Test cartridge with integrated transfer module

• US 9,757,725 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2015
• Issued: 09/12/2017
• 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:
  US14/743,227
• Publication Number:
  US 20150353990A1
• Time in Patent Office: 817 Days
• Field of Search: 436 43, 436180, 422 681, 422554, 422547, 422559, 422552
• 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 method comprising:

laterally translating a transfer module to align a first port of the transfer module having a central chamber to a port of a first chamber;

drawing a sample into the central chamber from the first chamber via a first pressure differential applied to the sample;

laterally translating the transfer module to align a second port of the transfer module to a port of a second chamber; and

drawing the sample into the second chamber from the central chamber via a second pressure differential applied to the sample.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising mixing the sample introduced into the first chamber with a buffer disposed within the first chamber.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising mixing the sample drawn into the central chamber from the first chamber with a liquid already present in the central chamber.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

introducing the sample to the first chamber via a swab carrying the sample.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

processing the sample in the second chamber;

drawing the sample into the central chamber from the second chamber via a third pressure differential applied to the sample;

laterally translating the transfer module to align the second port of the transfer module to a port of a third chamber;

drawing the sample into the third chamber from the central chamber via a fourth pressure differential applied to the sample; and

measuring one or more qualities of the sample while in the third chamber.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein measuring comprises optically measuring a fluorescence signal.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein measuring comprises optically measuring an absorbance.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising heating the sample after either drawing the sample into the second chamber or drawing the sample into the third chamber.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising repeating laterally translating the transfer module to align the first port of the transfer module with various ports of one or more chambers.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising drawing one or more liquids into the central chamber from the one or more chambers via one or more pressure differentials.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising repeating laterally translating the transfer module to align the second port of the transfer module with various ports of one or more chambers.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising drawing one or more liquids into the central chamber from the one or more chambers via one or more pressure differentials.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising drawing one or more liquids into the one or more chambers from the central chamber via one or more pressure differentials.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

processing the sample in the second chamber;

drawing the sample into the central chamber from the second chamber via a third pressure differential applied to the sample;

laterally translating the transfer module to align the second port of the transfer module to a port of a third chamber;

drawing the sample into the third chamber from the central chamber via a fourth pressure differential applied to the sample;

processing the sample in the third chamber;

laterally translating the transfer module to align the second port of the transfer module to a port of a fourth chamber;

drawing the sample into the fourth chamber from the central chamber via a fifth pressure differential applied to the sample; and

measuring one or more qualities of the sample while in the fourth chamber.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein drawing the sample into the second chamber comprises flowing the sample through a filter.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein drawing the sample into the second chamber comprises flowing the sample through a fluid splitter into one or more sub-chambers.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising mixing the sample within the central chamber with a magnetic stir bar.