System and method for processing and detecting nucleic acids
Inventors
Williams, Jeffrey • Brahmasandra, Sundaresh • Kusner, Michael T.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10041062-B2
Publication Date
2018-08-07
Expiration Date
Abstract
A system and method for processing and detecting nucleic acids from a set of biological samples, comprising: a capture plate and a capture plate module configured to facilitate binding of nucleic acids within the set of biological samples to magnetic beads; a molecular diagnostic module configured to receive nucleic acids bound to magnetic beads, isolate nucleic acids, and analyze nucleic acids, comprising a cartridge receiving module, a heating/cooling subsystem and a magnet configured to facilitate isolation of nucleic acids, a valve actuation subsystem configured to control fluid flow through a microfluidic cartridge for processing nucleic acids, and an optical subsystem for analysis of nucleic acids; a fluid handling system configured to deliver samples and reagents to components of the system to facilitate molecular diagnostic protocols; and an assay strip configured to combine nucleic acid samples with molecular diagnostic reagents for analysis of nucleic acids.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a molecular diagnostic system configured to process a biological sample within a cartridge and separate a nucleic acid volume from the biological sample. The system includes a cartridge platform that supports the cartridge and has a magnet receiving slot, an optical subsystem, a cartridge heater, and a liquid-handling nozzle.
An actuator coupled to the nozzle, the optical subsystem, and the cartridge heater vertically displaces the cartridge platform in a first operation mode, while a magnet vertically aligned with the magnet receiving slot passes through the slot to interface with a first portion of the cartridge. In the first operation mode, the actuator couples the nozzle to a fluid port of the cartridge so that the fluid port receives fluids for processing the biological sample.
The optical subsystem interfaces with a second portion of the cartridge to receive a processed derivative of the nucleic acid volume. The cartridge heater and the cartridge platform compress a third region of the cartridge, providing a cartridge-level functional region in which the third region is compressed between the heater and the platform.
The associated method includes receiving a cartridge between a cartridge platform and an actuator opposing the platform, where the actuator is coupled to a nozzle of a liquid handling subsystem, an optical subsystem, and a cartridge heater. With vertical displacement of the actuator, the nozzle is simultaneously coupled to a fluid port, a magnet passes through the magnet receiving slot, the optical subsystem interfaces with a second portion for receiving a processed derivative, and a third region of the cartridge is compressed between the heater and the platform.
Claims Coverage
The provided material identifies two independent claims: one system claim and one method claim. Together, they define four inventive features centered on coordinated cartridge operation during vertical displacement.
Cartridge platform with magnet receiving slot aligned by vertical displacement
A cartridge platform supports the cartridge and includes a magnet receiving slot configured to be aligned with the cartridge in a first operation mode, and a magnet vertically aligned with the magnet receiving slot passes through the magnet receiving slot to interface with a first portion of the cartridge.
Coordinated actuator coupling of nozzle, optical subsystem, and cartridge heater
An actuator coupled to the nozzle, the optical subsystem, and the cartridge heater vertically displaces the cartridge platform in the first operation mode so that the nozzle is coupled to a cartridge fluid port, the optical subsystem interfaces with a second portion of the cartridge to receive a processed derivative of the nucleic acid volume, and the cartridge heater compresses a third region between the cartridge heater and the platform.
Simultaneous coupling and interface during vertical displacement method
With vertical displacement of an actuator, simultaneously coupling the nozzle to a fluid port of the cartridge, passing a magnet through the magnet receiving slot to interface with a first portion of the cartridge, interfacing the optical subsystem with a second portion to receive a processed derivative of the nucleic acid volume, and compressing a third region between the cartridge heater and the cartridge platform.
Optical subsystem with dichroic mirror, excitation filter, emission filter, and photodetector
An optical subsystem including an excitation filter, an emission filter, a photodetector aligned with the emission filter, and a dichroic mirror that directs excitation light to a biological sample and passes emitted light through the emission filter to the photodetector.
Across the system and method claims, the main inventive coverage is the integrated cartridge operation enabled by vertical displacement, which simultaneously couples liquid handling to a cartridge fluid port, passes a magnet through a magnet receiving slot for nucleic-acid-related separation, interfaces an optical subsystem with a cartridge region receiving a processed nucleic-acid derivative, and compresses a third cartridge region between the heater and the platform. Dependent features further refine detection by defining an optical subsystem with excitation/emission filtering and a dichroic mirror directing light to a photodetector.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
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