Fluidic cartridge for detecting chemicals in samples, in particular for performing biochemical analyses

• US 9,180,451 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2011
• Issued: 11/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: STMicroelectronics SRL (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Original Assignee: STMicroelectronics SRL (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Inventors: Ziglioli, Federico Giovanni, Maierna, Amedeo, Mastromatteo, Ubaldo, Barlocchi, Gabriele, Villa, Flavio Francesco
• Primary Examiner(s): Gakh, Yelena G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Adams, Michelle
• Application Number:
  US13/170,058
• Publication Number:
  US 20110318840A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,597 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/027 for microfluidic devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/044 pierceable, e.g. films, membranes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0636 Integrated biosensor, microarrays
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0645 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0672 Integrated piercing tool
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0867 Multiple inlets and one sample wells, e.g. mixing, dilution
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1827 using resistive heater
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0439 ultrasonic vibrations, vibrating piezo elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502715 characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 Automated chemical analysis

Abstract

A fluidic cartridge for detecting chemicals, formed by a casing, hermetically housing an integrated device having a plurality of detecting regions to bind with target chemicals; part of a supporting element, bearing the integrated device; a reaction chamber, facing the detecting regions; a sample feeding hole and a washing feeding hole, self-sealingly closed; fluidic paths, which connect the sample feeding and washing feeding holes to the reaction chamber; and a waste reservoir, which may be fluidically connected to the reaction chamber by valve elements that may be controlled from outside. The integrated device is moreover connected to an interface unit carried by the supporting element, electrically connected to the integrated device and including at least one signal processing stage and external contact regions.

Claims

1. A fluidic cartridge for detecting chemicals in samples, comprising:

an integrated device having a plurality of detecting regions configured to bind to target chemicals;

an interface unit electrically coupled to the integrated device and including a signal processing stage and external contact regions;

a supporting element carrying the integrated device and the interface unit;

a reaction chamber facing the detecting regions;

fluidic paths coupled to the reaction chamber;

a waste reservoir;

a valve selectively coupling the waste reservoir to the reaction chamber; and

a casing hermetically housing part of the supporting element with the integrated device, the reaction chamber, the fluidic paths, the waste reservoir, and the valve, the casing including;

a sample feeding hole and a washing feeding hole, the sample feeding hole and the washing feeding hole being coupled to the reaction chamber by the fluidic paths; and

first and second closures respectively closing the sample feeding hole and the washing feeding hole, wherein;

the integrated device is fixed to a first side of the supporting element,

the waste reservoir is arranged on a second side of the supporting element, and

the valve comprises a weakened area of the supporting element and a perforating element extending in the casing on the second side of the supporting element and having a perforating tip, the perforating element being in fluidic connection with the waste reservoir and being actuatable between a rest configuration and a perforating configuration, wherein the rest configuration is a configuration in which the perforating tip extends at a distance from the weakened area, and the perforating configuration is a configuration in which the perforating element extends through the weakened area and provides a fluid connection between the reaction chamber and the waste reservoir.

2. A fluidic cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the perforating element comprises an actuation base exposed to an outside of the casing and movable or deformable following a thrust action from the outside, and a hollow shaft extending from the actuation base and ending with the perforating tip.

3. A fluidic cartridge according to claim 2, wherein the waste reservoir includes a waste chamber formed in the casing, the hollow shaft of the perforating element having an opening connecting an interior of the hollow shaft to the waste chamber.

4. A fluidic cartridge according to claim 3, wherein the actuation base is of deformable material and is fixed to the hollow shaft.

5. A fluidic cartridge according to claim 2, wherein the waste reservoir comprises a waste chamber formed in an interior of the actuation base and in fluidic connection with an interior of the hollow shaft.

6. A fluidic cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the first and second closures are breakable, self-sealing plugs.

7. A fluidic cartridge for detecting chemicals in samples, comprising:

an integrated device having a plurality of detecting regions configured to bind to target chemicals;

an interface unit electrically coupled to the integrated device and including a signal processing stage and external contact regions;

a supporting element carrying the integrated device and the interface unit;

a reaction chamber facing the detecting regions;

fluidic paths coupled to the reaction chamber;

a waste reservoir;

a valve selectively coupling the waste reservoir to the reaction chamber; and

a casing hermetically housing part of the supporting element with the integrated device, the reaction chamber, the fluidic paths, the waste reservoir, and the valve, the casing including;

a sample feeding hole and a washing feeding hole, the sample feeding hole and the washing feeding hole being coupled to the reaction chamber by the fluidic paths; and

first and second closures respectively closing the sample feeding hole and the washing feeding hole, wherein;

the casing comprises a plurality of superimposed layers, including a covering layer, a fluidic layer, a bearing layer, and a closing layer;

the covering layer includes the sample feeding hole and the washing feeding hole;

the fluidic layer has a first side and a second side, the first side facing the covering layer and defining the fluidic paths and the second side facing the bearing layer and defining the reaction chamber;

the reaction chamber has a bottom closed by the bearing layer;

through holes extend through the fluidic layer between the fluidic paths and the reaction chamber;

the bearing layer defines, together with the closing layer and the fluidic layer, a seat for the valve and the waste reservoir; and

the supporting element is clamped between the fluidic layer and the bearing layer.

