Liquid crystal cassette

A method of detecting a ligand, the method comprising:

• providing a cassette, the cassette comprising:
• a first housing, a second housing and a third housing;
• wherein each housing is at least partially rotatable relative to an adjoining housing;
• wherein the first housing contains a sample well to receive a sample, and the sample well is in fluid communication with at least one mixing chamber located in the second housing when the first housing is in a first position relative to the second housing;
• wherein the at least one mixing chamber contains at least one receptor bindable to a ligand to form a receptor-ligand complex;
• at least one liquid crystalline storage compartment for the storage of a liquid crystalline material,
• depositing a sample to be tested into the sample well;
• performing a first centrifugation on the cassette with the first housing in a first position relative to the second housing to introduce at least a portion of the sample from the sample well to the mixing chamber;
• rotating the first housing to a second position relative to the second housing to permit fluid communication through at least one aperture of the second housing between the mixing chamber and at least one storage compartment of the liquid crystalline material;
• performing a second centrifugation on the cassette to introduce at least a portion of the liquid crystalline material from the storage compartment to the mixing chamber;
• rotating the third housing to a second position relative to the second housing;
• performing a third centrifugation on the cassette to introduce at least a portion of the contents of the mixing chamber to the detection chamber;
• placing the cassette into a detection device, wherein the detection device transmits light toward the liquid crystal material;
• and
• examining the light transmission properties of the liquid crystal material in the detection chambers, wherein the light transmission properties are indicative of the detection of a ligand.

A method of detecting a plurality of ligands, the method comprising:

• providing a cassette, the cassette comprising:
• a first housing,
• a second housing having a plurality of mixing chambers, with each mixing chamber including at least one receptor bindable to a specific type of ligand, wherein a different type of receptor is provided in different ones of the mixing chambers;
• a third housing having a plurality of detection chambers, each detection chamber correlating to one of the plurality of mixing chambers, wherein each housing is at least partially rotatable relative to an adjoining housing;
• wherein the first housing contains a sample well to receive a sample, and the sample well is in fluid communication with at least one mixing chamber located within the second housing when the first housing is in a first position relative to the second housing;
• at least one liquid crystalline storage compartment for the storage of a liquid crystalline material,
• depositing a sample to be tested into the sample well;
• performing a first centrifugation on the cassette with the first housing in a first position relative to the second housing to introduce a portion of the sample from the sample well to the mixing chamber;
• rotating the first housing to a second position relative to the second housing to permit fluid communication through at least one aperture of the second housing between the mixing chamber and at least one storage compartment of the liquid crystalline material;
• performing a second centrifugation on the cassette to introduce the liquid crystalline material into the mixing chamber;
• rotating the third housing to a second position relative to the second housing;
• performing a third centrifugation on the cassette to move at least some material from the mixing chamber to the detection chamber;
• placing the cassette into a detection device, wherein the detection device transmits light toward the liquid crystal material;
• and
• examining the light transmission properties of the liquid crystal material in the detection chambers, wherein the light transmission properties are indicative of the detection of a ligand.