DIGITAL FLUID SAMPLE SEPARATION APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR ONE-STEP QUANTITATIVE SAMPLE ANALYSIS

摘要

A Digital Separation (DS) chip for separating, digitizing and analyzing a fluid sample is presented. The DS chip includes a fluidic layer that prepares and compartmentalizes the fluid sample for analysis. Cliff structures that are adjacent to wells skim the fluid sample and prevent particles, which may interfere with fluid sample analysis, from entering the wells. Skimmed fluid sample analysis occurs in the wells and endpoint data can be collected and used to determine an original concentration of a desired component in the fluid sample very quickly. Using the described apparatus and methods, a fluid sample can be prepared, digitized, compartmentalized, assayed and the endpoint data collected in ˜30 minutes. The apparatus and methods can easily be adapted to provide parallel processing of a sample.

主权项

1. An apparatus for separating, digitizing and analyzing a fluid sample, the apparatus comprising:
(a) a fluidic layer configured to separate a fluid sample into wells for fluid sample analysis, said fluidic layer comprising:
(i) a plurality of wells;(ii) a sample inlet that receives the fluid sample;(iii) at least one channel that transports the fluid sample from the sample inlet to one or more wells;(iv) at least one cliff structure positioned in between the channel and each well, configured to skim the fluid sample and prevent particles in the fluid sample from entering the wells, wherein the wells hold skimmed fluid sample for analysis; and(v) an outlet for fluid sample to flow out of the channel; and (b) a cover layer configured to seal the fluidic layer.