Automated high-throughput flow-through real-time diagnostic system

An instrument for simultaneously detecting different genetic sequences in multiple samples in an asynchronous manner comprising:

• flow channels;
• an optical detector with a multiplicity of optical windows for monitoring multiple flow channels;
• one or more heated elements held at constant temperature and operatively connected to said optical detector;
• a nucleic acid extraction cartridge operably connected to said flow channels;
• sample sources;
• sources of sample preparation fluids and reagent fluids and decontaminating fluids;
• pumps operatively connected via said flow channels to said sample sources and said sources of preparation fluids and reagent fluids and decontaminating fluids and said nucleic acid extraction cartridge;
• sample multi-position valves for receiving and processing samples, said flow channels connect said sample multi-position valves to said optical detector, to said one or more heated elements held at constant temperature, to said nucleic acid extraction cartridge, to said sample sources, and to said sources of sample preparation fluids and reagent fluids and decontaminating fluids;
• a master sample multi-position valve operatively connected via said flow channels to two or more said sample multi-position valves;
• a reagent multi-position valve operatively connected via said flow channels to said sources of reagent fluids and to said master sample multi-position valve;
• two separate waste receptacles for receiving, via said nucleic acid extraction cartridge and the decontaminating of the system;
• and
• a control that coordinates the actions of the valves, pumps, and the optical detector, assemble genetic assays using the nucleic acids purified from the samples, transport the genetic assays to the one or more heated elements held at constant temperature and the optical detector for amplification and fluorescent analysis, report on the results, and deliver decontaminating fluids through the system after each sample is processed;
• wherein said sample multi-position valves for receiving and processing samples utilize said nucleic acid extraction cartridge and create multiple sample master mixes comprised of nucleic acids purified from the samples, polymerases, and 2× reaction buffer;
• wherein said reagent multi-position valve assembles within said flow channel a series of multiplex reagent mixtures containing primers, probes, and controls;
• wherein said master sample multi-position valve directs, through said flow channel, the series of multiplex reagent mixtures generated by said reagent multi-position valve, to any of said sample multi-position valves;
• wherein said sample multi-position valves for receiving and processing samples associate portions of the sample master mixes with some of the multiplex reagent mixtures in the series to generate series of multiplex reaction mixtures containing all the necessary components for genetic amplification within said flow channels for each of the samples being processed;
• wherein series of multiplex reaction mixtures containing all the necessary components for genetic amplification are transported through said flow channels to said one or more heated elements held a constant temperature and to said optical detector, in operative position to the multiplicity of optical windows, for genetic amplification and fluorescent analysis;
• and
• wherein multiple series of multiplex reaction mixtures generated through the near simultaneous processing of multiple samples are delivered to the optical detector in an asynchronous manner where they undergo asynchronous genetic amplification and fluorescent analysis.

An instrument for simultaneously detecting different genetic sequences in multiple samples in an asynchronous manner comprising:

• flow channels;
• an optical detector with a multiplicity of optical windows for monitoring said flow channels;
• one or more heated elements held at constant temperature and operatively connected to said optical detector;
• a nucleic acid extraction cartridge operably connected to said flow channels;
• sample sources;
• sources of sample preparation fluids and reagent fluids and decontaminating fluids;
• pumps operatively connected via said flow channels to said sample sources and said sources of preparation fluids and reagent fluids and decontaminating fluids and to said nucleic acid extraction cartridge;
• sample multi-position valves for receiving and processing samples, said flow channels connect said sample multi-position valves to said optical detector, to said one or more heated elements held at constant temperature, to said nucleic acid extraction cartridge, to said sample sources, and to said sources of sample preparation fluids and reagent fluids and decontaminating fluids;
• a master sample multi-position valve operatively connected via said flow channels to two or more sample multi-position valves;
• reagent multi-position valves operatively connected via said flow channels to said sources of reagent fluids;
• a master reagent multi-position valve operatively connected via said flow channels to two or more reagent multi-position valves and to the master sample multi-position valve;
• two separate waste receptacles for receiving, via said nucleic acid extraction cartridge and the decontaminating of the system;
• and
• a control that coordinates the actions of the valves, pumps, and the optical detector to assemble genetic assays using the nucleic acids purified from the samples, transport the genetic assays to the one or more heated elements held at constant temperature and the optical detector for amplification and fluorescent analysis, report on the results, and deliver decontaminating fluids through the system after each sample is processed wherein said sample multi-position valves for receiving and processing samples utilize said nucleic acid extraction cartridge and create multiple sample master mixes comprised of nucleic acids purified from the samples, polymerases, and 2× reaction buffer;
• wherein said reagent multi-position valves assemble within said flow channels series of multiplex reagent mixtures containing primers, probes, and controls;
• wherein said master reagent multi-position valve may be connected to multiple said reagent multi-position valves, including said reagent multi-position valves that are daisy-chained together, thereby allowing said sample multi-position valves access to an unlimited number of probes, primers, and controls;
• wherein said master reagent multi-position valve directs series of multiplex reagent mixtures generated by said reagent multi-position valves to said master sample multi-position valve via said flow channel;
• wherein said master sample multi-position valve directs, through said flow channels, series of multiplex reagent mixtures, generated by said reagent multi-position valves and passed through said master reagent multi-position valve, to any of said sample multi-position valves;
• wherein said sample multi-position valves for receiving and processing samples associate portions of the sample master mixes with some of the multiplex reagent mixtures in the series to generate series of multiplex reaction mixtures containing all the necessary components for genetic amplification within said flow channels for each of the samples being processed;
• wherein series of multiplex reaction mixtures containing all the necessary components for genetic amplification are transported through said flow channels to said one or more heated elements held a constant temperature and to said optical detector, in operative position to the multiplicity of optical windows, for genetic amplification and fluorescent analysis;
• and
• wherein multiple series of multiplex reaction mixtures generated through the near simultaneous processing of multiple samples are delivered to the optical detector in an asynchronous manner where they undergo asynchronous genetic amplification and fluorescent analysis.