Optical reaction well for assay device

Abstract

This disclosure relates to an apparatus for simultaneously filling a plurality of sample chambers. In one aspect, the apparatus comprises a common fluid source and a plurality of independent, continuous fluidic pathways. Each independent, continuous fluidic pathway comprises a sample chamber and a pneumatic compartment. The sample chamber is connected to the common fluid source, and the pneumatic compartment is connected to the sample chamber. The sample chamber comprises, in part, an assay chamber. The assay chamber comprises a monolithic substrate and a plug having optically transmissive properties. In some embodiments, the assay chamber contains a magnetic mixing element. In some embodiments, the assay chamber is a double tapered chamber. In some embodiments, a ratio of a volume of the sample chamber to a volume of the pneumatic compartment is substantially equivalent for each fluidic pathway of the plurality of fluidic pathways.

1 .- 51 . (canceled) 
     
     
         52 . A method of simultaneously filling a plurality of sample chambers, the method comprising:
 a. Pressurizing a fluid sample within a common fluid pathway;   b. introducing the fluid sample into a plurality of entry conduits from the common fluid pathway;   c. flowing the fluid sample along each of the entry conduits towards an entry conduit terminus in each of the entry conduits, each entry conduit connected to a sample chamber,   d. flowing the fluid sample along a tapered inlet portion of each sample chamber,   e. flowing the fluid sample adjacent a pair of shoulders and along a plug within each sample chamber;   f. flowing the fluid sample along a tapered outlet portion of each sample chamber towards a pneumatic compartment terminus; and   g. displacing a gas contained within each entry conduit and each sample chamber into a pneumatic chamber in communication with each pneumatic compartment terminus.   
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein pressuring the fluid sample step is performed at a constant pressure. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 53  wherein the constant pressure is one of 5, 10, 20, 40 or 60 psi. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 52  wherein the pressurizing the fluid step further comprises pressuring the fluid sample at a series of increasing pressure levels. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55  wherein each increasing level of pressure is applied for a consistent duration. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 55  wherein each increasing level of pressure is increased by a constant amount. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 55  wherein the pressurizing the fluid sample applies a series of pressure levels from a lower pressure level to a higher pressure level. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein in use the pneumatic chamber is above the sample chamber such that the steps of flowing the fluid sample along a tapered outlet portion of the sample chamber towards a pneumatic compartment terminus and displacing a gas contained within each entry conduit are performed against a gravitational force. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 52 , in use, the plurality of sample chambers are oriented such that each pneumatic chamber associated with a specific sample chamber of the plurality of sample chamber is positioned above the sample chamber. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein flowing the fluid sample into the sample chamber of each fluidic pathway of the apparatus compresses the gas within the fluidic pathways toward the pneumatic compartments of the fluidic pathways 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 52  further comprising maintaining the pressure reached during the pressurizing a fluid sample step when an internal pressure in each of the pneumatic compartments equals the pressure applied to the common fluid pathway. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 52  further comprising; increasing a pressure within each pneumatic compartment during the displacing a gas step; and stopping increasing the pressure when a pressure applied to the common fluid pathway equals the pressure within each pneumatic compartment. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 52  further comprising stopping each of the flowing the sample steps when the internal pressure in each of the pneumatic compartments equals a pressure applied to the common fluid pathway. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein at least two sample chambers of the plurality of sample chambers differ in volume. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 65  wherein a flowrate from the common fluid pathway into each sample chamber of the plurality of sample chambers is proportional to a fluid volume of the sample chamber and there are at least two different flowrates. 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 52  further comprising: simultaneously filling each sample chamber of the plurality of sample chambers. 
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 52  further comprising: flowing the fluid sample along two diverging curved boundaries within the sample chamber during or after the flowing the fluid sample along the tapered inlet step. 
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 52  further comprising: flowing the fluid sample along two converging curved boundaries within the sample chamber after or during the flowing the fluid sample along the pair of shoulders step. 
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein convergence of the two curved boundaries slow the rate of fluid advance at a leading front of a meniscus of the fluid sample, such that when the fluid sample reaches the tapered outlet, the meniscus of the fluid sample is substantially symmetric with respect to the largest dimension of the assay chamber, thereby minimizing the trapping of bubbles within the assay chamber during filling. 
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 52  further comprising: positioning a meniscus in each sample chamber adjacent to the pneumatic chamber terminus. 
     
     
         72 .- 82 . (canceled)