Processing particle-containing samples
Inventors
Handique, Kalyan • Parunak, Gene • Kehrer, Aaron • Wu, Betty • Ganesan, Karthik
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12139745-B2
Publication Date
2024-11-12
Expiration Date
Abstract
A microfluidic device includes an input port for inputting a particle-containing liquidic samples into the device, a retention member, and a pressure actuator. The retention member is in communication with the input port and is configured to spatially separate particles of the particle-containing liquidic sample from a first portion of the liquid of the particle containing fluidic sample. The pressure actuator recombines at least some of the separated particles with a subset of the first portion of the liquid separated from the particles. The device can also include a lysing chamber that receives the particles and liquid from the retention member. The lysing chamber thermally lyses the particles to release contents thereof.
Core Innovation
A microfluidic device receives a polynucleotide-containing sample from a sample input device through a first port and first channel. The first pathway includes a region and an exit path to a waste chamber in which excess fluid exits while polynucleotides are retained within the region, and the first pathway comprises an s-shaped channel configured to receive and route the sample.
The system includes a second pathway that provides the polynucleotides from the microfluidic device to a reaction chamber. A heat source located external to the reaction chamber in a separate component from the microfluidic device directs heat to the reaction chamber to amplify polynucleotides when the polynucleotides are received in the reaction chamber, and a fluorescence detector is configured to detect the presence of the polynucleotides within the reaction chamber.
The microfluidic device and external heat-source component are configured so that the first and second pathways spatially separate functions of waste handling and reaction processing. In the first pathway, fluid passes into a waste chamber while polynucleotides remain in the region, and the second pathway includes a reaction chamber connected by a second channel from a second port. In some embodiments, flow control is provided by valves having states that allow passage and obstruct passage along respective channels.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims are clm-00001, clm-00010, and clm-00017. Across these claims, the core inventive coverage combines three elements: a microfluidic device with a retention/waste region using an s-shaped channel, an external heat source directing amplification in a reaction chamber, and fluorescence detection of polynucleotides in the reaction chamber. Additional inventive constraints include valve-based flow obstruction and spatial separation of ports.
Retention in a waste region via an s-shaped first pathway
A microfluidic device comprising a first pathway with a first port configured to receive a polynucleotide-containing sample, a region configured to receive the sample, and a waste chamber wherein excess fluid exits along an exit path while polynucleotides are retained within the region; the first pathway comprises an s-shaped channel and a first channel connecting the first port and the region.
External heat-source amplification in a reaction chamber
A system comprising a second pathway with a reaction chamber connected by a second channel to a second port, and a heat source located external to the reaction chamber in a separate component that directs heat to the reaction chamber to amplify polynucleotides from the polynucleotide-containing sample within the reaction chamber when received.
Fluorescence detection of polynucleotides in the reaction chamber
A fluorescence detector configured to detect the presence of the polynucleotides within the reaction chamber when the polynucleotides are received in the reaction chamber.
Valve states that allow or obstruct passage along microfluidic channels
A first valve configured to be actuated with a state that allows passage of material along the first channel and a state that obstructs passage of material along the first channel, and a second valve configured to be actuated with a state that allows passage of material along the second channel and a state that obstructs passage of material along the second channel.
Spatial separation of first and second ports
The system in which the second port is spatially separated from the first port, with the second port connected by a second channel to the reaction chamber.
The independent claims cover a microfluidic arrangement that retains polynucleotides in a region while excess fluid is routed to a waste chamber using an s-shaped first pathway, then delivers polynucleotides to a reaction chamber for amplification directed by an external heat source. Fluorescence detection is used to detect the presence of polynucleotides within the reaction chamber, and further constraints include valve-based obstruction of passage along channels and spatially separated ports.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Detection of Group B streptococcus (GBS) using clinical testing results with thermal lysis and amplification/detection in the described microfluidic system [procedural detail omitted for safety].
Microfluidic enrichment and processing of particle-containing biological samples for polynucleotide amplification and fluorescence detection [procedural detail omitted for safety].
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