System and method for sample preparation in GMR-based detection of biomarkers
Inventors
Klein, Todd Michael • SONG, Keping • LI, Minggan • RHEAULT, Chad Brian • Wang, Wei • MENDONSA, Gemma Roselle
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11639908-B2
Publication Date
2023-05-02
Expiration Date
Abstract
A cartridge assembly, and method of using the same, is provided. The assembly includes a sample processing card and a substrate attached thereto. The card has an injection port for receiving a test sample; at least one metering chamber; a mixing material source for introducing mixing material(s) to the metering chamber; fluid communication channels fluidly connecting the injection port and the mixing material source to the metering chamber; and at least one output port for delivering the test sample to a sensor (e.g., GMR sensor). The substrate has associated therewith: the sensor for sensing analytes in the test sample; electrical contact portions for an electrical connection with a reader unit; and a memory chip. The assembly further includes a pneumatic interface with port(s) and corresponding communication channel(s) fluidly connected to card. The interface connects with an off-board pneumatic system and enables application of positive and negative pressurized fluid to the card to move the test sample and one or more mixing materials therein and to the sensor.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a cartridge assembly for preparing a test sample and sensing analytes therein using a sensor. The cartridge includes a sample processing card with an injection port for receiving the test sample, at least one metering chamber receiving the injected test sample, and a mixing material source introducing one or more mixing materials into the metering chamber. Fluid communication channels connect the injection port and the mixing material source to the metering chamber(s), and at least one output port delivers the test sample and mixing materials to the sensor via channels.
A substrate is attached to the sample processing card and carries the sensor configured to receive the test sample and mixing materials via the output port. The substrate further includes electrical contact portions for establishing an electrical connection with a reader unit, and a memory chip for storing information related to processing the test sample within the sample processing card.
The cartridge assembly also includes a pneumatic interface with at least one pneumatic control port and a corresponding communication channel fluidly connected to the metering chamber(s). The pneumatic interface is configured to connect to an off-board pneumatic system of the reader unit and enable application of positive and negative pressurized fluid to move the test sample and mixing materials within the fluid communication channels and to the sensor. The memory chip stores a pneumatic system protocol configured to selectively apply pressure to the pneumatic interface upon connection with the reader unit.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim is directed to a cartridge assembly having sample processing functions combined with an off-board reader-controlled pneumatic interface using a stored pneumatic system protocol. The claim contains three main groups of inventive features: cartridge fluidics/sensing architecture, substrate and memory features, and pneumatic interface/protocol-controlled delivery architecture.
Cartridge sample processing card with injection, metering, mixing materials, and output delivery to a sensor
A sample processing card comprising an injection port for receiving the test sample within a body of the card; at least one metering chamber for receiving the test sample injected into the injection port; a mixing material source for introducing one or more mixing materials to the at least one metering chamber; fluid communication channels fluidly connecting the injection port and the mixing material source to the at least one metering chamber; and at least one output port, fluidly connected to the at least one metering chamber via channels, for delivering the test sample and the one or more mixing materials to the sensor.
Substrate carrying the sensor, electrical contacts, and a memory chip storing processing information
A substrate attached to the sample processing card, the substrate having associated therewith the sensor for sensing analytes in the test sample, configured to receive the test sample and the one or more mixing materials via the at least one output port; electrical contact portions configured to establish an electrical connection with a reader unit; and a memory chip for storing information related to processing of the test sample within the sample processing card.
Pneumatic interface connected to an off-board pneumatic system and protocol-based delivery using positive and negative pressurized fluid
A pneumatic interface comprising at least one pneumatic control port and a corresponding communication channel fluidly connected to the at least one metering chamber of the sample processing card, configured for connection to an off-board pneumatic system of the reader unit, configured to enable application of positive and negative pressurized fluid to move the test sample and one or more mixing materials within the fluid communication channels and to the sensor, wherein the memory chip stores a pneumatic system protocol configured to selectively apply pressure to the pneumatic interface upon connection with the reader unit and thus delivering at least the test sample from the sample processing card to the sensor.
The inventive concept combines a cartridge sample-processing card with a substrate carrying the sensor, electrical contacts, and a memory chip, together with a pneumatic interface connected to an off-board pneumatic system. The stored pneumatic system protocol selectively applies pressure to move the test sample and mixing materials to the sensor for analyte sensing.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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