8. A fluidic cartridge according to claim 7, wherein:

the second side of the fluidic layer has a protrusion accommodating the reaction chamber,

the bearing layer has a cavity facing and countershaped to the protrusion, and

the protrusion has a height equal to a depth of the cavity less a thickness of the supporting element.

9. A fluidic cartridge for detecting chemicals in samples, comprising:

an integrated device having a plurality of detecting regions configured to bind to target chemicals;

an interface unit electrically coupled to the integrated device and including a signal processing stage and external contact regions;

a supporting element carrying the integrated device and the interface unit;

a reaction chamber facing the detecting regions;

fluidic paths coupled to the reaction chamber;

a waste reservoir;

a valve selectively coupling the waste reservoir to the reaction chamber; and

a casing hermetically housing part of the supporting element with the integrated device, the reaction chamber, the fluidic paths, the waste reservoir, and the valve, the casing including;

a sample feeding hole and a washing feeding hole, the sample feeding hole and the washing feeding hole being coupled to the reaction chamber by the fluidic paths; and

first and second closures respectively closing the sample feeding hole and the washing feeding hole, wherein;

the casing comprises;

a monolithic body having a generally parallelepiped shape, the monolithic body having first and second surfaces opposite to one another, a first recess in the first surface of the monolithic body; and

an actuator cavity in the second surface of the monolithic body;

the supporting element and integrated device being positioned in the first recess; and

a cover body covering the first recess;

the valve is positioned in the actuator cavity;

the sample feeding hole and the washing feeding hole extend from the second surface of the monolithic body, laterally to the actuator cavity, until the first recess; and

the supporting element comprises a first board resting on a bottom of the first recess and the integrated device is fixed to a first side of the first board, the reaction chamber being positioned between the first side of the first board and the integrated device, the fluidic cartridge comprising a sealing structure extending between the first board and the integrated device and laterally sealing the reaction chamber.

10. A fluidic cartridge according to claim 9, wherein the first board includes:

a second side facing a bottom of the first recess and including the fluidic paths; and

through holes connecting the fluidic channels to the reaction chamber.

11. A fluidic cartridge according to claim 10, comprising a sealing layer arranged between the first board and the bottom of the first recess, the sealing layer being of a material selected among resin, silicone-based material and adhesive and being shaped congruently to the second side of the first board.

12. A fluidic cartridge according to claim 9, wherein the first side of the first board includes a protruding annular area, an inner lower area, and a bonding lower area surrounding the protruding annular area, the protruding annular area separating the inner lower area from the bonding lower area, the fluidic cartridge further comprising:

a first sealing element cooperating with the protruding annular area; and

a second sealing element surrounding the integrated device, the first sealing element and the first board.

13. A fluidic cartridge according to claim 9, wherein the monolithic body has a second recess extending in a side surface of the monolithic body, transversely to the first recess, the fluidic cartridge comprising:

a second board elastically and electrically connected to the first board;

the second board having a first side carrying the interface unit and having a second side that includes electric contact regions.

14. A fluidic cartridge for detecting chemicals in samples, comprising:

an integrated device having a plurality of detecting regions configured to bind to target chemicals;

a reaction chamber facing the detecting regions;

fluidic paths coupled to the reaction chamber and a waste reservoir;

a valve selectively coupling the waste reservoir to the reaction chamber; and

a casing hermetically housing the integrated device, the reaction chamber, the fluidic paths, the waste reservoir, and the valve, the casing including;

a sample feeding hole and a washing feeding hole, the sample feeding hole and the washing feeding hole being coupled to the reaction chamber by the fluidic paths; and

a first closure and a second closure respectively covering the sample feeding hole and the washing feeding hole, wherein;

the valve includes a membrane diaphragm positioned between the reaction chamber and the waste reservoir and a perforating element having a perforating tip, the perforating element being in fluidic connection with the waste reservoir and being actuatable between a rest configuration and a perforating configuration, the rest configuration being a configuration in which the perforating tip extends at a distance from the membrane diaphragm and the perforating configuration being a configuration in which the perforating element extends through the membrane diaphragm and provides a fluid connection between the reaction chamber and the waste reservoir;

the perforating element comprises an actuation base, exposed to an outside of the casing and configured to move in response to a thrust action from the outside, and a hollow shaft extending from the actuation base and ending with the perforating tip; and

the waste reservoir comprises a waste chamber formed in an interior of the actuation base and in fluidic connection with an interior of the hollow shaft.

15. A fluidic cartridge according to claim 14, wherein the hollow shaft of the perforating element has an opening connecting an interior of the hollow shaft to the waste chamber.

16. A fluidic cartridge according to claim 14, wherein the first closure and the second closure are breakable, self-sealing plugs.

17. A fluidic cartridge according to claim 14, wherein the first and second closures are breakable, self-sealing plugs.

18. A fluidic cartridge according to claim 14, further comprising:

an interface unit electrically coupled to the integrated device and including a signal processing stage;

a first board supporting the integrated device, the reaction chamber being positioned between the first board and the integrated device; and

a second board mechanically and electrically connected to the first board;

the second board having a first side carrying the interface unit and a second side that includes electric contact regions exposed externally of the fluidic cartridge.