Capsule for rapid molecular quantification of a fluid sample such as whole blood
Inventors
Maerki, Iwan • Carrere, Lauriane • Durand, Nicolas
Assignees
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-10434508-B2
Publication Date
2019-10-08
Expiration Date
Abstract
A capsule (100) comprising a housing (110) in which are disposed nanofluidic biosensors (120), a fluid connecting element (140), a filter (150) and a cover (160) is described. The capsule (100) allows the analysis of a fluid sample (300) that would be deposited in the capsule system (100) by a pipette (400). The fluid sample (300) is filtered when passing through a filter (150), then transferred by a fluid connecting element (140) to the inlets of one or several nanofluidic biosensors (120). The capsule system (100) is disposed on an external support (200), and finally an optical or an electrical measurement unit (500) is used to measure the molecular interactions in the nanofluidic biosensors.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a capsule for rapid molecular quantification of a fluid sample. A cover provides an aperture for receiving a fluid sample to be measured, and a filter faces the cover aperture to receive the fluid sample. A fluid connecting element is in contact with a lower surface of the filter and acts as a passive fluid transfer system.
The capsule includes a plurality of nanofluidic biosensors having input apertures. The plurality of nanofluidic biosensors are positioned so that each input aperture is in contact with the fluid connecting element, and the biosensors are arranged at a lateral side of a fluidic pathway formed by the aperture, the filter, and the fluid connecting element.
A filtering arrangement extracts components of the fluid sample and the passive fluid transfer system allows the filtered sample to flow to the nanofluidic biosensors. The capsule is described as enabling rapid molecular quantification while improving usability for biomolecule detection, including reduced need for pre-treatment such as centrifugation.
Claims Coverage
The document provides two independent claims. The independent claim coverage is centered on a passive fluid transfer capsule architecture that filters the sample and routes it laterally to multiple nanofluidic biosensor input apertures for reading biosensor content, with additional dependents covering measurement compatibility and capsule usability features.
Passive fluid-transfer capsule with cover aperture and filter
A cover having an aperture for receiving a fluid sample to be measured, a filter having an upper surface that faces the aperture of the cover for receiving the fluid sample, and a fluid connecting element in contact with a lower surface of the filter acting as a passive fluid transfer system.
Lateral arrangement of nanofluidic biosensors in contact with the fluid connecting element
A plurality of nanofluidic biosensors having input apertures, where each input aperture of the plurality of nanofluidic biosensors is in contact with the fluid connecting element, and the plurality of biosensors are arranged at a lateral side of a fluidic pathway formed by the aperture, the filter, and the fluid connecting element.
Method using the passive fluid-transfer capsule for rapid molecular quantification and reading
Depositing a fluid sample through an aperture of the capsule onto an upper surface of a filter that faces the aperture; filtering the fluid sample by the filter to extract components; allowing the fluid sample to flow through a fluid connecting element of the capsule, the fluid connecting element in contact with a lower surface of the filter acting as a passive fluid transfer system, to reach the plurality of nanofluidic biosensors, each input aperture of the plurality of nanofluidic biosensors being in contact with the fluid connecting element; and reading a content of the plurality of nanofluidic biosensors.
Fluidic pathway defines lateral positioning of biosensors
The plurality of biosensors are arranged at a lateral side of a fluidic pathway formed by the aperture, the filter, and the fluid connecting element.
Overall, the claims cover a capsule architecture that combines a cover aperture, a filter, and a passive fluid connecting element in contact with the filter, together with a lateral fluidic pathway geometry where multiple nanofluidic biosensors have input apertures in contact with the fluid connecting element, followed by reading the biosensor content.
Stated Advantages
Reduced need for pre-treatment such as centrifugation.
Improved usability for biomolecule detection.
Documented Applications
Point-of-care rapid molecular quantification of whole blood using a capsule for biomolecule detection.
Interested in licensing this patent?