Rotatable discs and systems and methods for sample analysis
AssigneeAutonomous Medical Devices Inc.
InventorsRegis PEYTAVI, Horacio KIDO
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention describes a method and device enabling sample processing, fast polymerase chain reaction amplification, and real-time reading of a large number of targets simultaneously while using a volume of reaction compatible with molecular assays. The present invention can be part of a cartridge allowing sample to answer nucleic acid analytic system (NAAT) or can be used as a stand-alone device.
Claims30
A rotatable polymerase chain reaction (PCR) disc, comprising:
- a loading chamber, a plurality of reaction chambers, a channel connecting the loading chamber to the plurality of reaction chambers, and an exit valve connecting the loading chamber to the channel,
- wherein the loading chamber is configured to contain a sample,
- wherein the loading chamber is configured to be in a closed state or in an open state such that:
- (a) in the closed state, the exit valve is closed, and the loading chamber is configured to seal the sample in a hyperbaric condition when the sample is heated to a temperature above 1000° C.;
- and
- (b) in the open state, the exit valve is open, and the loading chamber and the plurality of reaction chambers are fluidly connected via the channel,
- wherein the plurality of reaction chambers further comprises one or more PCR reagents, and
- wherein each of the plurality of reaction chambers has a volume of about 5 μL to about 100 μL.
A method of detecting the presence or absence of a target nucleic acid in a sample, the method comprising:
- (a) providing a rotatable PCR disc comprising a closed loading chamber, a plurality of reaction chambers, a channel connecting the closed loading chamber to the plurality of reaction chambers, and an exit valve connecting the closed loading chamber to the channel, wherein the closed loading chamber contains the sample;
- (b) heating the sample in the closed loading chamber in a hyperbaric condition to a temperature above 1000° C. to produce a heat-treated sample;
- (c) opening the exit valve, thereby opening the closed loading chamber, and rotating the rotatable PCR disc such that the heat-treated sample flows to the plurality of reaction chambers via the channel;
- and
- (d) amplifying the target nucleic acid, if present, in the heat-treated sample in the plurality of reaction chambers.
A method of processing a sample, the method comprising:
- (a) providing a rotatable PCR disc comprising a closed loading chamber, a plurality of reaction chambers, a channel connecting the closed loading chamber to the plurality of reaction chambers, and an exit valve connecting the closed loading chamber to the channel, wherein the closed loading chamber contains the sample;
- (b) opening the exit valve, thereby opening the closed loading chamber, and rotating the rotatable PCR disc such that the sample flows to the plurality of reaction chambers via the channel;
- and
- (c) after (b), heating and compressing the channel, thereby sealing the channel and preventing fluid communication between the plurality of reaction chambers,
- wherein the channel is composed at least in part of a thermoplastic material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.