Cartridge, system and method for automated medical diagnostics

Abstract

Cartridge for the detection of the presence, absence and/or amount of a target nucleotide sequence in a sample. The cartridge includes one or more nucleic acid sequences, wherein the cartridge has a generic part and one or more separate application-specific parts, which are connectable to the generic part.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A cartridge for the detection of the presence, absence and/or amount of a target nucleotide sequence in a sample comprising one or more nucleic acid sequences, characterized in that the cartridge comprises a generic part and one or more separate application-specific parts, which are connectable to the generic part. 
     
     
         2 . A cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein one of the one or more specific parts is a PCR body having one or more thermocycling chambers and comprising a number of primers. 
     
     
         3 . A cartridge according to  claim 2 , wherein at least one primer is arranged in each one of the one or more thermocycling chambers. 
     
     
         4 . A cartridge according to  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the number of primers is spotted on the PCR body. 
     
     
         5 . A cartridge according to  claim 2 , wherein the PCR body is disc-shaped. 
     
     
         6 . A cartridge according to  claim 2 , wherein the PCR body comprises one or more thermal masses. 
     
     
         7 . A cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein one of the one or more application-specific parts is a detection device. 
     
     
         8 . A cartridge according to  claim 2 , wherein the detection device is selected on the basis of the primers in the PCR body. 
     
     
         9 . A cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein one of the one or more application-specific parts is a sample introduction device configured to prepare a sample to a specific state. 
     
     
         10 . A cartridge according to  claim 9 , wherein the sample introduction device is a pre-lysis device configured to prepare a sample to a specific state. 
     
     
         11 . A cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more application-specific parts is connectable on the main body with a click-fit connection. 
     
     
         12 . A cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein each space for holding the sample or part thereof in the generic part and the one or more application-specific parts is air-tight. 
     
     
         13 . A cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more of the application-specific parts is provided with an identification device. 
     
     
         14 . A cartridge according to  claim 12 , wherein each of the one or more application-specific parts and the generic part is provided with an identification device. 
     
     
         15 . System for the detection of the presence, absence and/or amount of a target nucleotide sequence in a sample comprising one or more nucleic acid sequences, said system comprising a reusable apparatus, wherein said apparatus is configured to receive a cartridge according to  claim 1  and to control a process for the detection of the presence, absence and/or amount of a target nucleotide sequence in the sample, being present in said cartridge. 
     
     
         16 . A method for the detection of the presence, absence and/or amount of a target nucleotide sequence in a sample comprising one or more nucleic acid sequences, wherein the method comprises the steps of: providing a sample from an organism; performing steps for isolation of the nucleic acid sequences from the sample; performing steps for amplification of (part of) the nucleic acid sequences to thereby provide amplicons; detecting the presence, absence and/or amount of the amplicons corresponding to the target nucleotide sequence amongst the nucleic acid sequences in the sample, characterized in that the method is being performed in a cartridge according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises the selection of one or more application-specific part and mounting said application-specific part on the generic part of the cartridge.