Fluorescence detector for microfluidic diagnostic system

A system comprising:

• a multi-lane microfluidic cartridge configured to be removably received in a receiving bay, the multi-lane microfluidic cartridge comprising a first portion comprising a first amplification reaction zone and a second amplification reaction zone aligned along a first cartridge axis, the multi-lane microfluidic cartridge comprising a second portion comprising a first inlet and a second inlet aligned along a second cartridge axis substantially parallel to the first cartridge axis, the first inlet configured to be loaded with a first sample, the second inlet configured to be loaded with a second sample that is different than the first sample, each amplification reaction zone configured to contain one or more polynucleotides extracted from a respective sample;
• and
• a read head configured to be positioned relative to the multi-lane microfluidic cartridge when the multi-lane microfluidic cartridge is removably received in the receiving bay,
• the read head configured to transmit light onto the first amplification reaction zone and receive light emitted from the first amplification reaction zone to detect the presence of one or more amplified polynucleotides in the first amplification reaction zone of the multi-lane microfluidic cartridge,
• the read head further configured to transmit light onto the second amplification reaction zone and receive light emitted from the second amplification reaction zone to detect the presence of one or more amplified polynucleotides in the second amplification reaction zone of the multi-lane microfluidic cartridge,
• wherein, when the multi-lane microfluidic cartridge is removably received in the receiving bay, the read head is configured to detect the presence of one or more amplified polynucleotides in the first amplification reaction zone and in the second amplification reaction zone, the read head aligned along the first cartridge axis during detection to allow a liquid dispenser to be aligned along the second cartridge axis, thereby permitting loading of a third sample in a third inlet aligned along the second cartridge axis during detection of the presence of one or more amplified polynucleotides in the first amplification reaction zone.

A system comprising:

• a receiving bay comprising a plurality of heaters;
• a multi-lane microfluidic cartridge configured to be removably received in the receiving bay, the multi-lane microfluidic cartridge comprising a first portion comprising a first amplification reaction zone and a second amplification reaction zone aligned along a first cartridge axis, the multi-lane microfluidic cartridge comprising a second portion comprising a first inlet and a second inlet aligned along a second cartridge axis substantially parallel to the first cartridge axis, each amplification reaction zone configured to receive one or more polynucleotides when a respective sample is loaded into the multi-lane cartridge at a respective inlet;
• a liquid dispenser configured to load a first sample into the first inlet and load a second sample, different than the first sample, into the second inlet when the multi-lane microfluidic cartridge is removably received in the receiving bay;
• and
• a read head configured to transmit light onto the multi-lane microfluidic cartridge when the multi-lane microfluidic cartridge is removably received in the receiving bay, the read head configured to transmit light onto the first amplification reaction zone or onto the second amplification reaction zone or onto both the first and the second amplification reaction zones while the read head is positioned relative to the first portion of the multi-lane microfluidic cartridge, the read head positioned along the first cartridge axis while transmitting light to allow the liquid dispenser to be positioned along the second cartridge axis,
• wherein, when the multi-lane microfluidic cartridge is removably received in the receiving bay, the read head is further configured to receive light emitted from the first amplification reaction zone or light emitted from the second amplification reaction zone or light emitted from both the first and the second amplification reaction zones to detect the presence of the one or more amplified polynucleotides in the first amplification reaction zone of the multi-lane microfluidic cartridge or in the second amplification reaction zone of the multi-lane microfluidic cartridge or in both the first and the second amplification reaction zones of the multi-lane microfluidic cartridge while the read head is positioned relative to the first portion of the multi-lane microfluidic cartridge, the read head positioned along the first cartridge axis while receiving light to allow the liquid dispenser to be positioned along the second cartridge axis, and
• wherein the liquid dispenser is further configured to be positioned relative to the multi-lane microfluidic cartridge along the second cartridge axis regardless of the position of the read head relative to the first portion of the multi-lane microfluidic cartridge.