Method and apparatus for controlling fluid volumes to achieve separation and PCR amplification
AssigneeFormulatrix International Holding Ltd.
InventorsKabir Yamana, Jack Herrera, Rasmus Lindblom
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for controlling fluid volumes, comprising: a motor; a camshaft connected to the motor at a rotational axis of the camshaft; at least one cam disposed on a circumference of the camshaft; a pin frame; at least one pin disposed in the pin frame and operatively associated with the at least one cam, wherein rotation of the camshaft by the motor contacts the at least one cam to the at least one pin, driving the at least one pin in a first direction.
Claims16
An apparatus for controlling fluid volumes, comprising:
- a motor;
- a camshaft connected to the motor at a rotational axis of the camshaft;
- at least one cam disposed on a circumference of the camshaft;
- a pin frame;
- at least one pin disposed in the pin frame and operatively associated with the at least one cam;
- and,
- a cartridge including a flexible, elastic membrane, wherein the membrane is positioned between the cartridge and the at least one pin,
- wherein rotation of the camshaft by the motor contacts the at least one cam to the at least one pin, driving the at least one pin in a first direction,
- wherein the at least one pin is spring-loaded by the flexible, elastic membrane, and
- wherein the at least one pin is provided with movement in a second direction, opposite the first direction, by the flexible, elastic membrane.
A method of controlling fluid volumes in a real-time qPCR system, comprising:
- rotating a camshaft around a rotational axis with a motor,
- contacting at least one pin with a cam located on the camshaft;
- driving the at least one pin in a first direction with the cam;
- depressing a membrane with the at least one pin in a well of a cartridge;
- and,
- pushing a fluid within the well using the at least one pin and the membrane;
- and,
- moving the at least one pin in a second direction, opposite the first direction, using an elasticity of the membrane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.