Apparatus and methods for integrated sample preparation, reaction and detection

摘要

Cartridges for the isolation of a biological sample and downstream biological assays on the sample are provided, as are methods for using such cartridges. In one embodiment, a nucleic acid sample is isolated from a biological sample and the nucleic acid sample is amplified, for example by the polymerase chain reaction. The cartridges provided herein can also be used for the isolation of non-nucleic acid samples, for example proteins, and to perform downstream reactions on the proteins, for example, binding assays. Instruments for carrying out the downstream biological assays and for detecting the results of the assays are also provided.

主权项

1. An apparatus, comprising:
(a) an instrument enclosure configured to contain a cassette, the cassette comprising:
(i) a lysis chamber,(ii) an elution chamber, and(iii) a reaction chamber; (b) a heater assembly disposed within the instrument enclosure, the heater assembly comprising a first heater module comprising a first lumen and a second lumen and configured to receive at least a portion of the reaction chamber; (c) an optics assembly disposed within the instrument enclosure, the optics assembly comprising an excitation module, a detection module, a first optical member, and a second optical member, wherein the first optical member is configured to convey electromagnetic energy from the excitation module to the reaction chamber via the first lumen, and wherein the second optical member is configured to convey electromagnetic energy from the reaction chamber to the detection module via the second lumen.