including one or more heaters, one or more coolers, one or more sensors, and one or more magnets; and

wherein the device provides all pumps for the sample processors.

2. An instrument according to claim 1 in which the device location is a planar location and the device to instrument interface includes a planar surface, the planar surface facing the device location.

3. An instrument according to claim 1 in which one or more of the heaters are provided by the instrument and the one or more heaters are printed onto the device to instrument interface.

4. An instrument according to claim 1 in which an actuator is provided by the instrument and the actuator provides reciprocating motion and is connected to a mounting for one or more magnets, the actuator having a first state and the actuator having a second state, the magnet being closer to the device location in the second state than in the first state.

5. An instrument according to claim 4 in which the device provides all of the materials which form all the moveable components for the processors, aside from the actuator for the magnet.

6. An instrument according to claim 1 in which the device to instrument interface is a printed circuit board.

7. An instrument according to claim 1 in which the device to instrument interface is connected to the operating electronics on the rear surface thereof.

8. An instrument according to claim 1 in which operating electronics are provided by the instrument and the operating electronics for the device to instrument interface include one or more power supplies, including a power supply connected to the electrical connections for a pump provided in the device.

9. An instrument according to claim 1 in which operating electronics are provided by the instrument and the operating electronics for the device to instrument interface include one or more power supply controllers and one or more heater controllers.

10. An instrument according to claim 1 in which the device provides all of the elements which move fluids within the processors.

11. An instrument according to claim 1 in which the device provides all of the materials which form the valves and seals in the device.

12. An instrument according to claim 1 in which the device has no electrical power sources.

13. An instrument according to claim 1 in which no material or elements enter the device from the device to instrument interface.

14. An instrument according to claim 1 in which the device to instrument interface provides all of the electrical power sources for the device and/or all of the variable magnetic field sources for the device and/or all of the fluid expansion drivers for the device and/or all the heaters for the device and/or all of the coolers for the device and/or all of the energy sources for the device.

15. An instrument according to claim 1 in which the device to instrument interface has no direct contact with the contents of the device.

16. An instrument according to claim 1 in which the interaction between the device and the device to instrument interface is limited to radiation of heat into the device and/or conduction of heat into the device and/or one or more electrical contacts and/or a magnetic field passing into or through the device.

17. An instrument according to claim 1 in which operating electronics are provided by the instrument and the operating electronics for the device to instrument interface include one or more temperature controllers and one or more actuator controllers.

18. An instrument according to claim 1 in which operating electronics are provided by the instrument and the operating electronics for the device to instrument interface include one or more sensor monitors and voltage controllers.

19. An instrument according to claim 1 in which the device provides all materials which form reagents for the processors.

20. An instrument according to claim 1 in which the device has no variable magnetic field source therein and fluid expansion drivers therein.

21. An instrument according to claim 1 in which the device has no heaters therein and no coolers therein.

22. An instrument according to claim 1 in which the device has no sensors therein and no energy sources therein.