Device incorporating a microfluidic chip for separating analyte from a sample

A device for extracting an analyte from a sample, the device comprising a cartridge having

• a) a first flow path that includes:
• i) a lysing region for lysing sample components to produce a lysate containing the analyte;
• and
• ii) a flow-through chip for extracting the analyte from the lysate, the chip comprising a body having formed therein:
• i) an extraction chamber;
• ii) at least one inlet port in fluid communication with the extraction chamber;
• iii) at least one outlet port in fluid communication with the extraction chamber, wherein the inlet and outlet ports permit liquid flow through the extraction chamber and out of the chip;
• and
• iv) an array of microstructures extending into the extraction chamber for capturing the analyte from the lysate as the lysate flows through the chip and for subsequently releasing the captured analyte into an elution fluid as the elution fluid flows through the chip, wherein each of the microstructures has an aspect ration (ratio of height to width or diameter) of at least 2:1;
• b) a waste chamber for receiving waste fluid from the chip via the first flow path;
• c) a second flow path for eluting the captured analyte from the chip, wherein the second flow path passes through the chip and diverges from the first flow path after passing through the chip;
• and
• d) at least one flow controller, positioned downstream of the at least one outlet port, for:
• i) directing the waste fluid exiting the chip to flow into the waste chamber and
• ii) directing the elution fluid exiting the chip to flow along the second flow path.

A device for extracting an analyte from a sample, the device comprising a cartridge having:

• a) at least one flow path that includes a flow-through chip for extracting the analyte, the chip comprising a body having formed therein:
• i) an extraction chamber;
• ii) at least one inlet port in fluid communication with the extraction chamber;
• iii) at least one outlet port in fluid communication with the extraction chamber, wherein the inlet and outlet ports permit liquid flow through the extraction chamber and out of the chip;
• and
• iv) an array of microstructures extending into the extraction chamber for capturing the analyte and for subsequently releasing the captured analyte into an elution fluid, wherein each of the microstructures has an aspect ratio (ratio of height to width or diameter) of at least 2:1;
• b) a waste chamber for receiving waste fluid from the chip;
• c) a third chamber for receiving the analyte eluted from the chip;
• and
• d) at least one flow controller positioned downstream of the at least one outlet port for directing the waste fluid exiting the chip to flow into the waste chamber and for directing the eluted analyte to flow into the third chamber.

A device for extracting an analyte from a sample, the device comprising a cartridge having:

• a) a lysing region for lysing sample components to produce a lysate containing the analyte;
• b) a flow-through chip for extracting the analyte from the lysate, the chip comprising a body having formed therein:
• i) an extraction chamber;
• ii) at least one inlet port in fluid communication with the extraction chamber;
• iii) at least one outlet port in fluid communication with the extraction chamber, wherein the inlet and outlet ports permit liquid flow through the extraction chamber and out of the chip:
• and
• iv) an array of microstructures extending into the extraction chamber for capturing the analyte from the lysate as the lysate flows through the chip and for subsequently releasing the captured analyte into an elution fluid as the elution fluid flows through the chip, wherein each of the microstructures has an aspect ratio (ratio of height to width or diameter) of at least 2:1;
• c) a waste chamber for receiving waste fluid from the chip:
• d) a third chamber for receiving the analyte eluted from the chip;
• and
• e) flow control means for:
• i) directing the lysate to flow from the lysing region through the chip, thereby capturing the analyte in the lysate with the microstructures in the extraction chamber;
• ii) directing the lysate that has flowed through the chip to flow into the waste chamber;
• iii) directing the elution fluid to flow through the chip thereby eluting the analyte from the chip;
• and
• iv) directing the eluted analyte to flow into the third chamber.

A device for separating an analyte from a sample, the device comprising a cartridge having:

• a) a first flow path that includes a flow-through chip for capturing the analyte, the chip comprising a body having formed therein:
• i) an extraction chamber;
• ii) at least one inlet port in fluid communication with the extraction chamber;
• iii) at least one outlet port in fluid communication with extraction chamber, wherein the inlet and outlet ports permit liquid flow through the extraction chamber and out of the chip;
• and
• iv) an array of microstructures extending into the extraction chamber for capturing the analyte, wherein each of the microstructures has an aspect ratio (ratio of height to width or diameter) of at least 2:1;
• b) an elution flow path for eluting the captured analyte from the chip, wherein the elution flow path after passing through the chip and diverges from the first flow path after passing through the chip;
• and
• c) at least one flow directing waste fluid exiting the chip to flow outlet port, for directing waste fluid exiting the chip to flow in the first flow path and for directing the analyte eluted from the chip to flow in the diverging elution flow path.