CARTRIDGE FOR PERFORMING ASSAYS IN A CLOSED SAMPLE PREPARATION AND REACTION SYSTEM

摘要

In one embodiment, a multiplex fluid processing cartridge includes a sample well, a deformable fluid chamber, a mixing well with a mixer disposed therein, a lysis chamber including a lysis mixer, an electrowetting grid for microdroplet manipulation, and electrosensor arrays configured to detect analytes of interest. An instrument for processing the cartridge is configured to receive the cartridge and to selectively apply thermal energy, magnetic force, and electrical connections to one or more discrete locations on the cartridge and is further configured to compress the deformable chamber(s) in a specified sequence.

主权项

1. A fluid sample processing cartridge comprising:
a substrate; a sample well formed in said substrate and configured to receive a volume of fluid sample; a closure configured to be selectively placed over said sample well; a deformable fluid chamber supported on said substrate and configured to hold a fluid therein when in an undeformed state and to collapse upon application of an external compression force to expel at least a portion of the fluid from the fluid chamber, said deformable fluid chamber being in fluid communication with said sample well via a channel formed in said substrate; a mixing well formed in said substrate, said mixing well being in fluid communication with said sample well via a channel formed in said substrate, said mixing well comprising a first peripheral wall and a first floor defining a well and a fluid inlet snorkel extending up a side of the first peripheral wall extending from the channel communicating the mixing well to the sample well and terminating below a top edge of the first peripheral wall; and a driven mixing apparatus disposed within said mixing well and constructed and arranged to mix the contents of said mixing well.