Test cartridge with integrated transfer module

• US 9,334,528 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2015
• Issued: 05/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qiagen GmbH (Qiagen NV)
• Original Assignee: Stat-Diagnostica & Innovation, S.L.
• Inventors: Carrera Fabra, Jordi, Comengs Casas, Anna, Bru Gibert, Rafael
• Primary Examiner(s): Sines, Brian J
• Application Number:
  US14/743,239
• Publication Number:
  US 20150352551A1
• Time in Patent Office: 327 Days
• Field of Search: 422/50, 422/68.1, 422/554, 422/547, 422/559, 422/552, 436/43, 436/180
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/025 Align devices or objects to ensure defined positions relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/026 Fluid interfacing between devices or objects, e.g. connectors, inlet details
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/027 for microfluidic devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/028 Modular arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/04 Exchange or ejection of cartridges, containers or reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0689 Sealing
• 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 2300/0627 Sensor or part of a sensor is integrated
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0681 Filter
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0803 Disc shape
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0864 comprising only one inlet and multiple receiving wells, e.g. for separation, splitting
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0867 Multiple inlets and one sample wells, e.g. mixing, dilution
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/087 Multiple sequential chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0877 Flow chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/18 Means for temperature control
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0487 fluid pressure, pneumatics
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0622 distribution valves, valves having multiple inlets and/or outlets, e.g. metering valves, multi-way valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/065 sliding valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0694 vents used to stop and induce flow, backpressure valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502715 : characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50273 : characterised by the means or forces applied to move the fluids micropumps F04B19/006, of the membrane type F04B43/043
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502738 : characterised by integrated valves microvalves F16K99/0001
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5029 : using swabs
• 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: C12M 23/42 : Integrated assemblies, e.g. cassettes or cartridges
• 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: C12Q 1/686 : Polymerase chain reaction [PCR]
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/1058 : for mixing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/53 : Immunoassay; Biospecific binding assay; Materials therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/5304 : Reaction vessels, e.g. agglutination plates for solid-phase systems G01N33/543
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/536 : with immune complex formed in liquid phase
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1081 : characterised by the means for relatively moving the transfer device and the containers in an horizontal plane G01N35/1011 takes precedence

Abstract

A system that includes a cartridge housing and a hollow transfer module, according to an embodiment is described herein. The cartridge housing further includes at least one sample inlet, a plurality of storage chambers, a plurality of reaction chambers, and a fluidic network. The fluidic network is designed to connect the at least one sample inlet, a portion of the plurality of storage chambers and the portion of the plurality of reaction chambers to a first plurality of ports located on an inner surface of the cartridge housing. The hollow transfer module includes a second plurality of ports along an outer surface of the transfer module that lead to a central chamber within the transfer module. The transfer module is designed to move laterally within the cartridge housing. The lateral movement of the transfer module aligns at least a portion of the first plurality of ports with at least a portion of the second plurality of ports.

Claims

1. A transfer module configured to store and transport liquid samples, comprising:

an inner housing enclosing a central chamber;

a jacket formed around the inner housing, the jacket comprising;

patterned ridges along the outer surface of the jacket, wherein the patterned ridges are configured to define a plurality of valve regions along the outer surface of the jacket when the transfer module is disposed within an enclosure that comes into contact with the patterned ridges; and

a plurality of ports extending through the jacket and the inner housing into the central chamber,

wherein one of the plurality of valve regions is configured to be pressurized separately from other regions in the plurality of valve regions.

2. The transfer module of claim 1, wherein a flow of fluid occurs either into or out of the central chamber via one or more of the plurality of ports when one of the plurality of valve regions is pressurized.

3. The transfer module of claim 1, wherein the patterned ridges are further configured to define an area on the outer surface of the jacket that aligns with at least two ports of a housing substantially surrounding the transfer module and allow for fluid to flow between the at least two ports.

4. The transfer module of claim 1, wherein the inner housing and the jacket are formed as a single injection molded unit.

5. The transfer module of claim 1, wherein the plurality of ports are arranged along a side of the transfer module and along a top of the transfer module.

6. The transfer module of claim 1, wherein a plurality of the patterned ridges have a toroid shape.

7. The transfer module of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of ports is located substantially at a lowest point in the central chamber.

8. The transfer module of claim 7, wherein walls of the central chamber are sloped to adequately drain a liquid within the central chamber through the at least one of the plurality of ports.

9. The transfer module of claim 1, further comprising a stir bar disposed within the central chamber.

10. The transfer module of claim 1, further comprising a lid configured to seal one end of the central chamber and having a sloped structure within the central chamber.

11. The transfer module of claim 10, wherein the sloped structure comprises a plurality of channels configured to direct liquid within the central chamber to one or more of the plurality of ports.