Microfluidic cartridge for processing and detecting nucleic acids
Inventors
Williams, Jeffrey • Kusner, Michael T.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-9403165-B2
Publication Date
2016-08-02
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 relates to a nucleic-acid molecular diagnostics microfluidic cartridge for processing a sample. The cartridge includes a first layer with a sample port and a fluid port on a broad surface, and an intermediate substrate coupled to the first layer and partially separated by a film layer.
The intermediate substrate is configured to form a sealed waste chamber with a corrugated surface directly opposing the first layer, where the corrugated surface defines a void external to the waste chamber. A fluidic pathway is provided superior to the intermediate substrate and at least partially separated from the corrugated surface of the waste chamber by an elastomeric layer.
The fluidic pathway is fluidly coupled to the sample port and the fluid port, and upon deformation of the elastomeric layer at an occlusion position of the fluidic pathway, the fluidic pathway transfers waste fluid through an opening of the intermediate substrate and into an interior portion of the corrugated surface of the waste chamber. The layered structure includes features that enable normal open and normal closed occlusion positions and provides access through voids in the corrugated waste-chamber surface.
Claims Coverage
The partial document presents two independent claims. The claims center on a layered cartridge architecture with a corrugated sealed waste chamber, elastomeric-layer occlusion at occlusion positions exposed through voids, and waste-fluid transfer into an interior portion of the waste chamber via openings in an intermediate substrate; one claim further requires parallel fluidic pathways in a cartridge.
Layered cartridge with corrugated sealed waste chamber and external void
A cartridge comprising a first layer with a sample port and a fluid port, and an intermediate substrate coupled to the first layer and partially separated from the first layer by a film layer, wherein the intermediate substrate forms a sealed waste chamber with a corrugated surface directly opposing the first layer and defining a void external to the waste chamber.
Elastomeric occlusion at occlusion positions to transfer waste fluid into corrugated waste chamber
A fluidic pathway superior to the intermediate substrate and at least partially separated from the corrugated surface of the waste chamber by an elastomeric layer, fluidly coupled to the sample port and fluid port, wherein deformation of the elastomeric layer at an occlusion position of the fluidic pathway through the void configures the fluidic pathway to transfer waste fluid through an opening of the intermediate substrate into an interior portion of the corrugated surface of the waste chamber.
Parallel first and second fluidic pathways configured to transfer waste fluid through openings
A cartridge comprising a first layer and an intermediate substrate coupled to the first layer and partially separated by a film layer, wherein the intermediate substrate forms a sealed waste chamber with a corrugated surface directly opposing the first layer and defining a set of parallel voids external to the waste chamber; 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 formed by at least a portion of the second fluidic pathway, wherein the first and second fluidic pathways are each at least partially separated from the corrugated surface by an elastomeric layer and each is configured to transfer waste fluid of the sample into the waste chamber through a set of openings of the intermediate substrate.
Across the independent claims, the core claim coverage is directed to a layered microfluidic cartridge having a sealed corrugated waste chamber with external voids, an elastomeric layer that deforms at occlusion positions accessed through those voids, and fluidic pathways that route waste fluid into the waste chamber through openings in an intermediate substrate; one independent claim further requires first and second fluidic pathways in parallel separated from the corrugated surface.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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