Microfluidic analyser for in-vitro biosensing and diagnostics

1 . A microfluidic analyser ( 100 , 200 A, 200 B, 200 C) for in-vitro biosensing and analysis of a biological sample, the microfluidic analyser ( 100 , 200 A, 200 B, 200 C) comprising:

a platform ( 102 , 202 A, 202 B, 202 C, 402 A, 402 B, 500 ) configured to hold at least one cartridge ( 300 ) carrying the biological sample and at least one reagent, wherein the at least one cartridge ( 300 ) includes one or more sealed ends ( 304 );

a fluid control unit ( 108 , 1000 ), coupled to the platform ( 102 , 202 A, 202 B, 202 C, 402 A, 402 B, 500 ), configured to regulate flow of the biological sample and the at least one reagent inside the at least one cartridge ( 300 ), wherein the fluid control unit ( 108 , 1000 ) comprises:

one or more needles ( 110 , 1002 , 1102 ) to pierceably connect with the one or more sealed ends ( 304 ) of the at least one cartridge ( 300 ) to establish a fluid connection with the at least one cartridge ( 300 );

a pneumatic unit ( 112 , 1004 , 1202 ) comprising a pump ( 1014 ), operably coupled to the one or more needles ( 110 , 1002 , 1102 ), wherein the pneumatic unit ( 112 , 1004 , 1202 ), the pump ( 1014 ), and the one or more needles ( 110 , 1002 , 1102 ) are to provide at least one of a positive pressure and a negative pressure to the at least one cartridge ( 300 ),

a plurality of tubes ( 1006 ) connected, at a first end ( 1006 A), to a free end ( 1002 B of the one or more needles ( 110 , 1002 , 1102 );

electronically controlled valves coupled to a second end ( 1006 B) of the plurality of tubes ( 1006 ); and

a plurality of flow control valves ( 1012 ), mounted between the one or more needles ( 110 , 1002 , 1102 ) and electronically controlled valves, to regulate at least one of the positive pressure and the negative pressure of the fluid provided at the at least one cartridge ( 300 ); and

an optical unit ( 104 , 600 ) operably coupled to the platform ( 102 , 202 A, 202 B, 202 C, 402 A, 402 B, 500 ), wherein the optical unit ( 104 , 600 ) comprises an optical sensor ( 124 , 604 , 800 ) to detect presence of a fluorescence biomarker in the biological sample held in the at least one cartridge ( 300 ).

2 . The microfluidic analyser ( 100 , 200 A, 200 B, 200 C) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the microfluidic analyser ( 100 , 200 A, 200 B, 200 C) comprises a covering member ( 204 A, 204 B, 204 C, 404 A) to cover the platform ( 102 , 202 A, 202 B, 202 C, 402 A, 402 B, 500 ) holding the at least one cartridge ( 300 ).

3 . The microfluidic analyser ( 100 , 200 A, 200 B, 200 C) as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the platform ( 102 , 202 A, 202 B, 202 C, 402 A, 402 B, 500 ) comprises a heating element to heat the biological sample placed within the at least one cartridge ( 300 ).

4 . The microfluidic analyser ( 100 , 200 A, 200 B, 200 C) as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the heating element is in the form of an enclosure to surround the at least one cartridge ( 300 ).

5 . The microfluidic analyser ( 100 , 200 A, 200 B, 200 C) as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the heating element ( 406 , 408 ) is in the form of a strip to heat a top portion of the at least one cartridge ( 300 ).

6 . The microfluidic analyser ( 100 , 200 A, 200 B, 200 C) as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the covering member ( 404 A) is made of an insulation material.

7 . The microfluidic analyser ( 100 , 200 A, 200 B, 200 C) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the fluid control unit ( 108 , 1000 ) comprises a plurality of check valves ( 1010 ), mounted between the one or more needles ( 110 , 1002 , 1102 ) and the electronically controlled valves to allow unidirectional flow of the fluid through the plurality of tubes ( 1006 ).

8 . The microfluidic analyser ( 100 , 200 A, 200 B, 200 C) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the optical unit ( 104 , 600 ) comprises a Quick Response (QR) code detector to obtain details pertaining to the biological sample held in the at least one cartridge ( 300 ).

9 . The microfluidic analyser ( 100 , 200 A, 200 B, 200 C) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the microfluidic analyser ( 100 , 200 A, 200 B, 200 C) comprises a linear guide mechanism ( 106 , 900 ), wherein the linear guide mechanism ( 106 , 900 ) comprises a drive and a movable member, wherein the drive actuates a linear movement of the movable member to align the optical unit ( 104 , 600 ) with the at least one cartridge ( 300 ).

