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US 11,926,817 B2Granted
Microfluidic apparatus and methods of use thereof
AssigneeNutcracker Therapeutics, Inc.
InventorsBenjamin Eldridge, Ximiao Wen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatuses and methods are described herein for processing polynucleotides in a sealed path environment. The apparatuses include optical sensors to monitor operations and to track material usage for good manufacturing practice.
Claims38
A microfluidic apparatus for forming a therapeutic polynucleotide, the apparatus comprising:
- a seating mount for removably holding a microfluidic path device;
- a plurality of pressure lines;
- a plurality of fluid vials, wherein each fluid vial either comprises a fluidic line or is configured to couple with the fluidic line,
- wherein each fluidic line and at least a subset of the pressure lines are configured to be biased against the microfluidic path device held in the seating mount to form a closed fluid path;
- an optical sensor drive configured to move one or more of a plurality of optical sensors around the seating mount or around the plurality of vials;
- and
- a controller comprising one or more processors, the one or more processors programmed to control the application of pressure through the pressure lines to drive fluidic movement in the microfluidic path device when the microfluidic path device is held in the seating mount, wherein the controller is configured to direct the synthesis of a synthetic template, direct an in vitro transcription (IVT) reaction using the template to form a therapeutic polynucleotide, and direct purification of the therapeutic polynucleotide in one or more microfluidic path devices held in the seating mount.
4 more elements
A microfluidic apparatus for forming a therapeutic polynucleotide, the apparatus comprising:
- a seating mount for removably holding a microfluidic path device;
- a plurality of pressure lines;
- a plurality of fluid vials, wherein each fluid vial either comprises a fluidic line or is configured to couple with the fluidic line,
- wherein each fluidic line and at least a subset of the pressure lines are configured to be biased against the microfluidic path device held in the seating mount to form a closed fluid path;
- an optical sensor drive configured to move one or more of a plurality of optical sensors around the seating mount or around the plurality of vials;
- and
- a controller comprising one or more processors, the one or more processors programmed to control the application of pressure through the pressure lines to drive fluidic movement in the microfluidic path device when the microfluidic path device is held in the seating mount, wherein the controller is configured to determine the contents of the fluid vials, transfer sub-microliter amounts of material from the fluid vials to one or more reactors in the microfluidic path device held in the seating mount, direct the synthesis of a synthetic template, direct an in vitro transcription (IVT) reaction using the template to form a therapeutic polynucleotide, and direct purification of the therapeutic polynucleotide in one or more microfluidic path devices held in the seating mount.
4 more elements
A microfluidic apparatus for forming a therapeutic polynucleotide, the apparatus comprising:
- a seating mount for removably holding a microfluidic path device;
- a plurality of pressure lines;
- a plurality of fluid vials, wherein each fluid vial either comprises a fluidic line or is configured to couple with the fluidic line,
- wherein each fluidic line and at least a subset of the pressure lines are configured to be biased against the microfluidic path device held in the seating mount to form a closed fluid path;
- a fluid interface assembly configured to couple to the seating mount, the fluid interface assembly having a central opening through which the microfluidic path device may be imaged by one or more of a plurality of optical sensors, further wherein a distal end of each of the fluidic lines and pressure lines are arranged around a periphery of the central opening and configured to be sealed against the microfluidic device path held in the seating mount;
- and
- a controller comprising one or more processors, the one or more processors programmed to control the application of pressure through the pressure lines to drive fluidic movement in the microfluidic path device when the microfluidic path device is held in the seating mount, wherein the controller is configured to direct the synthesis of a synthetic template, direct an in vitro transcription (IVT) reaction using the template to form a therapeutic polynucleotide, and direct purification of the therapeutic polynucleotide in one or more microfluidic path devices held in the seating mount.
4 more elements
A microfluidic apparatus for forming a therapeutic polynucleotide, the apparatus comprising:
- a seating mount for removably holding a microfluidic path device;
- a plurality of pressure lines;
- a plurality of fluid vials, wherein each fluid vial either comprises a fluidic line or is configured to couple with the fluidic line,
- wherein each fluidic line and at least a subset of the pressure lines are configured to be biased against the microfluidic path device held in the seating mount to form a closed fluid path;
- a fluid interface assembly configured to couple to the seating mount, the fluid interface assembly having a central opening through which the microfluidic path device may be imaged by one or more of a plurality of optical sensors, further wherein a distal end of each of the fluidic lines and pressure lines are arranged around a periphery of the central opening and configured to be sealed against the microfluidic device path held in the seating mount;
- and
- a controller comprising one or more processors, the one or more processors programmed to control the application of pressure through the pressure lines to drive fluidic movement in the microfluidic path device when the microfluidic path device is held in the seating mount, wherein the controller is configured to determine the contents of the fluid vials, transfer sub-microliter amounts of material from the fluid vials to one or more reactors in the microfluidic path device held in the seating mount, direct the synthesis of a synthetic template, direct an in vitro transcription (IVT) reaction using the template to form a therapeutic polynucleotide, and direct purification of the therapeutic polynucleotide in one or more microfluidic path devices held in the seating mount.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.