Devices and methods for processing samples

Abstract

The present disclosure provides devices, systems, methods for processing and / or analyzing a biological sample. An analytic device for processing and / or analyzing a biological sample may comprise a movable carriage. The movable carriage may comprise at least five light paths which are configured to provide excitation energy to a sample. The analytic device may be portable. The analytic device may receive instructions for performing an assay from a mobile electronic device external to a housing of the analytic device.

Description

DEVICES AND METHODS FOR PROCESSING SAMPLESCROSS- REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 579,396, filed August 29, 2023, the entire content of which is entirely incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND

[0002] Nucleic acid-based amplification reactions are now widely used in research and clinical laboratories for the detection of genetic and infectious diseases. However, the devices and systems used to perform these amplification reactions may be bulky. This may limit their portability and use in the field. Furthermore, the need to ship samples to a laboratory for analysis may result in contamination from handling, sample degradation, and delays in obtaining the results of the assay.SUMMARY

[0003] Recognized herein is a need for analytic device for analyzing biological samples. The devices, systems, and methods described herein can be used for amplifying and / or detecting analytes from a sample in a substantially lab-free environment. The analytic device and methods provided herein can improve thermal regulation of the sample and reduce the effort required to ensure alignment of optical components. The results of an assay performed by the analytic device may be directed to a user, such as a subject, that may require such results. The user may then use the results of the assay for various purposes, such as identifying a disease (e.g., an infectious disease or contamination).

[0004] In some aspects, the present disclosure provides an analytic device for processing a biological sample, comprising: (a) a housing; (b) at least one heating block within the housing, the at least one heating block comprising a sample holder configured to receive an assay tube comprising the biological sample; (c) at least one heating unit in thermal communication with the at least one heating block, which at least one heating unit is configured to provide thermal energy to the assay tube through the at least one heating block; and (d) a movable carriage configured to move relative to the housing, wherein the movable carriage comprises at least five different light paths, wherein each of the at least five different light paths is configured to provide a different excitation energy from an excitation source to the assay tube.

[0005] In some embodiments, the movable carriage has a volume that is less than or equal to about 500 cubic centimeters.

[0006] In some embodiments, the at least one heating block comprises a plurality of sample holders configured to receive a plurality of assay tubes, and wherein the at least five different light paths are configured such that when one light path is aligned with an assay tube, an adjacent light path is misaligned with an assay tube.

[0007] In some embodiments, the movable carriage further comprises an excitation source.

[0008] In some embodiments, excitation source is configured to move with the movable carriage relative to the housing.

[0009] In some embodiments, each of the at least five different light paths is aligned with a designated excitation source, and the movable carriage comprises at least five different excitation sources.

[0010] In some embodiments, the housing has a volume that is less than or equal to about 3,000 cubic centimeters.

[0011] In some embodiments, the analytic device has a mass of at most about 20 kilograms.

[0012] In some embodiments, each of the at least five different light paths further comprises an emission filter and an excitation filter.

[0013] In some embodiments, each of the at least five different light paths comprises a distinct excitation filter configured to filter a different wavelength of energy from the excitation source.

[0014] In some embodiments, the at least five different light paths comprise distinct excitation filters configured to filter different wavelengths of energy from an excitation source.

[0015] In some embodiments, each of the at least five different light paths comprises a distinct emission filter configured to filter a different wavelength of energy emitted from the assay tube.

[0016] In some embodiments, the at least five different light paths comprise distinct emission filters configured to filter different wavelengths emitted from an assay tube.

[0017] In some embodiments, the at least five different light paths comprise at least five distinct light paths.

[0018] In some embodiments, the analytic device described herein further comprises an excitation light path between the excitation source and the assay tube and an emission light path between the assay tube and the emission filter, wherein the excitation light path and the emission light path do not overlap.

[0019] In some embodiments, an angle between the excitation light path and the emission light path is from about 20 degrees to 90 degrees.

[0020] In some embodiments, the analytic device described herein further comprises an excitation light path between the excitation source and the assay tube and an emission light path between theassay tube and the emission filter, wherein the excitation light path and the emission light path at least partially overlap.

[0021] In some embodiments, the analytic device described herein further comprises a detector configured to receive emission energy from the assay tube.

[0022] In some embodiments, the analytic device described herein further comprises at least five detectors, wherein each detector is in optical communication with one of the at least five different light paths.

[0023] In some embodiments, the emission light path further extends from the emission filter to the detector.

[0024] In some embodiments, the detector is a silicon photodiode.

[0025] In some embodiments, the detector is part of the movable carriage and is configured to move with the movable carriage relative to the housing.

[0026] In some embodiments, the at least one heating block comprises a plurality of sample holders configured to receive a plurality of assay tubes, and wherein the plurality of sample holders is arrayed along a first axis.

[0027] In some embodiments, the analytic device described herein further comprises a plurality of assay tubes arrayed in the plurality of sample holders along the first axis, and wherein the movable carriage is configured to move linearly along a second axis that is parallel to the first axis.

[0028] In some embodiments, the movable carriage is configured to move continuously along the second axis while providing excitation energy and receiving emission energy from the plurality of assay tubes.

[0029] In some embodiments, the movable carriage cycles in a linear motion within at least 100 millimeters (mm).

