Assay cartridge and support housing

Inventors

WHARRY, Marc • Reid, Martin • Fitzgerald, Peter

Assignees

Randox Laboratories Ltd

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Publication Number

US-12246323-B2

Patent

Publication Date

2025-03-11

Expiration Date


Abstract

An assay cartridge for use in a molecular diagnostics assay having an assay region; a first end comprising a first engagement member for engaging with a support housing; and a second end comprising a second engagement member for engaging with a support housing. The second engagement member has a clip, the clip being formed by a resilient element extending from the second end of the cartridge and a fastening element extending from said resilient element. The clip has a release element extending from the resilient element actuatable to release the clip from a caddy in use.

Core Innovation

The document describes a cartridge-housing system for molecular diagnostics comprising an assay cartridge and a support housing for holding the assay cartridge. The assay cartridge includes an assay region connected to a first end and a second end, with the first end having a first engagement member comprising a lip formed by a protrusion extending upwardly from an upper surface of the first end and the second end having a second engagement member comprising a clip.

The second engagement member includes a clip formed by a resilient element extending from the second end of the assay cartridge and a fastening element extending from said resilient element. The clip comprises a release element extending from the resilient element, the release element being actuatable to release the clip from a support housing in use, and the support housing includes a first cooperating member configured to engage with the first engagement member and a second cooperating member configured to engage with the second engagement member.

The first cooperating member comprises a first recess for receiving the lip and the second cooperating member comprises an abutment element for abutting with the resilient element of the clip and a second recess. The support housing further includes a channel for receiving the assay cartridge, with a first end and a second end of the channel, and the first cooperating member is connected to the first end of the channel and the second cooperating member is connected to the second end of the channel.

Claims Coverage

The document includes two independent claims, covering a cartridge-housing system and a loading method. Across the independent claims, the inventive features focus on the lip-and-recess engagement, the clip-with-actuatable release engagement, and the corresponding cooperating members in a housing channel connected to the cartridge ends.

Cartridge-housing system with first lip and second resilient clip engagement

An assay cartridge comprising first and second ends with first and second engagement members, respectively, where the first engagement member comprises a lip formed by a protrusion extending upwardly from an upper surface of the first end, and the second engagement member comprises a clip formed by a resilient element and a fastening element, the clip comprising a release element extending from the resilient element actuatable to release the clip from a support housing in use.

Support housing channel with cooperating members receiving lip and clip

A support housing for holding the assay cartridge, comprising a channel for receiving the assay cartridge, where the support housing comprises a first cooperating member configured to engage with the first engagement member and a second cooperating member configured to engage with the second engagement member, the first cooperating member comprising a first recess for receiving the lip of the assay cartridge, and the second cooperating member comprising an abutment element for abutting with the resilient element of the clip and a second recess.

Loading an assay cartridge by engaging lip into first recess and clip into abutment/recess

A method of loading an assay cartridge into a support housing by engaging a first engagement member with a first cooperating member, where the first engagement member comprises a lip received in a first recess of the support housing, and engaging a second engagement member with a second cooperating member, where the second engagement member comprises a clip formed by a resilient element and a fastening element with an actuatable release element, and the second cooperating member comprises an abutment element for abutting with the resilient element of the clip and a second recess.

Overall, the independent claims define a cartridge-housing system in which the assay cartridge is held in a support housing channel via a lip received in a recess and a resilient clip cooperable with an abutment element and second recess, and they define loading by engaging both the lip and the clip with the corresponding cooperating members.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications

No documented applications found

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