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Publication Number
US-11633736-B2
Publication Date
2023-04-25
Expiration Date
Abstract
This disclosure relates to an apparatus for simultaneously filling a plurality of sample chambers. In one aspect, the apparatus comprises a common fluid source and a plurality of independent, continuous fluidic pathways. Each independent, continuous fluidic pathway comprises a sample chamber and a pneumatic compartment. The sample chamber is connected to the common fluid source, and the pneumatic compartment is connected to the sample chamber. The sample chamber comprises, in part, an assay chamber. The assay chamber comprises a monolithic substrate and a plug having optically transmissive properties. In some embodiments, the assay chamber contains a magnetic mixing element. In some embodiments, the assay chamber is a double tapered chamber. In some embodiments, a ratio of a volume of the sample chamber to a volume of the pneumatic compartment is substantially equivalent for each fluidic pathway of the plurality of fluidic pathways.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a plug comprising a body with a bottom surface, a cavity in the bottom surface, a central opening in the body, and a dried reagent on the bottom surface. The dried reagent is within the cavity, so that the plug presents a transmissive body and a reagent-held cavity at the bottom surface. The body is formed from a material transmissive to excitation wavelengths and emission wavelengths in at least one of a red spectrum, a blue spectrum and a green spectrum.
A cavity is defined on the bottom surface of the plug, and the dried reagent is located inside the cavity rather than directly on an exterior surface. The plug body includes a central opening, while the optically transmissive material of the plug allows excitation wavelengths and emission wavelengths in at least one of the red, blue, and green spectra to be transmitted through the plug. Geometries such as a double-tapered chamber and tapered inlet/outlet forms are described in the overall device context to manage bubbles and enable detectable assay signals through transmissive features.
The dried reagent may form a continuous film adhering to the plug bottom surface, and cavity geometry may include constraints on cavity depth relative to plug thickness and an initiation angle of the cavity. The document also describes sealing/heat-staking concepts and plug/reagent geometries to support detectable assay signals through transmissive plugs.
Claims Coverage
The provided independent claim is directed to an optically transmissive plug having a cavity-contained dried reagent, a central opening, and a bottom-surface cavity arranged for excitation/emission in at least one of the red, blue and green spectra. The claim set refines the plug through geometric constraints, reagent form, and selected categories of dried reagents.
Optically transmissive plug body with cavity-contained dried reagent
A plug comprising a body with a bottom surface, a cavity in the bottom surface, a central opening in the body, and a dried reagent on the bottom surface, wherein the dried reagent on the bottom surface is within the cavity and wherein the body is formed from a material transmissive to excitation wavelengths and emission wavelengths in at least one of a red spectrum, a blue spectrum and a green spectrum.
Cavity depth limited relative to plug thickness
A plug wherein a depth of the cavity is less than 90% of the plug thickness.
Cavity initiation angle constraint
A plug wherein an angle of initiation of the cavity is 60 degrees or less.
Continuous film dried reagent adhering to plug bottom surface
A plug wherein the dried reagent forms a continuous film adhering to the plug’s bottom surface.
Selected categories of dried reagent
A plug wherein the dried reagent is selected from the group consisting of nucleic acid synthesis reagents, peptide synthesis reagents, polymer synthesis reagents, nucleic acids, nucleotides, nucleobases, nucleosides, peptides, amino acids, monomers, detection reagents, catalysts or combinations thereof.
Across the independent claim and its dependents shown, the inventive coverage centers on an optically transmissive plug body with a bottom-surface cavity that contains dried reagent, combined with a central opening, and further refined by cavity geometry constraints, reagent deposition form as a continuous film, and selection of dried reagent categories.
Stated Advantages
Enables excitation wavelengths and emission wavelengths to be transmitted through a body formed from material transmissive to at least one of a red spectrum, a blue spectrum and a green spectrum.
Documented Applications
Used as part of a microfluidic assay device context that supports detectable assay signals through transmissive plugs, with concurrent filling and closed-system filling enabling assay chamber operation in the described microfluidic device context [procedural detail omitted for safety].
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