Honeycomb tube
Inventors
Chiang, Yuh-Min • Dority, Douglas • DICKENS, DUSTIN • GLASS, JENNIFER • Van Atta, Reuel
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Assignees
Member
CepheidCepheid is a global leader in molecular diagnostics, dedicated to improving healthcare by developing, manufacturing, and marketing automated, easy-to-use molecular systems and tests. Their mission is to provide rapid, accurate, and actionable genetic testing for a wide range of infectious diseases, oncology, and human genetics. Cepheid's flagship GeneXpert System delivers scalable, sample-to-answer PCR testing for institutions of any size, supporting both centralized and decentralized care. The company is committed to expanding access to high-quality diagnostics worldwide, supporting public health initiatives, driving innovation in molecular testing, and advancing sustainability and responsible business practices.
Cepheid is a global leader in molecular diagnostics, dedicated to improving healthcare by developing, manufacturing, and marketing automated, easy-to-use molecular systems and tests. Their mission is to provide rapid, accurate, and actionable genetic testing for a wide range of infectious diseases, oncology, and human genetics. Cepheid's flagship GeneXpert System delivers scalable, sample-to-answer PCR testing for institutions of any size, supporting both centralized and decentralized care. The company is committed to expanding access to high-quality diagnostics worldwide, supporting public health initiatives, driving innovation in molecular testing, and advancing sustainability and responsible business practices.
Publication Number
US-12203135-B2
Publication Date
2025-01-21
Expiration Date
Abstract
A honeycomb tube with a planar frame defining a fluidic path between a first planar surface and a second planar surface. A fluidic interface is located at one end of the planar frame. The fluidic interface has a fluidic inlet and fluidic outlet. The fluidic path further includes a well chamber having a well-substrate with a plurality of wells. The well chamber is arranged in the planar frame between the first or second surface and the well-substrate. The well chamber is in fluidic communication between the pre-amplification chamber and the fluidic outlet.
Core Innovation
Some embodiments of the invention relate to a honeycomb tube that can have a planar frame defining a fluidic path between a first planar surface and a second planar surface. A fluidic interface can be located at one end of the planar frame, and the fluidic interface can have a fluidic inlet and fluidic outlet.
The fluidic path further can include a well chamber having a well-substrate configured with a plurality of wells, the well chamber being arranged in the planar frame between the first or second surface and the well-substrate, the well chamber being in fluidic communication with the fluidic inlet and the fluidic outlet. In some embodiments, the fluidic path can include a pre-amplification chamber arranged in the planar frame between the first and second planar surfaces.
It can be desirable to perform a plurality of assays simultaneously to provide varied and large data sets. Thus, there is a need for devices that can perform multiplexing assays.
Claims Coverage
Two independent claims are identified: claim 1 and claim 21. The following inventive features are extracted from the independent claims.
Elongated planar frame
a planar frame elongated along a length that extends between opposite ends of the planar frame, the length being greater than a width of the planar frame
Fluidic interface comprising inlet and outlet
a fluidic interface disposed at one end of the opposing ends of the planar frame, wherein the fluidic interface comprises a fluidic inlet and a fluidic outlet
Fluidic path with inlet passage, outlet passage, and well chamber
a fluidic path defined in the planar frame that fluidically connects the fluidic inlet to the fluidic outlet, and wherein the fluidic path comprises an inlet passage, an outlet passage and a well chamber, wherein the inlet passage is fluidically coupled between the fluidic inlet and the well chamber and the outlet passage is fluidically coupled between the fluidic outlet and the well chamber, and wherein the inlet passage and the outlet passage are located between the well chamber and the fluidic interface
Plurality of wells arranged in a well array
a plurality of wells defined within the well chamber, wherein the plurality of wells are arranged in a well array
The independent claims disclose (1) an elongated planar frame, (2) a fluidic interface with a fluidic inlet and outlet, (3) a fluidic path in the frame comprising inlet and outlet passages and a well chamber arranged between those passages and the fluidic interface, and (4) a plurality of wells defined within the well chamber.
Stated Advantages
Enables performing a plurality of assays simultaneously to provide varied and large data sets (multiplexing assays).
Allows rapid multiplexing analysis ("allowing a rapid multiplexing analysis").
Helps prevent cross-contamination of reagents during the filling process (wells can be geometrically separated and feature large depth to width ratios to help prevent cross-contamination).
Prevents evaporation of aqueous liquid in nanowells during thermal cycling and provides thermal conductivity when an oil cap or other thermally conductive liquid is used ("The mineral oil cap has a further advantage that it can prevent the aqueous liquid in the nanowell from evaporating during the thermal cycling process" and oil can provide thermal conductivity).
Documented Applications
Performing multiplex amplification reactions in the honeycomb tube, including nested PCR.
Monitoring multiplex reactions using fluorescent indicators to indicate the presence of an amplicon and detecting amplicons using melt-curve analysis.
Detecting the presence or absence of at least one single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP).
Detection of the presence or absence of a protein target using binding assays, including immunological sandwich assay formats.
Detection of the presence or absence of nucleic acids, including DNA, mRNA, and microRNA, using amplification-based assays (e.g., PCR, real-time PCR, quantitative PCR, RT-PCR).
Use in a cartridge-based system, for example being coupled to a liquid sample cartridge and used in a GeneXpert® system module.
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