System using self-contained processing module for detecting nucleic acids

A system for processing a nucleic acid comprising:

• a disposable self-contained processing module that contains the nucleic acid and substantially all of the fluids to effect a nanoparticle hybridization test;
• a pump coupled to the processing module;
• a valving system disposed between the pump and processing module;
• and
• a control system coupled to the pump and valving system causing the processing fluids to interact with the nucleic acid to effect a sandwich hybridization test using nanoparticles
• a plurality of respective liquid wells disposed in a body of the processing module for holding liquids used for processing the nucleic acid;
• a hybridization chamber for hybridizing the nucleic acid;
• and
• a valve plate disposed between the plurality of liquid wells and the hybridization chamber, said valve plate having a plurality of positions that each faun respective channels that communicate liquids between at least some of the liquid wells and the hybridization chamber.

A system for processing test samples comprising:

• a low-cost, disposable, self-contained microfluidics processing module for processing the test sample:
• a plurality of liquid wells disposed in a body of the low-cost, disposable, self-contained microfluidics processing module adapted to contain reagents for processing the test sample;
• a chamber for hybridizing the test sample disposed within the processing module;
• and
• a valve plate disposed between the plurality of liquid wells and the chamber, said valve plate being moveable as a single unit laterally with respect to the liquid wells and the chamber among a plurality of positions that each form respective, microfluidics channels that communicate liquids between at least some of the liquid wells and the chamber.

A system for processing test samples comprising:

• a low-cost, disposable, self-contained microfluidics processing module for processing the test sample:
• a plurality of liquid wells disposed in a body of the low-cost, disposable, self-contained microfluidics processing module adapted to contain reagents for processing the test sample;
• a chamber for hybridizing the test sample disposed within the processing module;
• and
• a valve plate disposed between the plurality of liquid wells and the chamber, said valve plate being moveable among a plurality of positions that each form respective, microfluidics channels that communicate liquids between at least some of the liquid wells and the chamber;
• a servo actuator coupled to the valve plate that moves the valve plate among the plurality of positions wherein a first position of the plurality of positions of the valve plate further comprises a microfluidics channel between two liquid wells of the plurality of liquid wells wherein a second position of the plurality of positions of the valve plate further comprises a microfluidics channel between a liquid well of the plurality of liquid wells and the chamber;
• and
• a pump with a plurality of outputs coupled to the processing module that pumps the respective reagents through the plurality of microfluidics channels.

A method for processing a nucleic acid comprising:

• providing a disposable self-contained processing module that contains a hybridization chamber, then nucleic acid and a plurality of processing liquids for processing the nucleic acid within the hybridization chamber;
• sequentially creating a plurality of liquid flow conduits within the processing module among the nucleic acid, the plurality of processing liquids and the hybridization chamber by moving a valve plate to a predetermined position that corresponds to a respective conduit of the plurality of conduits;
• and
• pumping the respective processing liquids through the sequentially created plurality of liquid flow conduits.