Analytic device
Inventors
DeJohn, Marc Dominic • vanWestrienen, Jesse Wilson • Maksutovic, Maximilian
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10457983-B2
Publication Date
2019-10-29
Expiration Date
Abstract
An analytic device comprising a device housing, a dock to receive a camera enabled mobile electronic device, such as a smartphone and other smart devices, and a processing device to communicate with the mobile electronic device and to control a condition of the assay tube, such as temperature. In another example, the analytic device comprises a device housing and a circuit board. A processing device, a heating block defining a recess to support assay tube, and a resistive heater are surface mounted to the circuit board. A light source and a fan are also provided. A dock may be provided to support a mobile electronic device. The mobile electronic device communicates with the processing device to cause the application of reaction conditions to the assay tube, to perform a PCR procedure, for example. Methods are also disclosed.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a portable analytic device for processing a biological sample in an assay tube. The device includes a housing with at least one heating block having at least one recess configured to receive the assay tube, at least one heating unit in thermal communication with the heating block to provide thermal energy through the heating block, and an excitation source positioned to expose the assay tube to excitation energy.
A processing unit comprising a circuit within the housing is operatively coupled to the at least one heating unit and the excitation source. The processing unit communicates with a mobile electronic device external to the housing and receives instructions from the mobile electronic device for processing the biological sample in the assay tube. In response to the instructions, the processing unit directs the heating unit to provide thermal energy to the heating block and directs the excitation source to expose the assay tube to excitation energy.
The invention also provides a method in which the portable analytic device is activated and receives processing instructions from a mobile electronic device external to the housing. The processing unit directs the heating unit to provide thermal energy to the heating block to provide heat to the biological sample within the assay tube, and directs the excitation source to expose the biological sample to excitation energy. Optical detection may be performed by detecting emission from the biological sample in the assay tube to determine the presence or absence or relative amount of a target molecule.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims in the partial content are clm-00001 and clm-00014. Together, they cover 2 inventive features: a portable analytic device with assay-tube heating and excitation controlled by instructions from an external mobile electronic device, and a corresponding method for activating the device, receiving instructions, and directing heating and excitation for processing the biological sample.
Portable analytic device with mobile-instruction-controlled heating and excitation
A portable analytic device having a housing, at least one heating block with a recess configured to receive an assay tube, at least one heating unit in thermal communication with the heating block to provide thermal energy through the heating block, an excitation source positioned to expose the assay tube to excitation energy, and a processing unit within the housing operatively coupled to the heating unit and the excitation source, wherein the processing unit communicates with a mobile electronic device external to the housing, receives instructions from the mobile electronic device for processing the biological sample in the assay tube, and in response directs the heating unit to provide thermal energy to the heating block and directs the excitation source to expose the assay tube to excitation energy.
Method for processing biological samples with mobile-instruction-controlled activation, heating, and excitation
A method for processing a biological sample comprising activating a portable analytic device with a housing, at least one heating block with a recess configured to receive an assay tube, at least one heating unit in thermal communication with the heating block to provide thermal energy through the heating block, an excitation source positioned to expose the assay tube to excitation energy, and a processing unit within the housing configured to communicate with a mobile electronic device; receiving by the processing unit instructions from the mobile electronic device for processing the biological sample in the assay tube; in response directing the heating unit to provide thermal energy to the heating block to provide heat to the biological sample within the assay tube; and directing the excitation source to expose the biological sample within the assay tube to excitation energy.
The claim coverage centers on an instruction-driven portable analytic platform that couples assay-tube heating blocks and excitation sources to a processing unit communicating with an external mobile electronic device.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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