Integrated Microfluidic Cartridge for Biofluid Processing
AssigneeArizona Board of Regents on behalf of Arizona State University
InventorsVi Nguyen, Clifford Anderson, Jennifer Blain Christen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A microfluidic cartridge includes a top cover, a bottom cover, and a main component positioned between the top cover and the bottom cover. The main component includes an input hole configured to receive a fluid sample, a waste reservoir, a plurality of reaction chambers, a first valve hole, and a second valve hole. A valve elastomer is arranged over the first valve hole or the second valve hole. When the valve elastomer is pressed into the first valve hole, fluid input through the input hole travels to the waste reservoir. When the valve elastomer is pressed into the second valve hole, fluid input through the input hole travels to each of the plurality of reaction chambers.
Claims20
A microfluidic cartridge comprising:
- a top cover;
- a bottom cover;
- a main component positioned between the top cover and the bottom cover, the main component comprising:
- an input hole configured to receive a fluid sample,
- a waste reservoir,
- a plurality of reaction chambers,
- a first valve hole, and
- a second valve hole;
- and
- a valve elastomer arranged over the first valve hole or the second valve hole, wherein:
- when the valve elastomer is pressed into the first valve hole, fluid input through the input hole travels to the waste reservoir, and
- when the valve elastomer pressed into the second valve hole, fluid input through the input hole travels to each of the plurality of reaction chambers.
A method of processing a fluid sample, comprising:
- attaching a sample syringe containing the fluid sample to an input hole of a microfluidic cartridge;
- delivering the fluid sample through the input hole while a valve elastomer of the microfluidic cartridge is pressed into a first valve hole to block a reaction chamber pathway, thereby directing the fluid sample to a waste reservoir while collecting nucleic acids in a silica membrane cavity;
- attaching a wash syringe to the input hole and delivering wash fluid to the waste reservoir while the valve rubber remains pressed into the first valve hole;
- moving a clip to press the valve rubber into a second valve hole;
- and
- attaching an elution syringe to the input hole and delivering elution buffer through the silica membrane cavity to release the nucleic acids and direct the nucleic acids to a reaction chamber.
A reader apparatus, comprising:
- a reader base configured to receive a microfluidic cartridge, the microfluidic cartridge including:
- a silica membrane cavity configured to collect nucleic acids from a fluid sample;
- a plurality of reaction chambers;
- an inlet channel that branches into equidistant channels leading to each of the plurality of reaction chambers;
- a waste reservoir;
- and
- a flexible valve element arranged over a first valve hole and a second valve hole;
- and
- a valve actuation mechanism received on the reader base and having a protrusion configured to selectively press the flexible valve element into the first valve hole or the second valve hole based on a position of the valve actuation mechanism,
- wherein when the protrusion presses the flexible valve element into the first valve hole, fluid within the microfluidic cartridge is directed to a waste reservoir, and
- wherein when the protrusion presses the flexible valve element into the second valve hole, fluid within the microfluidic cartridge is directed to the plurality of reaction chambers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.