Fluidic test cassette

Abstract

A disposable cassette for detecting nucleic acids or performing other assays. The cassette can be inserted into a base station during use. The cassette has numerous features to ensure correct operation of the device under gravity, such as vent pockets for enabling the flow of sample fluid from one chamber to the next when the vent pocket is unsealed. The vent pockets have protrusions to help prevent accidental resealing. The cassette also can have a gasket to ensure free air movement between open vent pockets. A flexible circuit with patterned metallic electrical components disposed on a heatstable material can be in direct contact with fluid in the chambers and has resistive heating elements aligned with the vent pockets and the chambers. The detection chamber, which houses a lateral flow detection strip can have a space below the strip that has sufficient capacity to accommodate an entire volume of the sample fluid entering the detection chamber at a height that enables the fluid toflow up the detection strip by capillary action without flooding or otherwise bypassing regions of the detection strip. The space can also contain detection particles. Recesses in in the cassette channels or chambers can have structures such as ridges or grooves to direct fluid flow to enhance rehydration of lyophilized reagents disposed in the recess. Flow diverters in the chambers can reduce the flow velocity of the sample fluid and increase the effective fluid flow path length, enabling more accurate control of fluid flow in the cassette.

Description

[0001] Cross References to Related Applications [0002] This application claims U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 152,724, filed April 24, 2015, entitled "Fluid Test Cassette" and filed April 14, 2016, entitled "Fluid Test Cassette" Priority and benefit to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 322,738, "Test Cassette", the specification and claims of which are incorporated herein by reference. technical field [0003] Embodiments of the invention relate to integrated devices and related methods for the detection and identification of nucleic acids. The device may be entirely disposable, or may include a single-use portion and a reusable portion. Background technique [0004] It should be noted that the following discussion may refer to a number of publications and references. The discussion of these publications in this article is intended only to more fully present the background of the scientific rationale and is not an admission that these publications ar...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, typical devices do not allow programming or electronic control of this fluid movement or the mixing of two or more fluids

Additionally, some devices utilize the pressure drop created by falling inert or pre-packaged fluids to induce a slight vacuum and draw reactants into the process chamber when oriented vertically, adding storage and shipping complexity to ensure pre-packaged Packaging Fluid Stability

Existing devices that teach moving fluids in multiple discrete steps require frangible seals or valves between chambers, complicating operation and manufacturing

Images