MICROFLUIDIC CARTRIDGE FOR PROCESSING AND DETECTING NUCLEIC ACIDS
A microfluidic cartridge, configured to facilitate processing and detection of nucleic acids, comprising: a top layer comprising a set of cartridge-aligning indentations, a set of sample port-reagent port pairs, a shared fluid port, a vent region, a heating region, and a set of detection chambers; an intermediate substrate, coupled to the top layer comprising a waste chamber; an elastomeric layer, partially situated on the intermediate substrate; and a set of fluidic pathways, each formed by at least a portion of the top layer and a portion of the elastomeric layer, wherein each fluidic pathway is fluidically coupled to a sample port-reagent port pair, the shared fluid port, and a detection chamber, comprises a turnabout portion passing through the heating region, and is configured to be occluded upon deformation of the elastomeric layer, to transfer a waste fluid to the waste chamber, and to pass through the vent region.
1 . A cartridge for processing a sample, the cartridge comprising:
a first layer defining a sample port and a reagent port;
an intermediate substrate coupled to the first layer and defining a chamber opposing the first layer,
wherein the intermediate substrate comprises-an external surface having a set of openings and
wherein the intermediate substrate is positioned above the first layer;
an actuation layer arranged between the first layer and the intermediate substrate and accessible through the set of openings, the actuation layer deformable by a set of pins corresponding to and passing into the set of openings;
a fluidic pathway cooperatively defined by the first layer and the actuation layer, the fluidic pathway fluidly coupled to the sample port and the reagent port, wherein the fluidic pathway defines a set of actuation regions, each of the set of actuation regions operable between an open configuration and a closed configuration upon manipulation of the actuation layer by a pin of the set of pins; and
a set of chamber inlets from the fluidic pathway into the chamber, wherein the cartridge is operable to drive fluid from the fluidic pathway into the chamber, through at least a subset of the set of chamber inlets, upon manipulation of the actuation layer.
2 . The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the external surface defines a corrugated surface, the corrugated surface defining a chamber fluidically coupled to the fluidic pathway downstream of the sample port and the reagent port.
3 . The cartridge of claim 2 , wherein the corrugated surface defines a void external to the chamber, the void operable to receive the set of pins, and wherein the corrugated surface defines a magnet housing region, the cartridge further comprising a magnet permanently housed within the magnet housing region, such that the magnet is integrated with the intermediate substrate, wherein the magnet comprises an electromagnet.
4 . The cartridge of claim 2 , wherein each ridge of the corrugated surface comprises identical dimensions, and wherein the chamber defined by the corrugated surface is removable.
5 . The cartridge of claim 2 , wherein manipulation at an actuation region of the set of actuation regions arranged between the fluidic pathway and the chamber permanently seals the chamber off from the fluidic pathway.
6 . The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the set of openings comprises a slot configured to provide access to the actuation layer by the set of pins.
7 . The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the sample port is coupled to a first fluid conduit, the first fluid conduit configured to deliver a fluid comprising the sample to the sample port, and wherein the reagent port is coupled to a second fluid conduit, the second fluid conduit configured to deliver a fluid comprising a reagent used in molecular diagnostics to the fluidic pathway.
8 . The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the sample port and the reagent port are arranged proximal a central region of the first layer.
9 . The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the actuation layer is a continuous layer that spans an entire footprint of the cartridge.
10 . The cartridge of claim 1 , further comprising a heating element configured to generate a heating region along a portion of the fluid pathway.
11 . The cartridge of claim 10 , wherein the heating element comprises a thermally conductive element integrated into the first layer.
12 . The cartridge of claim 10 , wherein the heating element is movable along a broad surface of the first layer and operable between a first arrangement and a second arrangement, wherein in the first arrangement the heating region is located at a first position along the fluidic pathway, and wherein in the second arrangement the heating region is located at a second position along the fluidic pathway.
13 . The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the first layer defines a vent region comprising a recessed region and a gas-permeable film covering the recessed region, the vent region fluidically coupled to the fluidic pathway.
14 . The cartridge of claim 13 , wherein the vent region is arranged between at least two of the set of actuation regions of the fluidic pathway.
15 . The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the fluidic pathway further comprises an s-shaped capture segment downstream of the sample port and the reagent port.
16 . The cartridge of claim 15 , wherein the fluidic pathway further comprises a first detection chamber arranged downstream of the s-shaped capture segment, wherein the cartridge is operable to drive fluid from the fluidic pathway into the first detection chamber, upon manipulation of the actuation layer.
17 . The cartridge of claim 16 , wherein the first layer comprises a slot between the first detection chamber and a second detection chamber, the second detection chamber adjacent to the first detection chamber and fluidically coupled to a second fluidic pathway, the slot defining an air gap between the first and second detection chambers.
18 . The cartridge of claim 15 , wherein the s-shaped capture segment comprises a progressively narrowing s-shaped capture segment.
19 . The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the intermediate substrate defines a set of cartridge-aligning indentations configured to align the cartridge upon coupling of the cartridge to an external system.
20 . The cartridge of claim 19 , wherein the set of cartridge-aligning indentations comprises a set of grooves, the set of grooves configured to align the cartridge upon sliding insertion of the cartridge into the external system.
21 . The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the sample port and the reagent port is coupled to a fluid handling system comprising a pump and wherein, by way of the pump, the cartridge is operable to drive fluid from the fluidic pathway into the chamber in coordination with manipulation of the actuation layer.