# US 2022/0032302 A1 · Sample loading cartridge > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2022/0032302 A1 - Document ID: US20220032302A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/276,167 - Filed: 2019-09-20 - Published: 2022-02-03 - Earliest claimed: 2018-09-20 - Assignees: Astrego Diagnostics AB - Applicants: Astrego Diagnostics AB - Inventors: Johan ÖHMAN; Martin LOVMAR; Lovisa SÖDERBERG; Mikael OLSSON - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20220032302A1 ## CPC - B01L 3/502746: {characterised by the means for controlling flow resistance, e.g. flow controllers, baffles or throttle valves} - C12M 23/16: {Microfluidic devices; Capillary tubes (integrated microfluidic structures B01L3/5027; microreactors B01J19/0093)} - B01L 3/50273: {characterised by the means or forces applied to move the fluids} - B81B 1/006: {Microdevices formed as a single homogeneous piece, i.e. wherein the mechanical function is obtained by the use of the device, e.g. cutters} - C12M 33/00: {Means for introduction, transport, positioning, extraction, harvesting, peeling or sampling of biological material in or from the apparatus (chemical or physical laboratory apparatus in general B01L, devices for taking cell samples A61B10/0045, withdrawing or distributing predetermined quantities of fluid B01L99/00)} - G01N 35/1011: {Control of the position or alignment of the transfer device} - B01L 2200/0621: Control of the sequence of chambers filled or emptied - B01L 2300/02: Identification, exchange or storage of information - B01L 2300/0645: Electrodes - B01L 2300/0848: Specific forms of parts of containers - B01L 2300/087: Multiple sequential chambers - B01L 2400/0406: capillary forces - B01L 2400/0487: fluid pressure, pneumatics - B01L 2400/0688: surface tension valves, capillary stop, capillary break - B81B 2201/057: Micropipets, dropformers - B81B 2203/0338: Channels - G01N 33/48707: {by electrical means (G01N33/49, G01N33/493 take precedence)} - G01N 33/49: Blood {(chemical methods for determining blood cell populations G01N33/5094; chemical analysis of blood groups or blood types G01N33/80)} - G01N 33/493: urine - B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE - C12M: APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; {APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS} - B81B: MICROSTRUCTURAL DEVICES OR SYSTEMS, e.g. MICROMECHANICAL DEVICES (piezoelectric, electrostrictive or magnetostrictive elements per se H10N30/00, H10N35/00) - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract A sample loading cartridge (1) for a microfluidic device comprises a cartridge body (10) with a sample reservoir (20) configured to house a volume of a liquid sample (3) and a sample port (30) in connection with the sample reservoir (20). The cartridge (1) also comprises an output channel (40) extending from the sample reservoir (20) and a feedback channel (50) connected to the sample reservoir (20) and to the sample port (30). The cartridge body (10) comprises a detection portion (60) aligned with the feedback channel (50) to enable detection of any sample (3) in the feedback channel (50). The flow resistance of the feedback channel (50) is lower than the flow resistance of the output channel (40) to cause liquid sample (3) received in the sample port (30) to enter the feedback channel (50) with substantially no liquid sample (3) entering the output channel (40). ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 -18. (canceled) ### Claim 19 A sample loading cartridge for a microfluidic device, the sample loading cartridge comprising: a cartridge body comprising a sample reservoir configured to house a volume of a liquid sample; a sample port in connection with the sample reservoir and configured to receive the liquid sample; an output channel connected to and extending from the sample reservoir; and a feedback channel connected to the sample reservoir and to the sample port, wherein the cartridge body comprises a detection portion aligned with at least a portion of the feedback channel to enable detection of presence of liquid sample in the feedback channel; and a flow resistance of the feedback channel is lower than a flow resistance of the output channel to cause liquid sample received in the sample port to enter the feedback channel with substantially no liquid sample entering the output channel. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The sample loading cartridge according to claim 19, wherein the detection portion is a window aligned with the at least a portion of the feedback channel to provide visual access to the feedback channel. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The sample loading cartridge according to claim 19, wherein the detection portion comprises at least one electrode arranged to measure an electrical property across the feedback channel. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The sample loading cartridge according to claim 19, wherein the detection portion comprises a sensor arranged to detect presence of liquid sample in the feedback channel. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The sample loading cartridge according to claim 19, wherein the sample port is connected to a ceiling of the sample reservoir; and the feedback channel is connected to the ceiling of the sample reservoir and to the sample port. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The sample loading cartridge according to claim 23, wherein the output channel is connected to and extending from an end side of the sample reservoir at a position of the end side below the ceiling with regard to an axis extending between a bottom of the sample reservoir and the ceiling. ### Claim 25 (depends on 19) The sample loading cartridge according to claim 19, wherein the flow resistance of the feedback channel is lower than the flow resistance of the output channel to cause liquid sample received in the sample port to enter the feedback channel when the sample reservoir is full of fluid with substantially no liquid sample entering the output channel. