Granted Patent B2

US 12,654,164 · App. 17/786,469 · Granted Jun 16, 2026

Inventors: Stefan Leo Van Workum (London, GB); Vladimir Alexander Turek (London, GB); Marko Dorrestijn (London, GB); David R. Klug (London, GB)

Assignee: Panacea Diagnostics Ltd

B01L3/5023G01N21/648G01N33/54388B01L2200/025B01L2200/04B01L2200/16B01L2300/022B01L2300/0654

Abstract

Claims (22)

1 . An apparatus for detecting the presence and/or the quantity of a target component in a sample, the apparatus comprising an integrated assay, the assay cartridge comprising a detection reagent and a capture component at a location in the assay cartridge, the apparatus comprising:

a detector for detecting the amount of light scattered, transmitted or emitted by the detection reagent to provide an indication of the presence and/or the quantity of the target component within the sample;

a lens configured to focus the light onto the detector;

an excitation light source configured to generate a light beam; and

a plurality of location pins rigidly held in position relative to the lens and detector defining a location of the assay cartridge along the optical path from the location of the capture component to the detector at which the assay cartridge is located in use,

wherein the plurality of location pins, rigidly held in position, are further configured such that the capture component location, in use, is focused on the detector via the lens.

2 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein each of the three location pins are positioned away from the optical path of the detector.

3 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a location plate on which the location pins are positioned.

4 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein each location pin has a distal end on which to locate the cartridge, the distal ends of the pins having a curved tip.

5 . The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the location pins are stainless and corrosion protected.

6 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a biasing element configured to bias the assay cartridge onto the location positions.

7 . The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the biasing element configured to bias the assay cartridge onto the location pins comprises at least one of: a mechanical biasing element; an electromagnetic biasing element; a magnetic biasing element; a pneumatic biasing element; a hydraulic biasing element; an inflatable pad; a heat actuated material; or a piezoelectric element.

8 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the assay cartridge is loaded onto the location pins along the optical path.

9 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising an indicator configured to detect the presence of, and identification, of a cartridge.

10 . The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the indicator comprises an electrical connection with the cartridge.

11 . The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the indicator uses RFID.

12 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a reference checker to detect and check the location of one or more reference spots in the cartridge.

13 . The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the reference checker determines the focus of one or more reference spots.

14 . The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the reference checker compares the location of the one or more reference spots to a stored location to determine alignment accuracy.

15 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the target component is a specific peptide or protein or nucleic acid or small molecule.

16 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the sample is a saliva sample.

17 . An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the sample forms part of a free flow assay.

Assignments (2)

Priority Claims (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (31)