Instrument for processing cartridge for performing assays in a closed sample preparation and reaction system

Abstract

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.

1 . A system for performing sample diagnostics comprising:
 a fluid sample processing cartridge including a deformable fluid chamber supported on a planar 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;   an instrument configured to process the fluid sample processing cartridge, wherein the instrument comprises:   a control console; and   one or more processing modules operatively coupled to the control console to exchange power and signal transmissions with the control console, each processing module comprises one or more processing bays, each processing bay comprising:   a frame having a mounting plate;   a cartridge processing assembly positioned below the mounting plate and configured to receive the fluid sample processing cartridge and secure the fluid sample processing cartridge within the processing bay; and   a compression mechanism assembly positioned above the mounting plate and configured to selectively apply an external compression force to the deformable fluid chamber to collapse the deformable chamber and expel at least a portion of the fluid from the fluid chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises:
 a drip tray extending substantially parallel to and spaced below the mounting plate, whereby the drip tray is configured to support the cartridge processing assembly; and   a pair of sidewalls extending from the drip tray, each sidewall including a top edge secured to the mounting plate.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein each processing bay comprises a printed circuit board secured to the drip tray of the frame, whereby the printed circuit board is configured to supply power to the fluid processing cartridge and provides data and power distribution and transmission between the processing bay and the control console. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the cartridge processing assembly comprises:
 a cartridge carriage assembly comprising a carriage holder secured to a bottom surface of the mounting plate, wherein the cartridge carriage assembly is configured to hold the fluid sample processing cartridge inserted into the instrument and selectively eject the fluid sample processing cartridge from the processing bay.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the cartridge processing assembly comprises:
 a heating and control assembly positioned beneath the cartridge carriage assembly, wherein the heating and control assembly is configured for movement with respect to the cartridge carriage assembly between a first position not in operative contact with the cartridge carried within the cartridge carriage assembly and a second position in operative contact with the cartridge carried within the cartridge carriage assembly.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the cartridge processing assembly comprises:
 a cam block assembly configured for powered movement and operatively coupled to the heating and control assembly for converting powered movement of the cam block assembly into movement of the heating and control assembly with respect to the cartridge carriage assembly between the first position of the heating and control assembly and the second position of the heating and control assembly.   
     
     
         7 . An instrument configured to process a fluid sample processing cartridge including a deformable fluid chamber supported on a planar 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 instrument comprising:
 a control console;   one or more processing modules operatively coupled to the control console to exchange power and signal transmissions with the control console, each processing module comprises one or more processing bays, each processing bay comprising:   a frame having a mounting plate;   a cartridge processing assembly positioned below the mounting plate and configured to receive the fluid sample processing cartridge and secure the fluid sample processing cartridge within the processing bay; and   a compression mechanism assembly positioned above the mounting plate and configured to selectively apply an external compression force to the deformable fluid chamber to collapse the deformable chamber and expel at least a portion of the fluid from the fluid chamber.   
     
     
         8 . The instrument of  claim 7 , wherein the frame comprises:
 a drip tray extending substantially parallel to and spaced below the mounting plate, whereby the drip tray is configured to support the cartridge processing assembly; and   a pair of sidewalls extending from the drip tray, each sidewall including a top edge secured to the mounting plate.   
     
     
         9 . The instrument of  claim 8 , wherein each processing bay comprises a printed circuit board secured to the drip tray of the frame, whereby the printed circuit board is configured to supply power to the fluid processing cartridge and provides data and power distribution and transmission between the processing bay and the control console. 
     
     
         10 . The instrument of  claim 8 , wherein the cartridge processing assembly comprises:
 a cartridge carriage assembly comprising a carriage holder secured to a bottom surface of the mounting plate, wherein the cartridge carriage assembly is configured to hold the fluid sample processing cartridge inserted into the instrument and selectively eject the fluid sample processing cartridge from the processing bay.   
     
