Microfluidic cartridge for processing and detecting nucleic acids
Inventors
Williams, Jeffrey • Brahmasandra, Sundaresh
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-9433940-B2
Publication Date
2016-09-06
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
A cartridge is configured to facilitate processing of a nucleic acid and includes a first layer defining a sample port, a reagent port, and a fluid port. An intermediate substrate is coupled to the first layer and includes a corrugated surface directly opposing the first layer, where the corrugated surface defines a chamber and a set of voids external to the chamber. At least one of the voids forms a magnet region configured to receive a magnet, and the voids are accessible from a direction perpendicular to a broad surface of the first layer.
An elastomeric layer is positioned between the first layer and the intermediate substrate. A fluidic pathway is formed by at least a portion of the first layer in combination with at least a portion of the elastomeric layer, and the fluidic pathway is fluidically coupled to the chamber, the sample port, the reagent port, and the fluid port. The fluidic pathway comprises a capture segment configured to cross the magnet region.
In a further cartridge configuration, the first layer defines a detection chamber in addition to the sample port, reagent port, and fluid port. The fluidic pathway is coupled to the sample port, the reagent port, the fluid port, the chamber, and the detection chamber, and the capture segment is configured to cross the magnet region multiple times. The capture segment is an s-shaped segment configured to cross the magnet region multiple times.
Claims Coverage
Two independent claims are present, each centered on a layered microfluidic cartridge architecture that couples nucleic-acid processing ports to a chamber and detection chamber via a fluidic pathway with a magnet-interacting capture segment.
Layered nucleic-acid cartridge with corrugated intermediate substrate and magnet region
A cartridge configured to facilitate processing of a nucleic acid, including a first layer defining a sample port, a reagent port, and a fluid port; an intermediate substrate coupled to the first layer, where a corrugated surface directly opposing the first layer defines a chamber and a set of voids external to the chamber accessible perpendicular to a broad surface; and wherein at least one of the voids forms a magnet region configured to receive a magnet.
Fluidic pathway with capture segment crossing magnet region
An elastomeric layer positioned between the first layer and the intermediate substrate, and a fluidic pathway formed by at least a portion of the first layer in combination with at least a portion of the elastomeric layer; where the fluidic pathway is fluidically coupled to the chamber, the sample port, the reagent port, and the fluid port; and comprises a capture segment configured to cross the magnet region.
S-shaped capture segment crossing magnet region multiple times with detection chamber
A cartridge including a first layer defining a sample port, a reagent port, a fluid port, and a detection chamber; an intermediate substrate with a corrugated surface defining a chamber and a set of voids including a magnet region configured to receive a magnet; an elastomeric layer positioned between the first layer and the intermediate substrate; and a fluidic pathway coupled to the sample port, the reagent port, the fluid port, the chamber, and the detection chamber, where the fluidic pathway comprises a capture segment configured to cross the magnet region and the capture segment is an s-shaped segment configured to cross the magnet region multiple times.
Across the independent claims, the inventive coverage is directed to a layered cartridge that integrates an intermediate substrate corrugated surface with a magnet region, and a fluidic pathway having a capture segment that crosses that magnet region, including an s-shaped capture segment that crosses the magnet region multiple times while coupling to a detection chamber.
Stated Advantages
Facilitates processing of a nucleic acid.
Documented Applications
Processing of a nucleic acid using the disclosed cartridge architecture.
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