Test Device and Sample Carrier

• US 20150298118A1
• Filed: 09/27/2013
• Published: 10/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Agplus Diagnostics Limited
• Original Assignee: Agplus Diagnostics Limited
• Inventors: Walsh, Philip, Wightman, Craig, Chard, Michael, Porter, Robert, Nicholson, Courtney, Lakey, Andrew, Attree, Simon, Potter, Philip, Dyckes, Paul, Becker, Holger, Stewart, Rene, Engelhart, Wolfgang, Gaertner, Claudia
• Granted Patent: US 10,232,365 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 2200/027 for microfluidic devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0621 Control of the sequence of chambers filled or emptied
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0647 Handling flowable solids, e.g. microscopic beads, cells, particles
• 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 2200/16 Reagents, handling or storing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/021 Identification, e.g. bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/027 Digital display, e.g. LCD, LED
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/044 pierceable, e.g. films, membranes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/045 whereby the whole cover is slidable
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/06 Auxiliary integrated devices, integrated components
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0609 Holders integrated in container to position an object
• 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 2400/043 magnetic forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0481 squeezing of channels or chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/049 vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/086 : using baffles or other fixed flow obstructions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502 : with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures centrifugal-type cuvettes G01N21/07; analysis by separation into components G01N30/00; automatic analysers G01N35/00
• 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 3/545 : for laboratory containers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/52 : Supports specially adapted for flat sample carriers, e.g. for plates, slides, chips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/527 : for microfluidic devices, e.g. used for lab-on-a-chip
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 7/06 : by means of a screw-spindle, cam, or other mechanical means F16K7/045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/5302 : Apparatus specially adapted for immunological test procedures

Abstract

A test device (80) for testing for the presence of a substance in a sample held on a sample carrier (30) includes a holder (82) for holding a sample carrier (30) which includes one or more chambers (50,52). The test device (80) also includes an actuator for compressing or depressurising the chamber(s) (50,52). The actuator is configured to prevent reinflation of the chamber(s) (50,52) after compression or depressurisation.

Claims

1-67. -67. (canceled)

68. A test device for testing for the presence of a substance in a sample held on a sample carrier that includes a chamber or a plurality of chambers;

the test device including a holder for holding the sample carrier, and an actuator for compressing the chamber or the plurality of chambers, wherein the test device is configured as part of a test to perform at least one interaction with the sample carrier subsequently to compressing the chamber or the plurality of chambers;

the actuator being configured to maintain compression of the chamber or the plurality of chambers after compression, until the or each of the at least one interaction has been performed.

69. The test device according to claim 68 wherein the actuator is operable to burst the chamber or the plurality of chambers.

70. The test device according to claim 68, wherein the actuator is configured to compress the plurality of compressible chambers in a controlled sequence.

71. The test device according to claim 68, wherein the actuator includes a first pivotable member including a first chamber actuation section pivotable into a first chamber location, wherein the first chamber location is a location at which the chamber of the sample carrier is located when the sample carrier is held in the holder;

and a driver operable to pivot the first pivotable member to cause the first chamber actuation section to be pivoted into the first chamber location thereby to compress the chamber in the first chamber location.

72. The test device according to claim 71, wherein the first pivotable member includes a second chamber actuation section pivotable into a second chamber location, wherein the second chamber location is a location at which the chamber of the sample carrier is located when the sample carrier is held in the holder;

the driver being operable to pivot the first pivotable member to cause the second chamber actuation section to be pivoted into the second chamber location thereby to compress the chamber in the second chamber location.

73. The test device according to claim 72, wherein the driver is operable to pivot the first pivotable member to cause the first chamber actuation section to be pivoted into the first chamber location a predetermined period of time before pivoting the second chamber actuation section into the second chamber location.

74. The test device according to claim 71, wherein the actuator includes a second pivotable member including a second chamber actuation section pivotable into a second chamber location, wherein the second chamber location is a location at which the chamber of the sample carrier is located when the sample carrier is held in the holder;

the driver being operable to pivot the second pivotable member to cause the second chamber actuation section to be pivoted into the second chamber location thereby to compress the chamber in the second chamber location.

75. The test device according to claim 74, wherein the driver is configured to pivot the first pivotable member before the second pivotable member.

76. The test device according to claim 71, wherein the driver includes a motor operable to advance a pivot actuation member, wherein the, or a part of the, pivot actuation member is configured as it advances to pivot the first pivotable member to cause the first chamber actuation section to be pivoted into the first chamber location and, as the, or a part of the, pivot actuation member advances subsequently to the first pivotable member being pivoted, to maintain the first pivotable member in a pivoted position with the first chamber actuation section in the first chamber location.

77. The test device according to claim 76, wherein the motor is a linear motor.

78. The test device according to claim 76, wherein the pivot actuation member is configured, as the, or a part of the, pivot actuation member advances subsequently to the first pivotable member being pivoted, to pivot the or a second pivotable member to cause the or a second chamber actuation section to be pivoted into the or a second chamber location and, as the, or a part of the, pivot actuation member advances subsequently to the second pivotable member being pivoted, to maintain the second pivotable member in a pivoted position with the second chamber actuation section in the second chamber location.

