Microfluidic cartridge for processing and detecting nucleic acids
Inventors
Williams, Jeffrey • Kusner, Michael T.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-9101930-B2
Publication Date
2015-08-11
Expiration Date
Abstract
A microfluidic cartridge, configured to facilitate processing and detection of nucleic acids, comprising: a top layer comprising a set of cartridge-aligning indentations, a set of sample port-reagent port pairs, a shared fluid port, a vent region, a heating region, and a set of Detection chambers; an intermediate substrate, coupled to the top layer comprising a waste chamber; an elastomeric layer, partially situated on the intermediate substrate; and a set of fluidic pathways, each formed by at least a portion of the top layer and a portion of the elastomeric layer, wherein each fluidic pathway is fluidically coupled to a sample port-reagent port pair, the shared fluid port, and a Detection chamber, comprises a turnabout portion passing through the heating region, and is configured to be occluded upon deformation of the elastomeric layer, to transfer a waste fluid to the waste chamber, and to pass through the vent region.
Core Innovation
The invention is a cartridge configured to facilitate processing and detecting nucleic acid in a sample. It includes a first layer with a sample port and a fluid port, coupled to an intermediate substrate that defines a waste chamber with a corrugated surface directly opposing the first layer. The corrugated surface defines a set of voids accessible from a direction perpendicular to a broad surface of the first layer.
A fluidic pathway superior to the intermediate substrate is at least partially separated from the corrugated surface of the waste chamber by an elastomeric layer and is formed by at least a portion of the first layer. The fluidic pathway is fluidically coupled to the sample port and the fluid port, and is configured to be occluded at a set of occlusion positions through at least one void of the set of voids by deformation of the elastomeric layer. Upon occlusion of a subset of the set of occlusion positions, the fluidic pathway transfers waste fluid to an interior portion of the corrugated surface of the waste chamber through a set of openings of the intermediate substrate.
In another cartridge configuration, the intermediate substrate defines a waste chamber with a corrugated surface directly opposing the first layer, where the corrugated surface defines a set of parallel voids spanning a majority of a width of the intermediate substrate and external to the waste chamber. The set of voids is accessible perpendicular to a broad surface of the first layer, and a first fluidic pathway and a second fluidic pathway are each superior to the intermediate substrate, each at least partially separated from the corrugated surface by an elastomeric layer, and each configured to transfer waste to the waste chamber through openings of the intermediate substrate.
Claims Coverage
Two independent claims are identified. The independent claims share a layered cartridge architecture with elastomeric-layer occlusion of fluidic pathways at voids of a corrugated waste chamber, enabling waste transfer through openings of an intermediate substrate; one independent claim further defines parallel fluidic pathways.
Elastomeric occlusion over a corrugated waste chamber
A cartridge comprising a first layer with a sample port and a fluid port; an intermediate substrate coupled to the first layer and defining a waste chamber with a corrugated surface directly opposing the first layer; and a fluidic pathway superior to the intermediate substrate and at least partially separated from the corrugated surface by an elastomeric layer, where the fluidic pathway is configured to be occluded at a set of occlusion positions through at least one void of the set of voids by deformation of the elastomeric layer, and configured to transfer waste fluid to an interior portion of the corrugated surface of the waste chamber through a set of openings upon occlusion of a subset of the set of occlusion positions.
Parallel waste-transfer fluidic pathways separated by elastomeric layer
A cartridge comprising a first layer and an intermediate substrate coupled to the first layer, where the intermediate substrate defines a waste chamber with a corrugated surface directly opposing the first layer with a set of parallel voids accessible perpendicular to a broad surface of the first layer; a first fluidic pathway formed by at least a portion of the first layer; and a second fluidic pathway in parallel with the first fluidic pathway, each superior to the intermediate substrate and at least partially separated from the corrugated surface by an elastomeric layer, and each configured to transfer waste to the waste chamber through a set of openings of the intermediate substrate.
Across the independent claims, the inventive coverage centers on a layered cartridge architecture where elastomeric-layer deformation occludes fluidic pathways at positions associated with voids of a corrugated waste chamber, enabling waste transfer through intermediate-substrate openings; one independent claim further specifies two parallel fluidic pathways that transfer waste to the corrugated waste chamber through the openings.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
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