Portable devices and methods for analyzing samples
Inventors
DeJohn, Marc • Cox, Christopher • Welsh, Thomas • Gary, Luke • Quinn, Alexia
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11892461-B1
Publication Date
2024-02-06
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present disclosure provides devices, systems, methods for processing and/or analyzing a biological sample. An analytic device for processing and/or analyzing a biological sample may comprise a moving carriage. The analytic device may be portable. The analytic device may receive instructions for performing an assay from a mobile electronic device external to a housing of the analytic device.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a portable analytic device for processing a biological sample. The device includes a housing with at least one block having a recess configured to contain an assay tube comprising the biological sample and a magnetic bead. The recess is optically accessed by an excitation filter and an emission filter in optical communication with at least a portion of the recess, and an excitation source provides excitation energy to the biological sample when the assay tube is contained within the recess.
A detector receives emission energy from the biological sample when the assay tube is contained within the recess, enabling optical readout. The device further includes a movable carriage comprising a bar within the housing, wherein the bar comprises a magnet. The movable carriage is configured to translate such that the magnet and the assay tube move relative to one another, thereby subjecting the magnetic bead to motion within the assay tube.
The device is configured as a compact portable system, including a portability constraint in which the portable analytic device has a weight of at most 15 kilograms. The block and the movable magnet-driven bead motion are combined with optical excitation and detection through the excitation and emission filters to support processing of biological samples in the assay tube.
In the summarized system, the magnetic-bead motion is used in combination with the optical excitation and emission detection while the assay tube is contained in the recess. This approach is described alongside optional heating/cooling unit functionality within the portable device framework, and the summary describes experimentally observed improved signal stability when mixing is provided by magnetic-bead motion.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim set includes two independent claims (a portable analytic device and a method). Across these independent claims, the core inventive features are the combination of a recess-contained assay tube with magnetic beads, optical excitation/emission filtering with excitation source and detector, and a movable carriage that translates a magnet relative to the assay tube to impose motion of the magnetic beads, all within a portable weight constraint.
Portable analytic device with recess-contained magnetic-bead assay tube and optical excitation/emission
A portable analytic device with a housing; at least one block within the housing, the block comprising a recess configured to contain an assay tube comprising a biological sample and a magnetic bead; an excitation filter and an emission filter in optical communication with at least a portion of the recess; an excitation source configured to provide excitation energy to the biological sample when the assay tube is contained within the recess; and a detector configured to receive emission energy from the biological sample when the assay tube is contained within the recess.
Movable carriage translating magnet relative to assay tube to drive magnetic-bead motion
A movable carriage comprising a bar within the housing, wherein the bar comprises a magnet, and wherein the movable carriage is configured to translate such that the magnet and the assay tube move relative to one another, thereby subjecting the magnetic bead to motion within the assay tube.
Portable method subjecting magnet and assay tube to relative motion to move magnetic beads
A method for processing a biological sample comprising providing a portable analytic device having a housing, at least one block with a recess containing an assay tube comprising the biological sample and a magnetic bead, optical communication through an excitation filter and an emission filter, an excitation source, a detector, and a movable carriage with a magnet, wherein the portable analytic device has a weight of at most 15 kilograms; and subjecting the movable carriage or the at least one block to motion such that the magnet and the assay tube move relative to one another, thereby subjecting the magnetic bead to motion within the assay tube.
The independent claims cover (1) a portable analytic device that combines optical excitation/emission detection with a recess-contained assay tube containing magnetic beads and (2) a method in which relative motion between a magnet on a movable carriage and the assay tube is applied so the magnetic beads undergo motion within the assay tube, under a portable weight constraint.
Stated Advantages
Improved signal stability with mixing described in the summary.
Documented Applications
Processing a biological sample using a portable analytic device with an assay tube containing magnetic beads, optical excitation/emission readout, and magnet-driven magnetic-bead motion.
Method for processing a biological sample using the portable analytic device by subjecting the magnet and assay tube to relative motion to induce magnetic-bead motion.
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