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The sample loading cartridge according to claim 25, wherein a ratio between the flow resistance of the feedback channel and the flow resistance of the output channel is less than 1/10. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The sample loading cartridge according to claim 26, wherein the ratio between the flow resistance of the feedback channel and the flow resistance of the output channel is less than 1/100. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The sample loading cartridge according to claim 27, wherein the ratio between the flow resistance of the feedback channel and the flow resistance of the output channel is less than 1/1000. ### Claim 29 (depends on 19) The sample loading cartridge according to claim 19, wherein a cross-sectional area of the feedback channel is larger than a cross-sectional area of the output channel to cause liquid sample received in the sample port to enter the feedback channel with substantially no liquid sample entering the output channel. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The sample loading cartridge according to claim 29, wherein a ratio between the cross-sectional area of the output channel and the cross-sectional area of the feedback channel is equal to or smaller than 1/50. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The sample loading cartridge according to claim 30, wherein the ratio between the cross-sectional area of the output channel and the cross-sectional area of the feedback channel is equal to or smaller than 1/75. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The sample loading cartridge according to claim 31, wherein the ratio between the cross-sectional area of the output channel and the cross-sectional area of the feedback channel is equal to or smaller than 1/100. ### Claim 33 (depends on 19) The sample loading cartridge according to claim 19, further comprising an overfill reservoir interposed between the sample port and the sample reservoir, wherein the feedback channel is connected to the sample reservoir and to the overfill reservoir. ### Claim 34 (depends on 19) The sample loading cartridge according to claim 19, wherein the sample port comprises a funnel-shaped structure. ### Claim 35 (depends on 19) The sample loading cartridge according to claim 19, further comprising an ejection chamber in fluid connection with the sample reservoir through an ejection channel, wherein an opening of the ejection chamber is closed by a septum. ### Claim 36 (depends on 19) A device comprising: a sample loading cartridge according to claim 19; and a microfluidic device in the form of a substrate comprising multiple cell channels having a respective first end in fluid connection with a flow input channel and a respective second end in fluid connection with a flow output channel, wherein the cell channels comprise a respective channel restriction in connection with the respective second end to prevent target cells entering the cell channels from reaching the flow output channel; and the output channel of the sample loading cartridge is in fluid connection with the flow input channel. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The device according to claim 36, wherein the sample loading cartridge is a first sample loading cartridge and the device comprises a second sample loading cartridge comprising: a cartridge body comprising a sample reservoir configured to house a volume of a liquid sample; a sample port in connection with the sample reservoir and configured to receive the liquid sample; an output channel connected to and extending from the sample reservoir; and a feedback channel connected to the sample reservoir and to the sample port, wherein the cartridge body comprises a detection portion aligned with at least a portion of the feedback channel to enable detection of presence of liquid sample in the feedback channel; and a flow resistance of the feedback channel is lower than a flow resistance of the output channel to cause liquid sample received in the sample port to enter the feedback channel with substantially no liquid sample entering the output channel; the output channel of the first sample loading cartridge is in fluid connection with a first input port of the flow input channel; and the output channel of the second sample loading cartridge is in fluid connection with a second input port of the flow input channel. ### Claim 38 (depends on 1) A method of loading a sample loading cartridge, the method comprising: arranging a sample carrying device aligned with the sample port of a sample loading cartridge according to claim 1; and transferring a liquid sample from the sample carrying device into the sample reservoir of the sample loading cartridge through the sample port until liquid sample is detectable in the feedback channel at the detection portion of the cartridge body. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) The method according to claim 38, further comprising: sealingly connecting a fluid flow circuitry to the sample port; and providing a fluid flow from the fluid flow circuitry into the sample port to eject liquid sample in the sample reservoir out through the output channel of the sample loading cartridge. ### Claim 40 (depends on 38) The method according to claim 38, wherein the sample loading cartridge further comprises an ejection chamber in fluid connection with the sample reservoir through an ejection channel, and an opening of the ejection chamber is closed by a septum, the method further comprising: sealingly connecting a fluid flow circuitry comprising a needle to the sample port and the opening of the ejection chamber of the sample loading cartridge so that the needle penetrates the septum; and providing a fluid flow from the fluid flow circuitry into the ejection chamber to eject liquid sample in the sample reservoir out through the output channel of the sample loading cartridge.