Integrated system for processing microfluidic samples, and method of using same

Abstract

This patent application describes an integrated apparatus for processing polynucleotide-containing samples, and for providing a diagnostic result thereon. The apparatus is configured to receive a microfluidic cartridge that contains reagents and a network for processing a sample. Also described are methods of using the apparatus.

1 - 49 . (canceled) 
     
     
         50 . An apparatus comprising:
 a receiving bay configured to receive a multi-lane microfluidic cartridge, the multi-lane microfluidic cartridge comprising a first lane comprising a first PCR reaction zone and a second lane comprising a second PCR reaction zone;   a processor;   a memory in communication with the processor;   the receiving bay comprising a first heater set thermally coupled to the first PCR reaction zone and a second heater set thermally coupled to the second PCR reaction zone when the multi-lane microfluidic cartridge is in thermal communication with the receiving bay, each heater set fixed in position in the receiving bay, each heater set comprising four heaters;   the memory comprising instructions that direct the processor to independently control the temperature of each of the four heaters of the first heater set to cyclically heat in a series of heating phases;   the memory comprising instructions that direct the processor to control the temperature of each of four heaters of the first heater set to maintain a substantially uniform temperature in the first PCR reaction zone during each heating phase; and   the memory comprising instructions that direct the processor to perform independent reactions in the first PCR reaction zone and the second PCR reaction zone.   
     
     
         51 . The apparatus of  claim 50 , wherein the memory comprises instructions that direct the processor to independently control the temperature of each of the four heaters of the second heater set to cyclically heat in a series of heating phases. 
     
     
         52 . The apparatus of  claim 50 , wherein the memory comprises instructions that direct the processor to control the temperature of each of the four heaters of the second heater set to maintain a substantially uniform temperature in the second PCR reaction zone during each heating phase. 
     
     
         53 . The apparatus of  claim 50 , wherein each of the four heaters of the first heater set comprises a resistive heater. 
     
     
         54 . The apparatus of  claim 50 , wherein each of the four heaters of the second heater set comprises a resistive heater. 
     
     
         55 . The apparatus of  claim 50 , further comprising a registration member, whereby the receiving bay receives the multi-lane microfluidic cartridge in a single orientation. 
     
     
         56 . An apparatus comprising:
 a receiving bay configured to receive a multi-lane microfluidic cartridge, each lane comprising at least one PCR reaction zone;   a processor;   a memory in communication with the processor;   the receiving bay comprising a heater set for each PCR reaction zone, each heater set fixed in position in the receiving bay, each heater set comprising four heaters, each heater set configured to thermally couple to a PCR reaction zone when the multi-lane microfluidic cartridge is in thermal communication with the receiving bay;   the memory comprising instructions that direct the processor to independently control the temperature of each of the four heaters of each heater set to cyclically heat in a series of heating phases;   the memory comprising instructions that direct the processor to control the temperature of each of the four heaters of each heater set to maintain a substantially uniform temperature in each PCR reaction zone during each heating phase; and   the memory comprising instructions that direct the processor to perform independent reactions in at least two lanes.   
     
     
         57 . The apparatus of  claim 56 , wherein each of the four heaters comprises a resistive heater. 
     
     
         58 . The apparatus of  claim 56 , wherein each of the four heaters is configured to be in direct physical contact with the multi-lane microfluidic cartridge when the multi-lane microfluidic cartridge is thermally coupled to the receiving bay. 
     
     
         59 . The apparatus of  claim 56 , wherein each heater set has a heating area of between about 1 mm 2  and about 225 mm 2 . 
     
     
         60 . The apparatus of  claim 59 , wherein the heating area is between about 1 mm 2  and about 100 mm 2 . 
     
     
         61 . The apparatus of  claim 56 , further comprising a compliant layer at each heater set, wherein the compliant layer is configured to thermally couple each heater set with a selected region of the multi-lane microfluidic cartridge. 
     
     
         62 . The apparatus of  claim 56 , further comprising a heating stage configured to be removable from the apparatus wherein each heater set is located in the heating stage. 
     
     
         63 . The apparatus of  claim 56 , further comprising a registration member, whereby the receiving bay receives the multi-lane microfluidic cartridge in a single orientation. 
     
     
         64 . An apparatus comprising:
 a receiving bay configured to receive a multi-lane microfluidic cartridge, the multi-lane microfluidic cartridge comprising a first lane comprising a first PCR reaction zone;   a processor;   a memory in communication with the processor;   the receiving bay comprising a first heater set thermally coupled to the first PCR reaction zone when the multi-lane microfluidic cartridge is received in the receiving bay, the first heater set fixed in position in the receiving bay, the first heater set comprising four heaters having at least two different lengths;   the memory comprising instructions that direct the processor to independently control each of the four heaters to cyclically heat in a series of heating phases;   the memory comprising instructions that direct the processor to control the temperature of each of the four heaters to maintain a substantially uniform temperature in the first PCR reaction zone during each heating phase; and   the memory comprising instructions that direct the processor to perform independent reactions in the first lane and a second lane of the multi-lane microfluidic cartridge.   
     
     
         65 . The apparatus of  claim 64 , wherein each of the four heaters comprises a resistive heater. 
     
     
         66 . The apparatus of  claim 64 , wherein each of the four heaters is configured to be in direct physical contact with the multi-lane microfluidic cartridge when the multi-lane microfluidic cartridge is thermally coupled to the receiving bay. 
     
     
         67 . The apparatus of  claim 64 , wherein the first heater set has a heating area of between about 1 mm 2  and about 225 mm 2 . 
     
     
         68 . The apparatus of  claim 67 , wherein the heating area is between about 1 mm 2  and about 100 mm 2 . 
     
     
         69 . The apparatus of  claim 64 , further comprising a registration member, whereby the receiving bay receives the multi-lane microfluidic cartridge in a single orientation.