System and method for processing and detecting nucleic acids

Inventors

Williams, Jeffrey • Brahmasandra, Sundaresh • Mastronardi, Michelle

Assignees

NeumoDx Molecular Inc

Abstract

A system and method for processing and detecting nucleic acids from a set of biological samples, comprising: a capture plate and a capture plate module configured to facilitate binding of nucleic acids within the set of biological samples to magnetic beads; a molecular diagnostic module configured to receive nucleic acids bound to magnetic beads, isolate nucleic acids, and analyze nucleic acids, comprising a cartridge receiving module, a heating/cooling subsystem and a magnet configured to facilitate isolation of nucleic acids, a valve actuation subsystem configured to control fluid flow through a microfluidic cartridge for processing nucleic acids, and an optical subsystem for analysis of nucleic acids; a fluid handling system configured to deliver samples and reagents to components of the system to facilitate molecular diagnostic protocols; and an assay strip configured to combine nucleic acid samples with molecular diagnostic reagents for analysis of nucleic acids.

Core Innovation

The invention describes an automated system for processing nucleic acid content of one or more samples in cooperation with a cartridge that comprises a set of microfluidic pathways for amplification and detection. Nucleic acid capture is performed in one or more process containers using a set of beads coupled with chemical entities for capturing the nucleic acid content. The cartridge is positioned within a molecular diagnostic module that includes a cartridge location, one or more heaters for amplification, and an optical subsystem for detecting the nucleic acid content.

Reagents are provided from one or more storage containers, including a release solution for releasing at least a portion of the nucleic acid content from the set of beads and reagents for amplifying one or more nucleic acids. The system includes a fluid handling subsystem with an actuator and an aspiration and delivery component coupled to the actuator, and a processor and controller that execute instructions to coordinate delivery and processing. The processor instructs the molecular diagnostic module to position the cartridge at the cartridge location and instructs the fluid handling subsystem to execute a delivery mode that moves the aspiration and delivery component between storage containers and inlets of the cartridge to deliver nucleic acid content into the cartridge.

The processor further instructs one or more heaters to heat one or more of the set of microfluidic pathways of the cartridge to perform amplification and detection of one or more nucleic acids, and then instructs the molecular diagnostic module to deliver the cartridge from the cartridge location. Additional refinements describe valve positions that switch between occluded and open states, a valve actuation subsystem configured to switch valve positions at a cartridge location, and isolating nucleic acid content using beads and one or more magnets with a pH shift to release nucleic acids from the beads using the release solution.

Claims Coverage

The partial content provides one independent claim, with coordinated automated nucleic acid processing using a microfluidic cartridge, bead-based capture, reagent delivery, heater-based amplification, and optical detection. Dependent refinements add valve positions, a valve actuation subsystem, and bead release using magnets and a pH shift.

The core coverage centers on coordinated automation: bead-based nucleic acid capture in process containers, automated reagent delivery into a microfluidic cartridge for heater-based amplification and optical detection, and cartridge handling within a molecular diagnostic module.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications