Analysis instrument and sample preparation cartridge

Inventors

Lind, AndersROSENFELD, CarlSÖDERSTRÖM, HenrikGRAWÉ, JanSvanberg, HenrikSkaborn, Johan

Assignees

Q Linea AB

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Publication Number

US-12318772-B2

Patent

Publication Date

2025-06-03

Expiration Date


Abstract

An analysis instrument includes a cartridge bay for receiving a sample preparation cartridge. The cartridge bay includes a controllable heater for heating a sample; a first temperature sensor for monitoring the temperature of the controllable heater; and a second temperature sensor for monitoring the temperature of the sample.

Core Innovation

The document describes an analysis instrument for heating a sample in a cartridge bay using a controllable heater whose temperature is monitored separately from the sample temperature. The cartridge bay includes a controllable heater for heating a sample, a first temperature sensor monitoring a temperature of the controllable heater, and a second temperature sensor monitoring a temperature of the sample. A controller receives data from the first and second temperature sensors and controls the temperature of the controllable heater based on that received data.

The controller heats the sample to a predetermined temperature using a threshold-based control sequence that accounts for differences between heater temperature and sample temperature. The instrument first heats so that the controllable heater is at an initial temperature higher than the predetermined temperature while the temperature of the sample monitored by the second temperature sensor remains below a predetermined threshold. Once the sample temperature exceeds the predetermined threshold, the controller reduces the temperature of the controllable heater from the initial temperature to a lower temperature that is higher than the predetermined temperature by a predetermined offset.

The document further describes a system that includes the analysis instrument and a sample preparation cartridge having a multi-way valve and a syringe. The syringe includes a barrel for receiving a fluid, a piston slidably located within the barrel, and an orifice providing flow of the fluid into and out of the barrel under action of the piston. The barrel is fluidly connected to the multi-way valve via the orifice, and the sample preparation cartridge is placed in the cartridge bay of the analysis instrument.

Claims Coverage

The document includes two independent claims: one for an analysis instrument with sensor-based heater control, and one for a system that couples the analysis instrument with a sample preparation cartridge using a multi-way valve and a syringe fluid path.

Sensor-based heating control with heater and sample temperature sensors

An analysis instrument comprising a cartridge bay for receiving a sample preparation cartridge; a controllable heater for heating a sample; a first temperature sensor for monitoring a temperature of the controllable heater; and a second temperature sensor for monitoring a temperature of the sample; wherein a controller receives data from the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor and controls the temperature of the controllable heater based on the received data.

Threshold-triggered reduction of controllable heater temperature using a predetermined offset

The controller heats the sample to a predetermined temperature by controlling the controllable heater so as to be at an initial temperature higher than the predetermined temperature while the temperature of the sample monitored by the second temperature sensor is below a predetermined threshold, and reduces the temperature of the controllable heater from the initial temperature to a lower temperature higher than the predetermined temperature by a predetermined offset when the temperature of the sample monitored by the second temperature sensor exceeds the predetermined threshold.

Analysis instrument configured to receive a sample preparation cartridge in the cartridge bay

A system comprising an analysis instrument and a sample preparation cartridge, wherein the analysis instrument comprises a cartridge bay for receiving the sample preparation cartridge and a controller, and the cartridge bay comprises a controllable heater for heating a sample, a first temperature sensor for monitoring a temperature of the controllable heater, and a second temperature sensor for monitoring a temperature of the sample.

Cartridge fluid path with multi-way valve and syringe connected via an orifice

The sample preparation cartridge comprises a multi-way valve and a syringe, wherein the syringe comprises a barrel for receiving a fluid, a piston slidably located within the barrel, and an orifice for flow of the fluid into and out of the barrel under action of the piston, wherein the barrel is fluidly connected to the multi-way valve via the orifice, and wherein the sample preparation cartridge is in the cartridge bay of the analysis instrument.

Across the independent claims, the inventive coverage centers on controlling a controllable heater using both heater temperature and sample temperature measurements, with heating initiated at an initial heater temperature higher than the predetermined temperature while the sample temperature remains below a threshold, and then lowering the heater temperature to a value still above the predetermined temperature by a predetermined offset when the sample temperature exceeds the threshold. In the system claim, the analysis instrument is integrated with a sample preparation cartridge defined by a multi-way valve and a syringe whose barrel is fluidly connected to the multi-way valve via an orifice.

Stated Advantages

Not explicitly described in patent.

Documented Applications

Not explicitly described in patent.

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