Apparatuses with fluidic channel geometries for sample to answer pcr analysis and methods of using same

Abstract

Various embodiments for a chip for use in a real-time qPCR system are disclosed. The chip can include at least one port for receiving a sample into the chip; at least one channel in fluidic communication with the at least port; a plurality of magnetically active beads disposed within the at least one channel that capture DNA/RNA from the sample as the sample passes through the at least one channel; and an optical inspection region in fluidic communication with the at least one channel for performing an optical analysis of the sample containing the eluted DNA/RNA previously captured on the magnetic beads.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A chip for use in a real-time qPCR system, comprising:
 at least one port for receiving a sample into the chip;   at least one channel in fluidic communication with the at least port;   a plurality of magnetically active beads disposed within the at least one channel that capture DNA/RNA from the sample as the sample passes through the at least one channel; and   an optical inspection region in fluidic communication with the at least one channel for performing an optical analysis of the sample containing the eluted DNA/RNA previously captured on the magnetic beads.   
     
     
         2 . The chip according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one additional port for receiving at least one of wash fluid and elution fluid into the chip. 
     
     
         3 . The chip according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one inlet corresponding to and in fluidic communication with the at least one port and located on a top surface of the chip. 
     
     
         4 . The chip according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one magnetically active region configured to be magnetically active with the magnetically active beads. 
     
     
         5 . The chip according to  claim 4 , wherein one magnetically active region is positioned upstream of the optical inspection region. 
     
     
         6 . The chip according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one heated region. 
     
     
         7 . The chip according to  claim 6 , wherein one heated region is positioned on each side of the optical inspection region. 
     
     
         8 . The chip according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one filter disposed within the at least one channel. 
     
     
         9 . The chip according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one channel is 0.5 mm deep and 0.5 mm wide. 
     
     
         10 . The chip according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one burst valve. 
     
     
         11 . The chip according to  claim 10 , wherein the at least one burst valve is 0.1 mm deep and 0.1 mm wide. 
     
     
         12 . The chip according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one chip stop disposed on and protruding from an exterior surface of the chip. 
     
     
         13 . The chip according to  claim 1 , further comprising an exit valve for discharging the sample from the chip. 
     
     
         14 . A cartridge and chip assembly, comprising:
 a cartridge including at least one fluid reservoir;   a chip disposed beneath the cartridge with an inlet and a port corresponding to the at least one fluid reservoir; and   an elastic membrane disposed on top of the cartridge.   
     
     
         15 . The cartridge and chip assembly according to  claim 14 , having a first configuration wherein the chip is held between at least one lower clip and at least one upper clip of the cartridge such that the inlet is not in fluid communication with the at least one fluid reservoir. 
     
     
         16 . The cartridge and chip assembly according to  claim 14 , having a second configuration wherein the chip is held between at least one upper clip of the cartridge and the cartridge such that the inlet is in fluid communication with the at least one fluid reservoir. 
     
     
         17 . The cartridge and chip assembly according to  claim 14 , further comprising at least one release located on the cartridge for transitioning the cartridge and chip assembly from a first configuration to a second configuration. 
     
     
         18 . The cartridge and chip assembly according to  claim 14 , further comprising an exit valve and outlet of the chip in fluid communication with a waste area of the cartridge. 
     
     
         19 . The cartridge and chip assembly according to  claim 14 , further comprising at least one of at least one foil seal, a compressible layer, and an optically transparent seal. 
     
     
         20 . A method of using a cartridge and chip assembly, comprising:
 collecting and inserting a sample into a sample reservoir of a cartridge of the cartridge and chip assembly;   pushing the sample from the sample reservoir into a chip of the cartridge and chip assembly by way of an inlet and a port of the chip;   mixing the sample with magnetically active beads and then trapping the beads in the chip;   retracting the sample from the chip back into the reservoir;   pushing at least one wash fluid from at least one wash fluid reservoir in the cartridge;   retracting the at least one wash fluid from the chip back into the at least one wash fluid reservoir;   pushing an elution buffer into the chip,
 from an elution reservoir of the cartridge by depressing an elastic membrane, or 
 from a PCR reservoir of the cartridge; 
   retracting the elution buffer by,
 retracting the elastic member, or 
 retracting the elution buffer into the PCR reservoir, thereby creating a purified sample; 
   recovering the purified sample and pulling the purified sample into at least one heated region of the chip;   setting a temperature for the at least one heated region;   cycling the purified sample past an optical inspection region of the chip; and   measuring a signal taken from the purified sample at the optical inspection region.