Assay cartridges and methods of using the same

• US 9,921,166 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2014
• Issued: 03/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Meso Scale Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Meso Scale Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Glezer, Eli N., Leland, Jonathan K., Billadeau, Mark A., Leginus, Joseph M., Jeffrey-Coker, Bandele, Debad, Jeff D., Phalnikar, Koustubh A., Jambunathan, Sriram
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Melanie Yu
• Application Number:
  US14/478,197
• Publication Number:
  US 20140378341A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,292 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0017 specially adapted for long-term hygiene care, e.g. urethral or indwelling catheters to prevent infections
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/0046 Sequential or parallel reactions, e.g. for the synthesis of polypeptides or polynucleotides; Apparatus and devices for combinatorial chemistry or for making molecular arrays synthesis methods per se C40B50/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00653 the compounds being bound to electrodes embedded in or on the solid supports
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00725 Peptides
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0074 Biological products
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0684 Venting, avoiding backpressure, avoid gas bubbles
• 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 2300/0645 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0681 Filter
• 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 2300/0887 Laminated structure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/049 vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0688 surface tension valves, capillary stop, capillary break
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5027 by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip B01L3/5023 takes precedence; micromixers B01F33/30; microreactors for synthesis B01J19/0093; microcapillary devices in general B81B1/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502715 characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5029 using swabs
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/527 for microfluidic devices, e.g. used for lab-on-a-chip
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/001 Enzyme electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 40/10 : Libraries containing peptides or polypeptides, or derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/76 : Chemiluminescence; Bioluminescence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2458/30 : Electrochemically active labels
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/30 : Electrodes, e.g. test electrodes; Half-cells G01N27/414 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48707 : by electrical means G01N33/49, G01N33/493 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/5438 : Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25 : including sample preparation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25375 : Liberation or purification of sample or separation of material from a sample [e.g., filtering, centrifuging, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/255 : including use of a solid sorbent, semipermeable membrane, or liquid extraction

Abstract

Assay modules, preferably assay cartridges, are described as are reader apparatuses which may be used to control aspects of module operation. The modules preferably comprise a detection chamber with integrated electrodes that may be used for carrying out electrode induced luminescence measurements. Methods are described for immobilizing assay reagents in a controlled fashion on these electrodes and other surfaces. Assay modules and cartridges are also described that have a detection chamber, preferably having integrated electrodes, and other fluidic components which may include sample chambers, waste chambers, conduits, vents, bubble traps, reagent chambers, dry reagent pill zones and the like. In certain preferred embodiments, these modules are adapted to receive and analyze a sample collected on an applicator stick.

Claims

1. A method of conducting an electrochemiluminescence measurement, said method comprising the steps of:

measuring the impedance between two electrodes in a measurement chamber of an assay module, said measurement using electrical potentials that are insufficient for generating electrochemiluminescence at said electrodes;

adding an electrochemiluminescence label to said chamber, wherein said electrochemiluminescence label is added before said impedance is measured;

inducing electrochemiluminescence at one of said two electrodes; and

measuring the electrochemiluminescence at one of said two electrodes.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the assay module is an assay cartridge.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the impedance measurement is one or more of detecting the presence of air bubbles, detecting the presence of a fluid and detecting a sample matrix type.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the measured impedance is a resistive impedance or a capacitive impedance.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the impedance measurement is made by applying an AC voltage waveform or a DC voltage waveform to the two electrodes.

6. A method of conducting an impedance measurement, said method comprising the step of:

measuring the impedance between two electrodes in a measurement chamber of an assay module, said measurement using electrical potentials between 2,000 Hz and 100,000 Hz, which are insufficient for generating electrochemiluminescence at said electrodes;

adding an electrochemiluminescence label to said chamber, wherein said electrochemiluminescence label is added before said impedance is measured;

inducing electrochemiluminescence at one of said two electrodes; and

measuring the electrochemiluminescence at one of said two electrodes.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the assay module is an assay cartridge.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the impedance measurement is one or more of detecting the presence of air bubbles, detecting the presence of a fluid and detecting a sample matrix type.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the measured impedance is a resistive impedance or a capacitive impedance.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the impedance measurement is made by applying an AC voltage waveform or a DC voltage waveform to the two electrodes.