Biochips and related automated analyzers and methods
OwnerBen H. Liu, Meghan E. Vidt +1inventors
InventorsBen H. Liu, Meghan E. Vidt, Jeffrey R. Soohoo
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Abstract
The present invention provides biochips that include: (a) a plurality of cards, each card having a plurality of card apertures extending therethrough, each respective card aperture having one or more cross sectional areas; and (b) a plurality of gaskets, at least one gasket residing intermediate two neighboring cards, each gasket having a plurality of gasket apertures extending therethrough. At least some of the gasket apertures have an area that is greater than that of at least one adjacent card aperture. Different sets of the gasket apertures and card apertures define a plurality of fluidic flow channels. Also provided herein are methods of making and using biochips.
Claims15
A biochip subassembly comprising:
- a flexible gasket having an array of substantially box shaped gasket apertures;
- and
- a substantially rigid card affixed to the flexible gasket, the card having a bioactive material and having an array of substantially rectangular shaped card apertures with a width dimension being less than a width dimension of the gasket apertures, wherein the gasket resides over the card such that a respective gasket aperture resides over a corresponding card aperture with the card aperture residing proximate a side edge of the gasket aperture and wherein a surface of the card under the gasket aperture is exposed through the gasket aperture and accessible to contact with a fluid sample.
A biochip, comprising:
- a plurality of stackable card/gasket members, each member having an opposing upper and lower surface and a plurality of apertures extending therethrough, the stackable members being aligned so that the apertures define fluidic flow channels, wherein the channels have alternating substantially horizontal and substantially vertical surfaces, with at least some of the substantially horizontal surfaces defining at least one analytical site.
An automated or semi-automated analyzer comprising:
- a biochip having a plurality of releasably attached card/gasket pairs, wherein each card of the card/gasket pairs comprises a bioactive material or agent and each of the card/gasket pairs has an aligned array of apertures extending therethrough, wherein the aligned apertures define microfluidic flow channels, with a portion of a horizontal surface of each card defining at least one analytical site in the channels;
- a fluid delivery system in communication with an upper or lower portion of the biochip for flowing fluid samples through the biochip;
- a signal reader configured to engage at least one analytical site of a card of the biochip and detect a signal from the analytical site;
- a card holder member configured to releasably serially engage the card/gasket pairs and present the card to the signal reader;
- and
- a control circuit configured to communicate with the signal reader and the card holder to direct automated operation of the card holding member.
An automated method of analyzing multiple fluid samples exposed to multiple analytical sites in a single biochip, comprising:
- a) introducing fluid samples into an automated bioanalyzer;
- b) flowing the introduced fluid samples through a biochip having a plurality of releasably attached card/gasket pairs, each of the card/gasket pairs having an aligned array of apertures extending therethrough, wherein sets of the apertures define microfluidic flow channels, wherein at least one card of the biochip comprises at least one bioactive material that contacts a sample flowing thereover and defines at least one analytical site in the channels;
- c) serially presenting a card of the biochip to a signal reader;
- d) obtaining a signal from at least one analytical site of the presented card;
- and
- e) analyzing the obtained signal to determine the presence or absence of an analyte.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.