79. The test device according to claim 78, wherein the pivot actuation member includes a first part configured as the, or a part of the, pivot actuation member advances to impact against and pivot the first pivotable member to cause the first chamber actuation section to be pivoted into the first chamber location and a second part configured as the, or a part of the, pivot actuation member advances to impact against and pivot the second pivotable member to cause the second chamber actuation section to be pivoted into the second chamber location;

wherein in a starting position a distance between the first part and the first pivotable member is less than a distance between the second part and the second pivotable member.

80. The test device according to claim 79, wherein the first part is longer than the second part or the first part and the second part are integral.

81. The test device according to claim 76, wherein the first pivotable member or a second pivotable member includes a contact surface against which the pivot actuation member is configured to impact as the pivot actuation member advances to cause the first pivotable member or the second pivotable member to pivot, wherein the first pivotable member includes a pivot between the contact surface of the first pivotable member and the first chamber actuation section or the second pivotable member includes a pivot between the contact surface of the second pivotable member and the second chamber actuation section.

82. The test device according to claim 81, wherein the contact surface of the first pivotable member is configured to be inclined with respect to a direction of movement of the pivot actuation member or the contact surface of the second pivotable member is configured to be inclined with respect to a direction of movement of the pivot actuation member.

83. A method of performing a test for a substance in a sample held in a sample carrier, including:

operating an actuator to compress a fluid-filled storage chamber of the sample carrier or a plurality of fluid-filled storage chambers of the sample carrier to cause fluid from the storage chamber or from the plurality of storage chambers to be moved;

operating the actuator to prevent reinflation of the storage chamber or of the plurality of storage chambers;

operating a detector to interact with fluid in a detection chamber to test for the substance;

wherein performing the test includes performing at least one interaction with the sample carrier subsequently to compressing the storage chamber or the plurality of storage chambers;

wherein operating the actuator to prevent reinflation of the storage chamber or of the plurality of storage chambers includes maintaining compression of the storage chamber or of the plurality of storage chambers after compression until the or each of the at least one interaction has been performed.

84. The method according to claim 83, wherein operating an actuator to compress a plurality of fluid-filled storage chambers of the sample carrier includes operating the actuator to compress the plurality of storage chambers in a controlled sequence;

or wherein the method includes implementing a predetermined delay before operating the actuator to compress the storage chamber of the sample carrier or the plurality of storage chambers of the sample carrier wherein the predetermined delay is started in response to performance of the test beginning.

85. The method according to claim 84, wherein the predetermined delay is started in response to insertion of the sample carrier into a holder, in response to a command to begin performance of the test, or in response to a sample sensor sensing the presence of the sample in the sample carrier.

86. The method according to claim 83, wherein the actuator includes a first pivotable member including a first chamber actuation section pivotable into a first location, the first location being a location of the storage chamber or of a first chamber of the plurality of storage chambers;

the method including operating a driver to pivot the first pivotable member to cause the first chamber actuation section to be pivoted into the first location thereby to compress the storage chamber or the first chamber of the plurality of storage chambers.

87. The method according to claim 86, wherein the first pivotable member includes a second chamber actuation section pivotable into a second location, the second location being a location of a second chamber of the plurality of storage chambers;

the method including operating the driver to pivot the first pivotable member to cause the second chamber actuation section to be pivoted into the second location thereby to compress the storage chamber in the second chamber location.

88. The method according to claim 87, the method including operating the driver to pivot the first pivotable member to cause the first chamber actuation section to be pivoted into the first location a predetermined period of time before pivoting the second chamber actuation section into the second location.

89. The method according to claim 86, wherein the actuator includes a second pivotable member including a second chamber actuation section pivotable into a second location, the second location being a location of a second chamber of the plurality of storage chambers;

the method including operating the driver to pivot the second pivotable member to cause the second chamber actuation section to be pivoted into the second location thereby to compress the storage chamber in the second location.

90. The method according to claim 89, the method including operating the driver to pivot the first pivotable member before the second pivotable member.

91. The method according to claim 86, wherein the driver includes a motor operable to advance a pivot actuation member, wherein operating the driver to pivot the first pivotable member includes operating the motor to advance the, or a part of the, pivot actuation member to pivot the first pivotable member to cause the first chamber actuation section to be pivoted into the first location.

92. The method according to claim 91, wherein operating the motor to advance the pivot actuation member includes operating the motor to advance the pivot actuation member linearly.

93. The method according to claim 91, including, subsequently to pivoting the first pivotable member, operating the motor to advance the, or a part of the, pivot actuation member to pivot the or a second pivotable member to cause the or a second chamber actuation section to be pivoted into the or a second location while maintaining the first chamber actuation section in the first location to prevent reinflation of the first chamber.

94. A program code configured to perform the method of claim 83 when executed on a programmable component.

95. A test device including a control unit programmed with program code according to claim 94.