Methods and apparatus for pathogen detection and analysis

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for implementing microfluidic analysis devices are provided. A monolithic elastomer membrane associated with an integrated pneumatic manifold allows the placement and actuation of dense arrays of a variety of fluid control structures, such as structures for isolating, routing, merging, splitting, and storing volumes of fluid. The fluid control structures can be used to implement a pathogen detection and analysis system including integrated immunoaffinity capture and analysis, such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and capillary electrophoresis (CE) analysis. An analyte solution can be input into the device and pumped through a series of immunoaffinity capture matrices in microfabricated chambers having antibodies targeted to the various classes of microbiological organisms such as bacteria, viruses and bacterial spores. The immunoaffinity chambers can capture, purify, and concentrate the target for further analysis steps.

Description

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH [0001] The techniques and mechanisms of the present invention were made with Government support under Contract DEFG91ER61125 by the US Department of Energy, by NASA Grant No. NAG5-9659, and by NIH grants HG01399 and P01 CA 77664.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to pathogen detection and analysis. In one example, the present invention provides sample preparation, processing, detection, and analysis systems implemented using microfluidic control structures. In another example, the present invention provides robuts techniques for making dense arrays of fluidic control elements for high throughput analysis applications. [0003] Conventional mechanisms for microfluidic analysis are limited. Some available mechanisms include single channel separation devices and multiple channel separation devices. Others include analyzers that integrate some sample preparation and analysis steps. However, many microfluidic an...

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Benefits of technology

[0009] These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be presented in more detail in the following spe

Problems solved by technology

Conventional mechanisms for microfluidic analysis are limited.

However, many microfluidic analysis devices that include fluidic control capabilities are chemically or physically incompatible with many chemical or biochemical assays.

In addition, many microfluidic control elements are difficult to fabricate in dense arrays because of limitations in the fabrication process, robustness, and / or design.

A microfluidic device utilizing such valves can not be removed from its control system without losing control of the fluidic contents of the device.

In addition, many techniques and mechanisms for microfluidic analysis furthermore lack sensitivitity, specificity, or quantitative analysis capabilities.

In particular, conventional microfluidic analysis mechanisms lack the functionality and capabilities to efficiently implement sample preparation for systems such as pathogen detectors and analyzers.

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