Integrated multipelx target analysis

Abstract

This invention provides biochip cartridges and instrument devices for the detection and/or analysis of target analytes from patient samples.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An apparatus for the detection of target analytes comprising:
 a) an instrument bank comprising a plurality of biochip cartridge bays for insertion and analysis of a biochip cartridge;   b) a touch screen display having a plurality of bay icons, each bay icon uniquely corresponding to one of said plurality of bays;   wherein when one of said bay icons is touched a panel of first options about said corresponding bay is enlarged and/or exhibited.   
     
     
         3 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of biochip cartridge bays are arranged in at least one vertically disclosed bank of bays, and said bay icons are similarly displayed. 
     
     
         4 - 6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . A apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said panel of first options comprises a plurality of secondary icons each selected from the group consisting of:
 a) an icon to review biochip cartridge data;   b) an icon for status of a biochip cartridge assay;   c) an icon depicting the time remaining in a biochip cartridge assay;   d) an icon to generate a data report of biochip cartridge data;   e) an icon to print a data report of biochip cartridge data;   f) an icon to email a data report of biochip cartridge data;   g) an icon to export a data report of biochip cartridge data to another computer device; and   h) an icon to display a virtual keyboard.   
     
     
         8 . An apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said apparatus further comprises a lighting component associated with each biochip cartridge bays. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein said lighting component indicates the status of said bay. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein said status is selected from the group consisting of empty, cartridge present, cartridge assay underway, cartridge assay complete, and error. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising a barcode reader. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising a USB port. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus according to  12 , wherein a barcode scanner is attached via said USB port. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein each biochip cartridge bays is independently addressed. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein each biochip cartridge is ejected upon completion of the assay protocol. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said touch screen display further comprises a row of function icons. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein said function icons are selected from the group consisting of:
 a) a function icon to display a virtual keyboard,   b) a preventative maintenance icon;   c) a dashboard icon,   d) a print icon;   e) an email icon;   f) an icon to export data to a remote device.   
     
     
         18 . An apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein said preventative maintenance icon is a dashboard icon. 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein said dashboard icon when pressed will display a plurality of graphs each selected from the group consisting of [number of assays run], [number of assays for one or more bays], [number and/or type of assays run for each bay], [time since last maintenance for each bay] and [number of errors per bay]. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein each bay comprises at least a first off-chip resistive heater. 
     
     
         22 . An apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein each bay comprises at least a second off-chip Peltier heater. 
     
     
         23 . An apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein each bay comprises three resistive heaters configured to facilitate PCR reactions on said chip. 
     
     
         24 . An apparatus according to  claim 22 , wherein said Peltier heater services the detection electrodes. 
     
     
         25 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A biochip cartridge comprising:
 a) a housing comprising a plurality of physical force contacts;   b) a first bottom substrate comprising printed circuit board (PCB) comprising:
 i) a plurality of detection electrodes comprising capture binding ligands; 
 ii) a plurality of electrowetting electrodes; 
 iii) interconnects for said detection and electrowetting electrodes; 
   c) a second top substrate comprising plastic comprising:
 i) a plurality of reactant wells, optionally containing reagent well inlet ports; 
 ii) at least one sample inlet port; 
   wherein said first and second substrate form at least one chamber.   
     
     
         28 . A biochip cartridge according to  claim 27 , wherein said detection electrodes each comprise a capture binding ligand. 
     
     
         29 . A biochip cartridge according to  claim 28 , wherein said detection electrodes further comprise a self-assembled monolayer (SAM). 
     
     
         30 . A biochip cartridge according to  claim 28 , wherein said capture binding ligands are nucleic acids. 
     
     
         31 . A biochip cartridge according to  claim 28 , wherein said capture binding ligands are proteins. 
     
     
         32 . A biochip cartridge according to  claim 28 , wherein at least one of said reagent wells contains a solution binding ligand comprising at least one electron transfer moiety (ETM). 
     
     
         33 . A biochip cartridge according to  claim 32 , wherein said ETM is selected from the group consisting of a metallocene, a ferrocene or a ferrocene derivative. 
     
     
         34 - 36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . A biochip cartridge according to  claim 27 , wherein said first substrate comprises at least a first EPROM that identifies the assay on said biochip. 
     
     
         38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . A biochip cartridge according to  claim 27 , wherein said housing is asymmetrically configured such that it can only be inserted into said bays in one direction. 
     
     
         40 . A biochip cartridge according to  claim 27  wherein said inlet port has an associated sealable lid. 
     
     
         41 . (canceled) 
     
     
         42 . A method of diagnosis based on detecting at least one target analyte of a plurality of target analytes comprising:
 a) providing an apparatus according to any claim herein,   b) providing a patient sample;   c) providing a biochip cartridge according to  claim 27 ;   d) adding said patient sample to said inlet port;   e) sealing said inlet port;   f) adding a patient barcode to said housing;   g) scanning said patient barcode into said apparatus;   h) inserting said cartridge into one of said bays;   i) initiating the appropriate assay; and   j) generating a report showing the diagnosis.