# US 11,305,276 B2 · Systems and methods for point of use evacuation of an array

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- Number: US 11,305,276 B2
- Document ID: US11305276B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/606,618
- Filed: 2018-05-23
- Published: 2021-02-04
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2017-05-24
- Assignees: BioFire Defense, LLC; Biomerieux
- Applicants: BioFire Defense, LLC; Biomerieux, Inc.
- Inventors: Aaron Wernerehl; David E. Jones; Taylor Zimmerman; Kirk M. Ririe
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11305276B2

## CPC

- B01L 3/5025: {for parallel transport of multiple samples}
- B01L 3/00: Containers or dishes for laboratory use, e.g. laboratory glassware; Droppers
- B01L 3/502715: {characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces}
- B01L 3/50273: {characterised by the means or forces applied to move the fluids}
- B01L 3/502738: {characterised by integrated valves (throttle valves in microfluidic sample containers B01L3/502746)}
- B01L 7/00: Heating or cooling apparatus (autoclaves B01J3/04); Heat insulating devices
- B01L 7/52: {with provision for submitting samples to a predetermined sequence of different temperatures, e.g. for treating nucleic acid samples}
- C12Q 1/686: Polymerase chain reaction [PCR]
- B01L 2200/027: for microfluidic devices
- B01L 2200/0621: Control of the sequence of chambers filled or emptied
- B01L 2200/0642: Filling fluids into wells by specific techniques
- B01L 2200/0647: Handling flowable solids, e.g. microscopic beads, cells, particles
- B01L 2200/0684: Venting, avoiding backpressure, avoid gas bubbles
- B01L 2200/0689: Sealing
- B01L 2200/10: Integrating sample preparation and analysis in single entity, e.g. lab-on-a-chip concept
- B01L 2200/16: Reagents, handling or storing thereof
- B01L 2300/044: pierceable, e.g. films, membranes
- B01L 2300/0819: Microarrays; Biochips
- B01L 2300/0829: Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates
- B01L 2300/0887: Laminated structure
- B01L 2400/043: magnetic forces
- B01L 2400/0481: squeezing of channels or chambers
- B01L 2400/049: vacuum
- B01L 2400/0677: phase change valves; Meltable, freezing, dissolvable plugs; Destructible barriers
- C12Q 1/6844: Nucleic acid amplification reactions
- B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
- C12Q: MEASURING OR TESTING PROCESSES INVOLVING ENZYMES, NUCLEIC ACIDS OR MICROORGANISMS (immunoassay G01N33/53); COMPOSITIONS OR TEST PAPERS THEREFOR; PROCESSES OF PREPARING SUCH COMPOSITIONS; CONDITION-RESPONSIVE CONTROL IN MICROBIOLOGICAL OR ENZYMOLOGICAL PROCESSES

## Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatus are provided for evacuating and for filling an array at the point of use.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of moving a fluid within a sample container, the method comprising:
(a) providing the sample container comprising
(i) a first reaction zone comprising a fluid reservoir having a fluid disposed therein,
(ii) a second reaction zone, and
(iii) a fluid channel extending between the first reaction zone and the second reaction zone, the fluid channel comprising an openable seal disposed between the first reaction zone and the second reaction zone,
the second reaction zone comprising the array assembly, the array assembly comprising
a plurality of wells configured in an array,
a vacuum port and a vacuum channel fluidly connected to the vacuum port, and
a plurality of channels such that each well in the array is fluidly connected to the fluid channel and to the vacuum port and vacuum channel;
(b) with the openable seal in a closed state, and with the vacuum port and vacuum channel opened, drawing, through the vacuum port and vacuum channel, a vacuum on the array assembly such that air is evacuated from the plurality of wells and the plurality of channels;
(c) after drawing the vacuum on the array assembly, sealing the vacuum port and/or vacuum channel such that the plurality of wells and the plurality of channels are maintained under the vacuum, thereby forming an evacuated array; and
(d) after sealing the vacuum port and/or vacuum channel, opening the openable seal such that the fluid is drawn into the plurality of wells via the plurality of channels.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising mixing the reaction mixture with one or more reagents disposed in each of the plurality of wells to form a second mixture.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the second mixture is a PCR mixture.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, further comprising thermocycling the second reaction mixture.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, further comprising detecting an amplification product in at least one of the plurality of wells.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the sample comprises a microorganism and the one or more reagents comprises an antibiotic.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the antibiotic is present in a first of the plurality of wells at a first concentration and is present in a second of the plurality of wells at a second concentration, wherein the second concentration is lower than the first concentration.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) provides a vacuum in the plurality of wells of between about 2 millibar and about 150 millibar.