Methods and systems for nucleic acid analysis
Inventors
SOSA, Jose Martin • Anthony, Joseph • Beckett, Nathan • Almogy, Gilad • Shee, Chandan • Lee, Phillip You Fai • WATANABE, Yuto
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12397300-B2
Publication Date
2025-08-26
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present disclosure provides methods and processes for increasing the efficiency and accuracy of nucleic acid sequencing using techniques such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Methods and systems provided herein may facilitate performing reactions such as emulsion PCR (ePCR) on samples comprising nucleic acids and beads. The methods provided herein may provide a higher throughput compared to existing technologies.
Core Innovation
The document describes nucleic acid analysis systems and methods that use partitioning of nucleic-acid templates and beads into droplets or partitions for emulsion PCR. The resulting thermally cycled reactions are processed for emulsion breaking and downstream bead washing, enrichment, and sequencing. The disclosure frames the workflow as high-throughput nucleic acid analysis that integrates amplification with subsequent processing.
A central aspect of the system is a thermocycler architecture designed to thermally cycle samples in a cartridge having multiple containers. The thermocycler includes a plurality of fins configured to receive the cartridge and a fluid channel in thermal communication with the fins, where cavities defined by at least two fins receive at least two containers. The design includes a gap between walls of the containers and walls of the cavity that is subjected to negative pressure to create a vacuum within the gap.
The document further describes control of the hot/cold cycling using fluid flow through the thermocycler-associated fluid channel and an integrated controller/computer system for process control. After thermocycling, emulsion breaking is described, including electrical-field-assisted coalescence, followed by downstream washing, enrichment, and sequencing. The overall disclosure emphasizes a parallel or continuous batch workflow that scales throughput by partitioning and containerized processing.
Claims Coverage
The provided claims include one independent claim. The claim coverage centers on a thermocycler system that thermally cycles samples in multiple cartridge containers using fin-defined cavities, negative-pressure vacuum in a container-to-cavity gap, and pump-driven fluid flow through a fluid channel in thermal communication with the fins.
Fin-based thermocycler cavity receiving cartridge containers with fluid channel thermally coupled to fins
A thermocycler comprises a plurality of fins configured to receive a cartridge comprising a plurality of containers between at least a subset of the fins and a fluid channel in thermal communication with the plurality of fins, where a cavity defined by at least two fins receives at least two containers.
Negative pressure vacuum applied in gap between container walls and cavity walls
A gap between respective walls of the at least two containers and respective walls of the cavity is subjected to negative pressure to create a vacuum within the gap.
Pump-driven fluid flow through fin-associated fluid channel to thermocycle samples
A pump is configured to subject fluid to flow through the fluid channel, thereby thermocycling a sample in the plurality of containers.
Across the independent claim, the inventive coverage is directed to a thermocycler system with fin-defined cavities that receive multiple cartridge containers, a negative-pressure vacuum applied in a gap between container walls and cavity walls, and pump-driven fluid flow through a fin-associated fluid channel to thermocycle the samples.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
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