Self-contained modular analytical cartridge and programmable reagent delivery system

Abstract

A modular system for constructing a variety of self-contained analytical cartridges enabled to perform a number of symmetrical or asymmetrical tests on a single sample source within a single device. Said cartridges are embodied as a readily reversible assemblage of two or more modules that are, in turn, operable to perform one or more tasks of an analytical test as discrete articles-of-manufacture. A programmable reagent delivery system comprising one or more serialized reagent clusters having one or more wet cells (individually packaged reagents) and zero or more dry cells (calibrated spacers); wherein, said wet cells are arranged in a linear series corresponding to prescribed temporal release sequence and dry cells are interpositioned between wet cells in a manner that enables two or more test protocols having asymmetrical release sequences to be synchronized such that a single mechanism can actuate more than one test protocol simultaneously.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]Not ApplicableSTATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT[0002]Not ApplicableTHE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT[0003]Not ApplicableREFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX[0004]Not ApplicableBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0005]1. Field of the Invention[0006]The field of the current invention relates to self-contained single-use fluidically-operated analytical devices considered to be portable and operable to perform one or more analytical test requiring a liquid or semi-solid environment. Applications related to the present invention are realized fields employing analytical testing such as environmental testing, food safety, national defense, research tools, drug development, and medical diagnostics.[0007]2. Description of Related Art[0008]A microfluidic device is a solid-state mixing device enabled by a fixed-configuration continuous-flow fluid cont...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0022]Another aspect of the present invention pertains to a compression form. Depending on the mechanism-of-operation for actuating the present system, certain embodiments may require the use of a compression form. A compression form is a structure made to possess openings enabled to receive and operably orient a serialized reagent cluster relative to a cannula in the formation of a reagent assemblage. The function of a compression form is to provide a space in which the cells of a reagent cluster may be compressed by the application of a compressive force to an end of the reagent cluster operable to compress each cell in said series. Certain embodiments of this compression form may be manufactured from a rigid material that resist deformation of the walls of said opening when acted on by the compression of a serialized reagent cluster by the compressive force. Other embodiments of the compression form may be manufactured from a material possessing qualities of operable compression and resilience that is also operable to resist the deformation of one or more serialized reagent clusters as both the compression form and serialized reagent cluster are compressed by a compressive force. Such a compression form may also possess operable absorptive qualities to absorb spillage of dispensable materials within the apparatus. Also, certain embodiments of this reagent assemblage may directly possess and position a cannula while in other embodiments it may be more favorable to locate the cannula elsewhere about the device. Another aspe...

Problems solved by technology

While these testing platforms derive greater commercial value from the diversity of test they can perform on a single sample source, due to their asymmetry they are easily orders of magnitudes more difficult to design and operate compared to homogenous testing platforms.

While some simultaneously actuated heterogeneous testing platforms exist, their commercial utility is generally limited to a small number of tests.

This in turn, leads to the need for different analytical instruments or the use of complex adaptors to operate these systems, neither of which is commercially favorable.

In addition to being difficult to design and operate, being singularly-indivisible and holistically self-contained, most of these devices have poor fault tolerances and are difficult to manufacture.

Doing so diversifies the number of devices needed to perform the equivalent number of tests which limits the full utility of such a device.

As a device that is inseparable into constituent parts the individual e...

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