System for portable and easy-to-use detection of analytes with mobile computing device

Abstract

This system takes in raw cellular material collected using a provided swab, blood collection device, urine collection device, or other sample collection device and transforms that biological material into a digital result, identifying the presence, absence and/or quantity of nucleic acids, proteins, and/or other molecules of interest.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for identifying the presence, absence, and/or quantity of a molecule of interest in a sample, comprising:
 a reader; and   a cartridge that fits into the reader, the cartridge configured to accept a sample collection device that fits into the cartridge;   wherein the cartridge comprises:
 a first reservoir for storing a liquid, wherein a mixture comprising the liquid and the sample is formed in the first reservoir when the sample collection device having the sample is inserted into the first reservoir; 
 a second reservoir for storing a chemical substrate; 
 an analysis channel comprising an electrochemical sensor; and 
 a first phase change valve for sealing the mixture in the first reservoir from the analysis channel in solid state; 
 a second phase change valve for sealing the chemical substrate in the second reservoir from the analysis channel in solid state; and 
 one or more heaters disposed adjacent the first and second phase change valves for melting the first and second phase change valves to transfer the mixture and the chemical substrate to the analysis channel, wherein a reaction of the mixture and the chemical substrate is detected by the electrochemical sensor and communicated to the reader. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the mixture comprises a plurality of magnetic particle complexes, wherein each of the plurality of magnetic particle complexes comprises a magnetic particle. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the reader comprises a magnetic field generator adjacent to the analysis channel when the cartridge fits into the reader, such that the plurality of magnetic particle complexes can be localized in the analysis channel within a magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generator. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the electrochemical sensor releases a flow of electrons in a quantity proportional to a number of the plurality of magnetic particle complexes localized in the analysis channel in response to reactions between the mixture and the chemical substrate. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the molecule of interest comprises one or more of a nucleic acid, protein, or small molecule. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the cartridge comprises a slot to allow for a permanent magnet to slide into place underneath the electrochemical sensor. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the reader is configured to send or receive, or both, signals to a mobile device indicative of a test result. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , further comprising an application stored on the mobile device, the application configured to cause the mobile device to display the test result. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the reader is configured to send or receive, or both, signals to a mobile device indicative of a test protocol. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the magnetic field generator comprises a permanent magnet. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the magnetic field generator comprises more than one magnet. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein first and second phase change valves consist of wax and the one or more heaters heat one or more vias to melt the wax. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a sonicator configured to direct energy into the mixture in the first reservoir. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a third reservoir for storing a wash solution, wherein the one or more heaters facilitates transfer of the wash solution to the analysis channel. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises the sample collection device, the sample collection device configured to collect the sample from blood, urine, or saliva.