Microfluidic system for amplifying and detecting polynucleotides in parallel
Inventors
Handique, Kalyan • Brahmasandra, Sundaresh N. • Ganesan, Karthik • Williams, Jeff
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10900066-B2
Publication Date
2021-01-26
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present technology provides for an apparatus for detecting polynucleotides in samples, particularly from biological samples. The technology more particularly relates to microfluidic systems that carry out PCR on nucleotides of interest within microfluidic channels, and detect those nucleotides. The apparatus includes a microfluidic cartridge that is configured to accept a plurality of samples, and which can carry out PCR on each sample individually, or a group of, or all of the plurality of samples simultaneously.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a fully automated, continuous random-access molecular diagnostic test system that performs nucleic acid amplification in multi-lane microfluidic cartridges and measures fluorescence emitted from each amplification region. The system includes a plurality of consumables with multi-lane microfluidic cartridges and disposable pipette tips, and an instrument with a receiving bay that receives a microfluidic cartridge.
The instrument includes an optical scanner to measure a level of fluorescence emitted from each amplification region when the cartridge is received in the receiving bay, and real-time detection of an amplified target nucleic acid sequence based on the level of fluorescence. The instrument further includes a liquid-handling robot comprising a plurality of dispensing heads configured to transfer nucleic acid-containing samples to a plurality of separate sample inlets of the microfluidic cartridge when received in the receiving bay.
The system also includes separately controllable heat sources configured at the receiving bay, each configured to thermal cycle a nucleic acid-containing sample in an amplification region of the microfluidic cartridge. During each thermal cycle, the amplification region is maintained at a substantially uniform temperature at least once, and processors control the plurality of separately controllable heat sources when the microfluidic cartridge is received in the receiving bay.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim in the provided claims set is a fully automated continuous random-access molecular diagnostic test system with four inventive features covering multi-lane microfluidic cartridges for nucleic acid amplification, liquid-handling robot sample transfer to separate sample inlets, separately controllable heat sources for thermal cycling with substantially uniform temperature, and optical scanner real-time fluorescence detection with touchscreen result display.
Multi-lane microfluidic cartridge amplification region for nucleic acid amplification
A plurality of multi-lane microfluidic cartridges in which each lane includes an amplification region within which nucleic acid amplification is carried out.
Liquid-handling robot transfers samples to separate sample inlets
A liquid-handling robot comprising a plurality of dispensing heads configured to transfer nucleic acid-containing samples to a plurality of separate sample inlets of the microfluidic cartridge when received in the receiving bay.
Separately controllable heat sources with substantially uniform temperature thermal cycling
A plurality of separately controllable heat sources configured at the receiving bay, each configured to thermal cycle a nucleic acid-containing sample in an amplification region, wherein the amplification region is maintained at a substantially uniform temperature at least once in each thermal cycle.
Optical scanner provides real-time fluorescence detection and touchscreen result display
An optical scanner configured to measure a level of fluorescence emitted from each amplification region when the microfluidic cartridge is received in the receiving bay, the optical scanner further configured to provide real-time detection of an amplified target nucleic acid sequence, wherein the touchscreen computer is configured to display a test result for a nucleic-acid containing sample based at least in part on the level of fluorescence measured by the optical scanner.
Across the independent claim, the system’s coverage focuses on multi-lane microfluidic amplification regions, robotic sample transfer to separate inlets, separately controllable thermal cycling with substantially uniform temperature, and real-time fluorescence measurement that drives touchscreen display of test results.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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