Device for analysing a chemical or biological sample
Inventors
Koltzscher, Max • ROETGER, ANTJE • SIEMIENIEWICZ, KRZYSZTOF WLODZIMIERZ • Heitmann, Jens • Mai, Christoffer • Schoeler, Klaus-Gerd • Wolter, Tilmann
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-9199238-B2
Publication Date
2015-12-01
Expiration Date
Abstract
A microfluidic device of a microfluidic apparatus for analyzing a fluidic sample includes at least two support members comprising a first support member and a second support member. The first support member comprises a first support member chamber configured to hold a fluid. The second support member comprises a second support member chamber configured to hold a fluid. The first support member and/or the second support member perform a movement with respect to each other to connect a first support member conduit with a second support member conduit, and to connect the first support member chamber with the second support member chamber. A pump element effects a transfer of the fluid from the first support member chamber to the second support member chamber and/or vice versa. A connection of the first support member chamber, the second support member chamber, and the pump element creates a closed fluidic circuit.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a microfluidic device for analyzing a sample. The microfluidic apparatus comprises at least two support members, each support member comprising at least one support member chamber configured to hold a fluid and at least two chamber openings connected to at least two corresponding conduits. The first support member and/or the second support member are configured to perform a movement with respect to each other so as to connect one of the conduits with one of the other conduits, thereby connecting the first support member chamber with the second support member chamber.
A pump element is arranged in at least one of the at least two support members. The pump element is configured to connect to the chambers via the conduits and to effect a transfer of the fluid from the first support member chamber to the second support member chamber and/or to effect a transfer of the fluid from the second support member chamber to the first support member chamber. A connection comprising the at least one first support member chamber, the at least one second support member chamber, and the pump element via the conduits creates a closed fluidic circuit.
The microfluidic apparatus further includes a base station with a first drive configured to perform the movement of the first support member or the second support member with respect to the other, and a pump drive. In some embodiments, the base station configuration is extended to include drives and heating devices generating temperature zones, and support members can be arranged in a circular disc and annular disc arrangement with a second drive to perform movement of the second and/or third support member with respect to the other. The described microfluidic system is used for point-of-care applications for analyzing nucleic acids by adding a nucleic acid sample and using relative movement and pump activation to transfer the nucleic acid sample between chambers via a closed fluidic circuit.
Claims Coverage
The provided claim set includes three independent claims: clm-00001, clm-00009, and clm-00014/15 for methods (clm-00014 and clm-00015). Across these independents, the claims focus on a movable two-support-member (and optionally additional support-member) microfluidic architecture with chamber openings and conduits, a pump element integrated in the support members, and formation of a closed fluidic circuit; clm-00009 additionally requires a base station with drives, while clm-00014 and clm-00015 additionally require point-of-care nucleic-acid analysis steps including adding a nucleic acid sample and activating the pump element.
Movable support members with chamber openings and conduits
The first support member comprises at least one first support member chamber configured to hold a fluid, wherein the chamber comprises at least two first support member chamber openings connected to at least two first support member conduits. The second support member comprises at least one second support member chamber configured to hold a fluid, wherein the chamber comprises at least two second support member chamber openings connected to at least two second support member conduits. The first support member and/or the second support member are configured to perform a movement with respect to each other so as to connect one of the first support member conduits with one of the second support member conduits and thereby connect the first support member chamber with the second support member chamber.
Integrated pump element forming a closed fluidic circuit
A pump element arranged in at least one of the support members is configured to connect to the first support member chamber via one of the first support member conduits and/or to the second support member chamber via one of the second support member conduits, and to effect a transfer of the fluid from the first support member chamber to the second support member chamber and/or from the second support member chamber to the first support member chamber. A connection comprising the first support member chamber, the second support member chamber, and the pump element via the conduits creates a closed fluidic circuit.
Base station drives for movement and pump
A microfluidic apparatus includes a base station comprising a first drive configured to perform the movement of the first support member or the second support member with respect to the other, and a pump drive.
Point-of-care nucleic-acid analysis using movable supports and pump activation
A method of analyzing nucleic acids in point-of-care applications with a microfluidic system including an analyzing device with at least two support members. The method comprises adding a nucleic acid sample into the analyzing device, rotating the at least one first support member with respect to the at least one second support member to connect one of the first support member conduits with one of the second support member conduits and connect the first support member chamber with the second support member chamber, connecting the pump element to the chamber to form the closed circuit, and activating the pump element so as to cause a transfer of the nucleic acid sample from the first support member chamber to the second support member chamber or vice versa.
Reaction chamber to depot chamber transfer for nucleic acids
A method of analyzing nucleic acids for point-of-care applications in which the first support member comprises a reaction chamber comprising a nucleic acid sample as the fluid, and the second support member comprises a depot chamber comprising a lysis solution as the fluid. The method comprises moving the reaction chamber with respect to the depot chamber and/or the pump element to connect the reaction chamber to the depot chamber and the pump element to form the closed circuit, and activating the pump element so as to cause a transfer of the nucleic acid sample from the reaction chamber to the depot chamber.
The independent claims collectively require movable first and second support members with chamber openings and conduits that selectively connect chambers, a pump element that connects to the chambers via the conduits to transfer fluid and create a closed fluidic circuit, and in one claim set, a base station providing drives for movement and pump operation; for nucleic-acid point-of-care embodiments, the claims further require adding a nucleic acid sample and pump activation to transfer the nucleic acid sample between chambers via the closed circuit.
Stated Advantages
Creates a closed fluidic circuit.
Enables point-of-care applications for analyzing nucleic acids.
Supports transferring nucleic acid sample between chambers in a defined direction using pump activation.
Documented Applications
Point-of-care applications for analyzing nucleic acids using a microfluidic system with movable support members and a closed fluidic circuit.
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