Microfluidic cartridge for processing and detecting nucleic acids
Inventors
Kusner, Michael T. • Brahmasandra, Sundaresh • Williams, Jeffrey • Jaekel, Robert
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11485968-B2
Publication Date
2022-11-01
Expiration Date
Abstract
A system, configured to facilitate processing and detection of nucleic acids, the system comprising a process fluid container and a cartridge comprising: a top layer, 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 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
The invention is a nucleic-acid molecular diagnostics microfluidic cartridge configured as a layered construction with a top layer including a sample port and fluidic pathway elements, an intermediate substrate partially separated from the first layer by a film layer, and an elastomeric deformable layer that supports fluidic pathways and occlusion positions. The intermediate substrate forms a waste chamber and a waste port into the waste chamber, where the waste chamber directly opposes the first layer across the film layer and defines an external void.
A fluidic pathway is coupled to the sample port and operates in an occluded mode. In the occluded mode, the deformable layer is deformed by an occluder passing through the external void defined by the waste chamber, and the occluded mode allows waste fluid of the sample to be transmitted through the waste port into an interior portion of the waste chamber.
The layered architecture further supports waste-direction control and integration of capture segments with heating and a magnetic field for bead-based isolation. The disclosed cartridge includes valve guides and occlusion positions positioned relative to the intermediate substrate and separated from the waste chamber by a deformable layer, with structural and material features for sealing the waste chamber.
Claims Coverage
The relevant independent claims are clm-00001 and clm-00009. They define core system-level inventive features that combine a layered microfluidic cartridge with an occluded-mode waste transmission mechanism, and clm-00009 further adds a process fluid container with reversibly coupled sealing components.
Layered cartridge waste chamber with external void and sealing
A cartridge comprising a first layer including a sample port, an intermediate substrate coupled to the first layer and partially separated by a film layer, the intermediate substrate forming a waste chamber and waste port into the waste chamber, where the waste chamber directly opposes the first layer across the film layer and defines an external void, and where the intermediate substrate includes a first portion defining a volume of the waste chamber and the external void, a second portion defining a set of valve guides facing the first layer, and an elastomeric layer such that the first portion, elastomeric layer, and second portion are configured to seal the waste chamber.
Occluded-mode fluidic pathway using occluder passing through external void
A fluidic pathway comprising a set of occlusion positions corresponding to the set of valve guides and positioned superior to the intermediate substrate and at least partially separated from the waste chamber by a deformable layer, where the fluidic pathway is fluidly coupled to the sample port, operates in an occluded mode in which the deformable layer is deformed by an occluder passing through the external void defined by the waste chamber, and the occluded mode allows waste fluid of the sample to be transmitted through the waste port into an interior portion of the waste chamber.
Process fluid container with reversibly retained septa and plug mechanism
A process fluid container in fluid communication with the cartridge, comprising a primary container defining a first opening for accessing a process fluid and a second opening for delivering the process fluid, a first cover coupled to the first opening and including a set of positioning ports for a set of fluid aspirators defined within a recess of a broad surface of the first cover, a septa layer reversibly seated within the recess, a septa retainer that retains the septa layer in position with the first cover, and a stopper that reversibly plugs the second opening of the primary container.
Overall, the independent claims cover a system where a layered cartridge forms a waste chamber with an external void and sealing arrangement, and where a deformable-layer fluidic pathway switches into an occluded mode via an occluder passing through the external void to transmit waste fluid through the waste port. The second independent claim additionally covers coupling the cartridge to a process fluid container that includes a cover with aspirator positioning ports and a reversibly retained septa layer plus a stopper for plugging a process-fluid delivery opening.
Stated Advantages
Waste-direction control.
Integration of capture segments with heating and a magnetic field for bead-based isolation.
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
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