DIGITAL CONTROL OF ON-CHIP MAGNETIC PARTICLE ASSAY

1 . An assay system ( 10 ) for generating presentable assay information from an aqueous sample ( 5 ), comprising:

a filter ( 6 ) capable of trapping or blocking particulate matter in an aqueous sample ( 5 );

a delivery capillary ( 14 ) that fluidically connects the filter ( 6 ) to a surface capillary ( 15 );

a first sedimentation capillary ( 13 ) placed vertically above an integrated circuit 12 a surface capillary ( 15 ) that fluidically connects the delivery capillary ( 14 ) to the sedimentation capillary ( 13 );

a dry sphere ( 3 ) placed at the top of the first sedimentation capillary ( 13 ), wherein the dry sphere contains magnetic particles;

magnetic particle sensors embedded in the integrated circuit ( 12 ) at the bottom of the first sedimentation capillary ( 13 ), wherein the magnetic particle sensors are capable of detecting magnetic particles specifically bound to the surface of the integrated circuit; and

a display ( 1 ) for displaying presentable assay information.

2 . The system of claim 1 , configured to allow a user to take a photograph of the display ( 1 ) to retrieve the presentable assay information.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the presentable assay information retrieved by taking the photograph of the display ( 1 ) binds to a patient ID in a secure manner.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein a magnetic particle sensor detects a single specific molecular interaction between the surface ( 12 ) of an IC ( 7 ) and a magnetic particle.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein an array of the magnetic particle sensors is configured to count the number of specific molecular interactions in the sensing area on the surface ( 12 ) of the IC ( 7 ).

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein a dry calibrant located on the surface ( 7 ) of the integrated circuit ( 12 ) such that the dry calibrant will be rehydrated by the aqueous sample and flow into a second sedimentation capillary ( 63 ) but not into the first sedimentation capillary ( 13 ).

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the signals from the first sedimentation capillary ( 13 ) and the second sedimentation capillary ( 63 ) is used to calibrate the native target signal.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the third sedimentation capillary ( 64 ) has a different height than the first sedimentation capillary ( 13 ).

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the signal from the first sedimentation capillary ( 13 ) and the third sedimentation capillary ( 64 ) is used to measure the background signal.

10 . The system in claim 1 , wherein a passive unidirectional valve eliminates and/or reduces the suck-back flow resulting from aqueous sample evaporation through the filter ( 6 ).

11 . The system in claim 1 , wherein the magnetic particle sensors comprise optical sensors, and wherein multiple light sources producing illuminations of different color are used to identify magnetic particles of different color.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein magnetic particles of different color are coated with reagents that react with different target in a multiplexed format.

13 . The system of claim 1 , wherein a cuvette ( 30 ) is placed at the top of sedimentation capillary ( 13 ) to keep the dry sphere ( 3 ) motionless.