Reader devices for manipulating multi-fluidic cartridges for sample analysis
First Claim
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1. A reader for mechanical actuation of fluids within a test cartridge comprising:
- a first plunger having a first plunger tip at its front end, a first yoke at its back end, and being rotatable about a fulcrum, wherein the first plunger tip is configured for alignment with a first fluidic pouch on said test cartridge;
a second plunger having a second plunger tip at its front end, a second yoke at its back end, and being rotatable about a fulcrum, wherein the second plunger tip is configured for alignment with a second fluidic pouch on said test cartridge;
a first eccentric cam disposed on a camshaft and rotatably mated with the first yoke;
a second eccentric cam disposed on said camshaft and rotatably mated with the second yoke;
a first clutch disposed on said camshaft and coupled to said first eccentric cam; and
a second clutch disposed on said camshaft and coupled to said second eccentric cam,wherein said first clutch engages said camshaft with a first direction of rotation of said camshaft and said second clutch engages said camshaft with a second direction of rotation opposite the first direction.
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Abstract
A reader for mechanical actuation of fluids within a test cartridge. The instrument interface including multiple independently-controlled plungers aligned to respective fluidic pouches on a test cartridge that is inserted into a testing apparatus embodying the instrument interface. The plungers include tips for applying mechanical force to the respective fluidic pouches.
36 Citations
50 Claims
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1. A reader for mechanical actuation of fluids within a test cartridge comprising:
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a first plunger having a first plunger tip at its front end, a first yoke at its back end, and being rotatable about a fulcrum, wherein the first plunger tip is configured for alignment with a first fluidic pouch on said test cartridge; a second plunger having a second plunger tip at its front end, a second yoke at its back end, and being rotatable about a fulcrum, wherein the second plunger tip is configured for alignment with a second fluidic pouch on said test cartridge; a first eccentric cam disposed on a camshaft and rotatably mated with the first yoke; a second eccentric cam disposed on said camshaft and rotatably mated with the second yoke; a first clutch disposed on said camshaft and coupled to said first eccentric cam; and a second clutch disposed on said camshaft and coupled to said second eccentric cam, wherein said first clutch engages said camshaft with a first direction of rotation of said camshaft and said second clutch engages said camshaft with a second direction of rotation opposite the first direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A reader for mechanical actuation of fluids within a test cartridge, comprising a plurality of plungers each with a plunger tip at a front end and a yoke at a back end, wherein each plunger is attached to a fulcrum, each yoke mates with an eccentric cam having a camshaft, each eccentric cam has a clutch that only engages with one direction of rotation of said camshaft;
- and each plunger tip is configured to align with one of a plurality of fluidic elements on a test cartridge.
- View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
- 27. A reader for mechanical actuation of fluids within a test cartridge, comprising a first plunger and a second plunger each having a plunger tip at a front end and a yoke at a back end, wherein each plunger is attached to a fulcrum, each yoke mates with an eccentric cam and each eccentric cam mates with a separate motorized camshaft, and wherein said first plunger tip is configured for alignment with a first fluidic pouch on a test cartridge and said second plunger tip is configured for alignment with a second fluidic pouch on said test cartridge.
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39. A reader for mechanical actuation of fluids within a test cartridge, comprising a plurality of plungers each with a plunger tip at a front end and a yoke at a back end, where each plunger is attached to a fulcrum, each yoke mates with an eccentric cam with a camshaft attached to a separate motor;
- and each plunger tip is configured to be aligned with one of a plurality of fluidic elements on a test cartridge.
- View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
Specification