Microfluidic cartridge for processing and detecting nucleic acids
Inventors
Williams, Jeffrey S. • Brahmasandra, Sundaresh • Kusner, Michael T.
Assignees
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-10557132-B2
Publication Date
2020-02-11
Expiration Date
Abstract
A microfluidic cartridge, configured to facilitate processing and detection of nucleic acids, comprising: a top layer comprising a set of cartridge-aligning indentations, a set of sample port-reagent port pairs, a shared fluid port, a vent region, a heating region, and a set of Detection chambers; an intermediate substrate, coupled to the top layer comprising a waste chamber; an elastomeric layer, partially situated on the intermediate substrate; and a set of fluidic pathways, each formed by at least a portion of the top layer and a portion of the elastomeric layer, wherein each fluidic pathway is fluidically coupled to a sample port-reagent port pair, the shared fluid port, and a Detection chamber, comprises a turnabout portion passing through the heating region, and is configured to be occluded upon deformation of the elastomeric layer, to transfer a waste fluid to the waste chamber, and to pass through the vent region.
Core Innovation
A cartridge for processing a sample includes a first layer with a sample port and a fluid port at a surface, an intermediate substrate coupled to the first layer, and an actuation layer positioned between the first layer and the intermediate substrate. The intermediate substrate defines a chamber opposing the first layer, and the chamber comprises an external surface defining a set of voids configured to receive a set of pins.
A fluidic pathway is defined by at least a portion of the first layer and is at least partially separated from the chamber by the actuation layer. The fluidic pathway is fluidly coupled to the sample port and the fluid port and is configured to transport fluid through the cartridge upon manipulation of the actuation layer by the set of pins.
The cartridge includes a set of chamber inlets that deliver fluid from the fluidic pathway into the chamber, and the chamber is fluidly accessible at more than one location along the fluidic pathway through the set of chamber inlets. The cartridge is configured to drive fluid from the fluidic pathway into the chamber, through at least a subset of the set of chamber inlets, upon manipulation of the actuation layer by the set of pins.
Claims Coverage
The partial content provides one independent claim directed to a layered microfluidic cartridge with three inventive features.
Pin-manipulated actuation layer driving fluid through a fluidic pathway
A cartridge includes an actuation layer between the first layer and an intermediate substrate, and a fluidic pathway fluidly coupled to a sample port and a fluid port, where the fluidic pathway is configured to transport fluid through the cartridge upon manipulation of the actuation layer by the set of pins.
Intermediate substrate chamber with voids receiving pins
The cartridge includes an intermediate substrate coupled to the first layer and defining a chamber opposing the first layer, wherein the chamber comprises an external surface defining a set of voids configured to receive a set of pins.
Chamber accessible at more than one location via chamber inlets
The cartridge includes a set of chamber inlets configured to deliver fluid from the fluidic pathway into the chamber, wherein the chamber is fluidly accessible at more than one location along the fluidic pathway through the set of chamber inlets, and wherein the cartridge is configured to drive fluid from the fluidic pathway into the chamber, through at least a subset of the set of chamber inlets, upon manipulation of the actuation layer by the set of pins.
Across the independent claim, the core inventive structure is a layered cartridge architecture where pins deform an actuation layer to control a fluidic pathway, and chamber inlets located at multiple positions along that pathway deliver fluid into an intermediate-substrate chamber accessible through more than one location.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
Interested in licensing this patent?