Apparatus for automatic sampling of biological species employing an amplification with a magnetic nanoparticle and propulsion method
Inventors
Shachar, Josh Yehoshua • Gurley, Sam • CIPRIANO, Aaron • Yin, Peter • Purnell, Rob • Rocklinger, Marc • Petrullo, Ming • Stelea, Stelica • Thomas, Marlon S.
Assignees
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-11358140-B2
Publication Date
2022-06-14
Expiration Date
Abstract
An cartridge is combined with a smart device which is capable of communicating with a network to perform a portable, fast, field assay of a small sample biological analyte. A closed microfluidic circuit for mixes the analyte with a buffer with functionalized magnetic beads capable of being specifically combined with the analyte. A detector communicates with the microfluidic circuit in which the mixed analyte, buffer and combined functionalized magnetic beads are sensed. A microcontroller is coupled to detector for controlling the detector and for data processing an output assay signal from the detector. A user interface communicates with the microcontroller for providing user input and for providing user output through the smart device to the network.
Core Innovation
The disclosure describes a portable, fast, field assay apparatus and cartridge used with a smart device for performing an assay of a sample of a biological analyte. A functionalized shear horizontal surface acoustic wave (SAW) detector having a plurality of channels including at least one functionalized sensing lane and at least one reference lane is used to sense an immunoassay. The smart device includes a SAW interface circuit and a microcontroller for controlling the SAW detector and processing an output assay signal from the SAW detector.
A closed microfluidic circuit is used to homogenously mix and recirculate the analyte with a buffer and functionalized magnetic beads within the microfluidic cartridge, through the sensing and reference lanes of the SAW detector. In a mixing reservoir, an active mixer mixes a predetermined capture antibody and functionalized magnetic beads with the buffer so that an analyte-magnetic bead half sandwich is formed. A separation reservoir includes a membrane for filtering out cellular constituents from the homogenized mixture, so other constituents are removed from the sample mixture.
The formed analyte-magnetic bead half sandwich is driven into contact with the functionalized sensing lane of the SAW detector by a magnetic source, where an immunoassay sandwich is formed including an orthogonal capture antibody. The interface circuit comprises a clock oscillator, an RF synthesizer, a low pass filter and splitter, a phase/gain detector, and an analog-to-digital converter, while a pump driver and a motor with a motor driver mechanically load a microfluidic cartridge. The system is configured to recirculate the analyte, buffer, predetermined antibody and functionalized magnetic beads, and the analyte combined into a analyte-magnetic bead half sandwich under pressure a predetermined number of times within a predetermined time period.
Claims Coverage
The partial content provides two independent claims, each centered on a smart-device portable field assay architecture that combines a functionalized SAW detector with a closed microfluidic cartridge using functionalized magnetic beads and immunoassay sandwich formation and sensing. Across the independent claims, the main inventive features include the SAW detector channel configuration, the closed microfluidic mixing and recirculation with membrane-based separation, the magnetic driving of an analyte-magnetic bead half sandwich to form an immunoassay sandwich at the detector, and the SAW interface circuit and microcontroller signal processing and control.
Functionalized SAW detector with sensing and reference lanes
A functionalized shear horizontal surface acoustic wave (SAW) detector having a plurality of channels including at least one functionalized sensing lane and at least one reference lane.
Closed microfluidic mixing and recirculation with magnetic beads through SAW lanes
A closed microfluidic circuit fluidly communicated with the SAW detector for mixing and recirculating the analyte with a buffer and functionalized magnetic beads through the sensing and reference lanes of the SAW detector.
Immunoassay sandwich formation using analyte-magnetic bead half sandwich driven to SAW lane
The analyte-magnetic bead half sandwich is driven by a magnetic source into contact with the functionalized sensing lane of the SAW detector to form an immunoassay sandwich including an orthogonal capture antibody.
SAW interface circuit and microcontroller for assay signal processing
A SAW interface circuit coupled to the SAW detector and a microcontroller coupled to the SAW interface circuit for controlling the SAW detector and processing an output assay signal; the interface circuit comprises a clock oscillator, an RF synthesizer, a low pass filter and splitter, a phase/gain detector, an analog-to-digital converter, a pump driver, and a motor with a motor driver for mechanically loading a microfluidic cartridge.
Cartridge microfluidic circuit that homogenously mixes, filters other constituents, and recirculates under pressure
A closed microfluidic circuit that homogenously mixes the analyte with a buffer, a predetermined antibody and functionalized magnetic beads, filters other constituents from the sample, and recirculates the analyte, buffer, predetermined antibody and functionalized magnetic beads, and analyte combined into an analyte-magnetic bead half sandwich under pressure a predetermined number of times within a predetermined time period.
Detector fluidly communicated with microfluidic circuit and driven by magnetic source
A detector fluidly communicated with the microfluidic circuit in which the analyte is combined with the analyte-magnetic bead half sandwich and is driven toward the detector by a magnetic source, where an immunoassay sandwich is formed and sensed by the detector.
Across the independent claims, the central coverage is for a portable field assay system in which a functionalized shear horizontal SAW detector with sensing and reference lanes is coupled to a closed microfluidic circuit that mixes and recirculates an analyte with a buffer and functionalized magnetic beads to form an analyte-magnetic bead half sandwich. The half sandwich is filtered from other constituents and driven by a magnetic source to form an immunoassay sandwich on the detector, while a SAW interface circuit and microcontroller control the detector and process an output assay signal.
Stated Advantages
Portable, fast, field assay of a sample of a biological analyte.
Documented Applications
Performing immunoassay sensing for analytes in a biological sample using a network-capable smart device and microfluidic cartridge.
Interested in licensing this patent?