     
         11 . The instrument of  claim 10 , wherein the cartridge processing assembly comprises:
 a heating and control assembly positioned beneath the cartridge carriage assembly, wherein the heating and control assembly is configured for movement with respect to the cartridge carriage assembly between a first position not in operative contact with the cartridge carried within the cartridge carriage assembly and a second position in operative contact with the cartridge carried within the cartridge carriage assembly.   
     
     
         12 . The instrument of  claim 11 , wherein the cartridge processing assembly comprises:
 a cam block assembly configured for powered movement and operatively coupled to the heating and control assembly for converting powered movement of the cam block assembly into movement of the heating and control assembly with respect to the cartridge carriage assembly between the first position of the heating and control assembly and the second position of the heating and control assembly.   
     
     
         13 . An instrument configured to process a fluid sample processing cartridge including a deformable fluid chamber supported on a planar 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 instrument comprising:
 a cartridge carriage assembly configured to receive and hold a fluid sample processing cartridge inserted into the instrument;   a heating and control assembly adjacent the cartridge carriage assembly and configured for movement with respect to the cartridge carriage assembly between a first position not in operative contact with the cartridge carried within the cartridge carriage assembly and a second position in operative contact with the cartridge carried within the cartridge carriage assembly; and   a cam block assembly configured for powered movement and operatively coupled to the heating and control assembly for converting powered movement of the cam block assembly into movement of the heating and control assembly with respect to the cartridge carriage assembly between the first position of the heating and control assembly and the second position of the heating and control assembly.   
     
     
         14 . The instrument of  claim 13 , wherein said heating and control assembly comprises:
 one or more heater assemblies configured to apply a thermal gradient to corresponding discrete portions of the cartridge when the heating and control assembly is in the second position; and   a connector board including one or more electrical connector elements configured to effect an electrical connection between the instrument and the cartridge when the heating and control assembly is in the second position.   
     
     
         15 . The instrument of  claim 14 , wherein said heating and control assembly comprises a support plate on which said one or more heater assemblies and said connector board are supported, said support plate being mounted in a constrained configuration preventing horizontal movement of the support plate but permitting vertical movement of the support plate to enable movement of the heating and control assembly between its first and second positions. 
     
     
         16 . The instrument of  claim 14 , wherein one of said heater assemblies of the heating and control assembly comprises a resistive heating element attached to the connector board and a heat spreader comprising a thermally-conductive material thermally coupled to the resistive heating element. 
     
     
         17 . The instrument of  claim 14 , wherein one of said heater assemblies of the heating and control assembly comprises:
 a thermoelectric element;   a heat spreader comprising a thermally-conductive material thermally coupled to the thermoelectric element; and   a heat sink including a panel that is in thermal contact with the thermoelectric element and a plurality of heat-dissipating rods.   
     
     
         18 . The instrument of  claim 14 , wherein the electrical connector elements of the connector board of the heating and control assembly comprise a plurality of connector pin arrays, each connector pin array comprising a plurality of pogo pins 
     
     
         19 . The instrument of  claim 13 , wherein the cam block assembly comprises:
 a cam frame;   a cam block motor coupled to the cam frame and configured to effect powered movement of the cam frame; and   first and second cam rails attached to the cam frame, each of the cam rails having two cam slots, wherein the cam block assembly is operatively coupled to the heating and control assembly by cam followers extending from the heating and control assembly into the cam slots such that movement of the cam frame and the cam rails with respect to the heating and control assembly causes corresponding relative movement between the cam followers and the cam slots to move the cam followers between respective first segments of the cam slots corresponding to the first position of the heating and control assembly and respective second segments of the cam slots corresponding to the second position of the heating and control assembly.   
     
     
         20 . The instrument of  claim 13 , wherein said cartridge carriage assembly comprises:
 a cartridge holder configured to hold a cartridge inserted therein;   a cartridge latch biased into a cartridge-latching position and configured to latch onto a cartridge inserted into the cartridge holder to retain the cartridge within the cartridge holder; and   a cartridge eject mechanism configured to automatically push a cartridge at least partially out of the cartridge holder when the cartridge latch is released from a cartridge-latching position.