Nanopore sequencing and preparation modular instrument
AssigneeOxford Nanopore Technologies PLC
InventorClive Gavin Brown
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A modular instrument (1) for preparing and sensing an analyte in a prepared sample. The modular instrument includes a main body (12), an EWOD sample preparation device (2), and a nanopore sensor device (3) for sensing the analyte. The main body is electrically connectable to and separable from both the EWOD sample preparation device and the nanopore sensor device. The main body, the EWOD sample preparation device and nanopore sensor are physically connectable to and separable from each other.
Claims25
A modular instrument for preparing and sensing an analyte in a prepared sample, the modular instrument comprising:
- a main body;
- an EWOD sample preparation device for the preparation of the prepared sample for use with a nanopore sensor device;
- and
- a nanopore sensor device for sensing the analyte;
- wherein the main body is electrically connectable to and separable from both the EWOD sample preparation device and the nanopore sensor device;
- wherein the main body, the EWOD sample preparation device and nanopore sensor are physically connectable to and separable from each other;
- and
- wherein the EWOD sample preparation device comprises:
- an interior volume for interacting a raw sample with one or more reagents;
- a sample inlet for inputting the raw sample into the interior volume;
- a plurality of reagent inlets for inputting the one or more reagents into the interior volume;
- and
- an outlet for outputting the prepared sample into an inlet of the nanopore sensor device for sensing of the analyte, wherein the outlet of the EWOD sample preparation device is fluidically connectable to the inlet of the nanopore device.
The modular instrument as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the EWOD sample preparation device comprises a heater arranged to heat the raw or prepared sample and/or the one or more reagents in the interior volume.
The modular instrument as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the EWOD sample preparation device comprises a heat sink arranged to dissipate heat from the raw or prepared sample and/or the one or more reagents in the interior volume.
The modular instrument as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the EWOD sample preparation device comprises a thermoelectric device arranged to cool or heat the raw or prepared sample and/or the one or more reagents in the interior volume.
The modular instrument as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the main body comprises an optical sensor arranged to optically interrogate the raw or prepared sample and/or the one or more reagents in the interior volume.
The modular instrument as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the interior volume contains a fluid medium, wherein the fluid medium comprises an apolar fluid or a polar fluid.
The modular instrument as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the interior volume is removable.
The modular instrument as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the raw sample inlet is arranged to receive a pipette, a swab or a fluid container.
The modular instrument as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the raw sample inlet comprises a tube or a lancet for inputting a sample into the interior volume.
The modular instrument as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the reagent inlets comprise reagent inlet chambers arranged to store the one or more reagents.
The modular instrument as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more reagents comprise one or more of:
- a motor protein, an adaptor, an extraction reagent, a reverse transcription reagent, an amplification reagent, a fluorescent reagent, a quantification reagent, a PCR reagent, a gene targeting reagent and a magnetic bead reagent.
The modular instrument as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein EWOD sample preparation device comprises a port for inserting the nanopore sensor device, wherein the interior volume comprises an outlet, and wherein the outlet of the interior volume is in fluid communication with the port of the EWOD sample preparation device.
The modular instrument as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the modular instrument is arranged such that the inlet of the nanopore sensor device is put into fluid communication with the outlet of the EWOD sample preparation device, when the nanopore sensor device is displaced relative to the outlet of the EWOD sample preparation device.
The modular instrument as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outlet comprises a tube or a proboscis, for outputting the prepared sample from the interior volume.
The modular instrument as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the nanopore sensor device is arranged to engage with the outlet of the EWOD sample preparation device, when the nanopore sensor device is displaced relative to the outlet of the EWOD sample preparation device.
The modular instrument as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the system is arranged such that the inlet of the nanopore sensor device is aligned with the outlet of the EWOD sample preparation device, when the nanopore sensor device is displaced relative to the outlet of the EWOD sample preparation device.
The modular instrument as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the nanopore sensor device comprises a nanopore membrane.
The modular instrument as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the nanopore sensor device is arranged to perform nanopore sequencing of at least part of the sequence of the molecular entities in the sample.
The modular instrument as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the system is arranged to perform diagnostic testing of the molecular entities in the sample.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.