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US 11,697,844 B2Granted
Methods and systems for nucleic acid analysis and quantification
AssigneeCombinati Incorporated
InventorsJu-Sung Hung, Megan Dueck, Andrew Zayac
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present disclose provides methods and systems for amplifying and quantifying nucleic acids and for detecting the presence or absence of a target in a sample. The methods and systems provided herein may utilize a device comprising a plurality of partitions separated from an external environment by a gas-permeable barrier. Certain methods disclosed herein involve subjecting nucleic acid molecules in the plurality of partitions to conditions sufficient to conduct nucleic acid amplification reactions. The nucleic acid molecules may be subjected to controlled heating in the plurality of partitions to generate data indicative of a melting point(s) of the nucleic acid molecules.
Claims39
A system for analyzing a nucleic acid molecule, comprising:
- a support unit configured to hold a device comprising a plurality of partitions, wherein a partition of said plurality of partitions is configured to permit gas flow from said partition to an environment external to said partition through at least one barrier, wherein said partition is configured to contain a solution comprising said nucleic acid molecule, and wherein said at least one barrier is (i) substantially gas impermeable when a first pressure differential is applied across said at least one barrier and (ii) substantially gas permeable when a second pressure differential greater than said first pressure differential is applied across said at least one barrier;
- a thermal unit in thermal communication with said partition, wherein said thermal unit is configured to subject said solution to heating;
- a detector operatively coupled to said partition;
- and
- a computer system including,
- one or more computer processors operatively coupled to said thermal unit and said detector,
- a memory having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the one or more computer processors, cause said one or more computer processors individually or collectively to perform functions including:
- directing said thermal unit to subject said solution to heating;
- (ii) receiving one or more signals collected by said detector from said partition while said solution is subjected to said heating;
- and
- (iii) processing said one or more signals to yield data indicative of a melting point of said nucleic acid molecule.
8 more elements
A system for analyzing a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence, comprising:
- a support unit configured to hold a device comprising a plurality of partitions, wherein a partition of said plurality of partitions is configured to permit gas flow from said partition to an environment external to said partition through at least one barrier, wherein said partition is configured to contain a solution comprising said nucleic acid molecule, and wherein said at least one barrier is (i) substantially gas impermeable when a first pressure differential is applied across said at least one barrier and (ii) substantially gas permeable when a second pressure differential greater than said first pressure differential is applied across said at least one barrier;
- a detector operatively coupled to said partition;
- and
- a computer system including,
- one or more computer processors operatively coupled to said detector, and
- a memory having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the one or more computer processors, cause said one or more computer processors individually or collectively to perform functions including:
- (i) receiving one or more signals collected by said detector from said partition, wherein the signal is collected while said nucleic acid molecule comprising said nucleic acid sequence is undergoing a nucleic acid amplification reaction;
- and
- (ii) processing said one or more signals to yield data indicative of a number of copies of said nucleic acid sequence.
6 more elements
A system for analyzing a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence, comprising:
- a microfluidic device comprising a plurality of partitions, wherein a partition of said plurality of partitions is configured to permit gas flow from said partition to an environment external to said partition through at least one barrier, wherein said partition is configured to contain a solution comprising said nucleic acid molecule, and wherein said at least one barrier is (i) substantially gas impermeable if a first pressure differential is applied across said at least one barrier and (ii) substantially gas permeable if a second pressure differential greater than said first pressure differential is applied across said at least one barrier;
- a support unit configured to hold the microfluidic device;
- a thermal unit in thermal communication with said partition, wherein said thermal unit is configured to subject said solution to heating;
- a detector operatively coupled to said partition;
- and
- a computer system including,
- one or more computer processors operatively coupled to said detector, and,
- a memory having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the one or more computer processors, cause said one or more computer processors individually or collectively to perform functions including,
- receiving one or more signals collected by said detector from said partition, wherein the signal is collected while said nucleic acid molecule comprising said nucleic acid sequence is undergoing a nucleic acid amplification reaction;
- and
- processing said one or more signals to yield data indicative of (i) a number of copies of said nucleic acid sequence, or (ii) a melting point of said nucleic acid molecule.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.