Cartridge-based thermocycler

Abstract

Cartridge-based thermocyclers can include cartridges that are configured to move a fluid between distinct chambers. In some cases, the cartridge-based thermocyclers can be used for thermocycling a sample fluid comprising a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) target to perform polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Individual chambers can be heated, cooled, and/or compressed to mix fluid within the chamber or to propel fluid in the chamber into another chamber. The cartridges can have a laminate construction. The cartridges can be configured to enable multiplexed thermocycling and/or detection.

1 . A molecular diagnostic test apparatus, comprising:
 a fluid chamber formed by a top wall and a bottom wall, the top wall including a curved surface and the bottom wall including a curved surface such that the fluid chamber is shaped to decrease bubbles being trapped when a sample flows into the fluid chamber;   the bottom wall comprising an optical material configured to transmit an optical signal into and out of the fluid chamber;   a heater disposed adjacent the bottom wall, the heater configured to increase a temperature of the sample within the fluid chamber to amplify a target nucleic acid within the sample;   a light source configured to produce the optical signal, the optical signal being transmitted through the optical material of the bottom wall and into the fluid chamber; and   an optical detector in optical communication with the fluid chamber via the optical material of the bottom wall, the optical detector configured to receive a detected signal associated with a presence of the target nucleic acid within the sample.   
     
     
         2 . The molecular diagnostic test apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid chamber has a tear drop shape. 
     
     
         3 . The molecular diagnostic test apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the curved surface of the fluid chamber has a curvature that is larger than a curvature of a wavefront of the sample as the sample flows through the fluid chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The molecular diagnostic test apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid chamber is a first fluid chamber, the curved surface of the top wall is a first curved surface of the top wall, the curved surface of the bottom wall is a first curved surface of the bottom wall, the apparatus further comprising:
 a second fluid chamber formed by the top wall and the bottom wall, the top wall including a second curved surface and the bottom wall including a second curved surface such that the second fluid chamber is shaped to decrease bubbles being trapped when a sample flows into the second fluid chamber.   
     
     
         5 . The molecular diagnostic test apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein
 the light source produces a light beam at the optical material of the bottom wall; and   the optical detector receives the detected signal associated with the presence of the target nucleic acid within the sample at a transverse angle relative to the light beam.   
     
     
         6 . The molecular diagnostic test apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein
 the light source produces a light beam at the optical material of the bottom wall,   the optical detector receives the detected signal associated with a presence of a target nucleic acid within the sample at about a 90 degree angle relative to the light beam.   
     
     
         7 . The molecular diagnostic test apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an optical component to enhance transmission of light from the light source into the fluid chamber.   
     
     
         8 . The molecular diagnostic test apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the optical component includes at least one of a lens, an anti-reflective component, or a light blocking component. 
     
     
         9 . The molecular diagnostic test apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a sample receiving port in fluid communication with the fluid chamber; and   a sample transfer device having an end portion configured to couple to the sample receiving port to convey the sample from within the sample transfer device into the fluid chamber.   
     
     
         10 . The molecular diagnostic test apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the heater is disposed beneath the bottom wall. 
     
     
         11 . A molecular diagnostic test apparatus, comprising:
 a cartridge defining a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber, the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber each being shaped to decrease bubble formation within the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber when a sample flows into the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber;   a sample receiving port defined within the cartridge; and   a sample transfer device having an end portion configured to couple to the sample receiving port to convey the sample from within the sample transfer device into the cartridge.   
     
     
         12 . The molecular diagnostic test apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber are formed by a top structure and a bottom structure, the top structure including a first curved surface associated with the first fluid chamber and a second curved surface associated with the second fluid chamber, the bottom structure including a first curved surface associated with the first fluid chamber and a second curved surface associated with the second fluid chamber. 
     
     
         13 . The molecular diagnostic test apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the bottom structure includes an optical material configured to transmit an optical signal into and out of at least one of the first fluid chamber or the second fluid chamber, the apparatus further comprising:   a light source configured to produce the optical signal, the optical signal being transmitted through the optical material of the bottom structure and into the at least one of the first fluid chamber or the second fluid chamber.   
     
     
         14 . The molecular diagnostic test apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 an optical detector in optical communication with the at least one of the first fluid chamber or the second fluid chamber via the optical material of the bottom structure, the optical detector configured to receive a detected signal associated with a presence of a target nucleic acid within the sample.   
     
     
         15 . The molecular diagnostic test apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a heater configured to contact at least one of the top structure or the bottom structure, the heater configured to increase a temperature of the sample within at least one of the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber to amplify a target nucleic acid within the sample.   
     
     
         16 . The molecular diagnostic test apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein
 the light source produces a light beam at the optical material of the bottom structure,   the optical detector receives the detected signal associated with a presence of a target nucleic acid within the sample at a transverse angle relative to the light beam.   
     
     
         17 . The molecular diagnostic test apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein
 the light source produces a light beam at the optical material of the bottom structure,   the optical detector receives the detected signal associated with a presence of a target nucleic acid within the sample at about a 90 degree angle relative to the light beam.   
     
     
         18 . The molecular diagnostic test apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 an optical component within the cartridge to enhance transmission of light from the light source into the at least one of the first fluid chamber or the second fluid chamber.   
     
     
         19 . The molecular diagnostic test apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the optical component includes at least one of a lens, an anti-reflective component, or a light blocking component. 
     
     
         20 . The molecular diagnostic test apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber each have a tear drop shape. 
     
     
         21 . The molecular diagnostic test apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber are fluidically coupled via a channel.