10 . The microfluidic analyser ( 100 , 200 A, 200 B, 200 C) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the microfluidic analyser ( 100 , 200 A, 200 B, 200 C) comprises a battery ( 118 ) to power the microfluidic analyser ( 100 , 200 A, 200 B, 200 C).

11 . The microfluidic analyser ( 100 , 200 A, 200 B, 200 C) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the microfluidic analyser ( 100 , 200 A, 200 B, 200 C) comprises a controller ( 116 ) to control functions of at least one of the fluid control unit ( 108 , 1000 ), the optical unit ( 104 , 600 ), and the linear guide mechanism ( 106 , 900 ), wherein the controller ( 116 ) is to provide control signals to the linear guide mechanism ( 106 , 900 ) so that the drive actuates the linear movement of the movable member to align the optical unit ( 104 , 600 ) with the at least one cartridge ( 300 ).

12 . A microfluidic analyser ( 100 , 200 A, 200 B, 200 C) for in-vitro biosensing and analysis of a biological sample, the microfluidic analyser ( 100 , 200 A, 200 B, 200 C) comprising:

at least one cartridge ( 300 ) carrying the biological sample and at least one reagent, wherein the at least one cartridge ( 300 ) includes one or more sealed ends ( 304 );

a platform ( 102 , 202 A, 202 B, 202 C, 402 A, 402 B, 500 ) configured to hold the at least one cartridge ( 300 );

a fluid control unit ( 108 , 1000 ), coupled to the platform ( 102 , 202 A, 202 B, 202 C, 402 A, 402 B, 500 ), configured to regulate flow of the biological sample and the at least one reagent inside the at least one cartridge ( 300 ), wherein the fluid control unit ( 108 , 1000 ) comprises:

one or more needles ( 110 , 1002 , 1102 ) to pierceably connect with the one or more sealed ends ( 304 ) of the at least one cartridge ( 300 ) to establish a fluid connection with the at least one cartridge ( 300 );

a pneumatic unit ( 112 , 1004 , 1202 ) comprising a pump ( 1014 ), operably coupled to the one or more needles ( 110 , 1002 , 1102 ), wherein the pneumatic unit ( 112 , 1004 , 1202 ), the pump ( 1014 ), and the one or more needles ( 110 , 1002 , 1102 ) are to provide at least one of a positive pressure and a negative pressure to the at least one cartridge ( 300 ),

a plurality of tubes ( 1006 ) connected, at a first end ( 1006 A), to a free end ( 1002 B of the one or more needles ( 110 , 1002 , 1102 );

electronically controlled valves coupled to a second end ( 1006 B) of the plurality of tubes ( 1006 ); and

a plurality of check valves ( 1010 ), mounted between the one or more needles ( 110 , 1002 , 1102 ) and the electronically controlled valves, to allow unidirectional flow of the fluid through the plurality of tubes ( 1006 ); and

an optical unit ( 104 , 600 ) operably coupled to the platform ( 102 , 202 A, 202 B, 202 C, 402 A, 402 B, 500 ), wherein the optical unit ( 104 , 600 ) comprises an optical sensor ( 124 , 604 , 800 ) to detect presence of a fluorescence biomarker in the biological sample held in the at least one cartridge ( 300 ).

13 . The microfluidic analyser ( 100 , 200 A, 200 B, 200 C) as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the at least one cartridge ( 300 ) comprises:

a processing chamber ( 308 ) to filter the biological sample to select a target biomarker associated with the biological sample; and

a detection region ( 312 ), operably coupled to the processing chamber ( 308 ), to detect the target biomarker associated with the biological sample.

14 . The microfluidic analyser ( 100 , 200 A, 200 B, 200 C) as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the at least one cartridge ( 300 ) comprises:

a storage chamber ( 306 ), coupled to the processing chamber ( 308 ), to receive and pre-treat the biological sample; and

a waste collection chamber ( 318 ), coupled to the processing chamber ( 308 ), to collect residues after processing of the at least one reagent and the biological sample.

15 . The microfluidic analyser ( 100 , 200 A, 200 B, 200 C) as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the microfluidic analyser ( 100 , 200 A, 200 B, 200 C) comprises:

a linear guide mechanism ( 106 , 900 ) having a drive and a movable member; and

a controller ( 116 ) to control functions of at least one of the fluid control unit ( 108 , 1000 ), the optical unit ( 104 , 600 ), and the linear guide mechanism ( 106 , 900 ), wherein the controller ( 116 ) is to provide control signals to the linear guide mechanism ( 106 , 900 ) so that the drive actuates a linear movement of the movable member to align the optical unit ( 104 , 600 ) with the at least one cartridge ( 300 ).

16 . The microfluidic analyser ( 100 , 200 A, 200 B, 200 C) as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the covering member ( 404 A) is made of an insulation material.