[0030] In some embodiments, a first light path of the at least five different light paths is aligned with a first assay tube to provide excitation energy and receive emission energy from the first assay tube, and a second light path of the at least five different light paths is misaligned with a second assay tube such that the second light path is blocked.

[0031] In some embodiments, when the movable carriage is at a first reading position along the second axis, at least two of the at least five different light paths are capable of providing excitation energy to at least two different assay tubes of the plurality of assay tubes arrayed along the first axis simultaneously.

[0032] In some embodiments, when the movable carriage is at a first reading position along the second axis, at least three of the at least five different light paths are not capable of providing excitation energy to an assay tube of the plurality of assay tubes arrayed along the first axis.

[0033] In some embodiments, the analytic device described herein further comprises a magnetic source on the movable carriage configured to oscillate along an axis parallel or perpendicular to the first axis.

[0034] In some embodiments, the movable carriage further comprises a magnetic source configured to move with the movable carriage relative to the housing.

[0035] In some embodiments, the magnetic source is a magnet.

[0036] In some embodiments, the at least one heating block comprises a first opening disposed on a first side of the at least one heating block coincident with the movable carriage configured to permit the excitation energy to pass to the biological sample within the assay tube.

[0037] In some embodiments, the at least one heating block further comprises a second opening separate from the first opening, and the second opening is configured to permit an emission energy from the biological sample within the assay tube to pass to a detector.

[0038] In some embodiments, the at least one heating block comprises a material having a specific heat capacity at 25 degrees Celsius of less than about 0.5 Joule / (gram x degrees Celsius).

[0039] In some embodiments, the analytic device described herein further comprises a cooling unit configured to permit removal of thermal energy from the assay tube through the at least one heating block.

[0040] In some embodiments, the cooling unit is configured to generate a positive pressure to exhaust or force radiant heat surrounding the at least one heating block out of the analytic device.

[0041] In some embodiments, the analytic device described herein further comprises a vent adjacent to the at least one heating block, and the vent is configured to allow air to pass through to exhaust or force radiant heat surrounding the at least one heating block out of the analytic device.

[0042] In some embodiments, the vent is configured to separate flow path of the air from the movable carriage such that components of the movable carriage are not exposed to the flow path.

[0043] In some embodiments, the vent is an internal plenum.

[0044] In some embodiments, the vent improves an Ingress Protection (IP) rating of the analytic device.

[0045] In some embodiments, the cooling unit comprises at least three fans not in direct contact with the heating block.

[0046] In some embodiments, the analytic device described herein further comprises one or more fins on the heating block.

[0047] In some embodiments, the analytic device described herein further comprises a processing unit comprising a circuit within the housing, wherein the processing unit is configured to communicate with a mobile electronic device external to the housing.

[0048] In some embodiments, the analytic device described herein further comprises a power supply disposed within the housing, the power supply being configured to provide power to the at least one heating unit and the excitation source.

[0049] In some aspects, the present disclosure provides an analytic device for processing a biological sample, comprising: (a) a housing; (b) at least one heating block within the housing, the at least one heating block comprising a sample holder configured to receive an assay tube comprising the biological sample; (c) at least one heating unit in thermal communication with the at least one heating block, which at least one heating unit is configured to provide thermal energy to the assay tube through the at least one heating block; and (d) a movable carriage configured to move relative to the housing, wherein the movable carriage comprises at least five different light paths, wherein the movable carriage is configured to (i) provide excitation energy to the assay tube along a first light path of the at least five different light paths and (ii) receive emission energy from the assay tube along a second light path of the at least five different light paths during continuous movement of the movable carriage.

[0050] In some embodiments, the first light path and the second light path are a same light path.

[0051] In some embodiments, the movable carriage cycles in a linear motion within at least 100 millimeters (mm).

[0052] In some embodiments, the at least one heating block comprises a plurality of sample holders configured to receive a plurality of assay tubes.

[0053] In some embodiments, the at least five different light paths are configured such that when one light path is aligned with an assay tube, an adjacent light path is misaligned with an assay tube.

[0054] In some embodiments, the plurality of sample holders is arrayed along a first axis.

[0055] In some embodiments, the analytic device described herein comprises a plurality of assay tubes arrayed in the plurality of sample holders along the first axis, and the movable carriage is configured to move linearly along a second axis that is parallel to the first axis.

[0056] In some embodiments, when the movable carriage is at a first reading position, at least one of the at least five different light paths is capable of providing excitation energy to at least oneassay tube of the plurality of assay tubes, and at least one of the at least five different light paths is not capable of providing excitation energy to an assay tube of the plurality of assay tubes.

[0057] In some embodiments, when the movable carriage is at a first reading position, at least two of the at least five different light paths are capable of providing excitation energy to at least two different assay tubes of the plurality of assay tubes simultaneously, and at least three of the at least five different light paths are not capable of providing excitation energy to an assay tube of the plurality of assay tubes.

[0058] In some aspects, the present disclosure provides an analytic device for processing a biological sample, comprising: (a) a housing; (b) at least one heating block within the housing, the at least one heating block comprising a plurality of sample holders configured to receive a plurality of assay tubes comprising the biological sample; (c) at least one heating unit in thermal communication with the at least one heating block, which at least one heating unit provides thermal energy to the plurality of assay tubes through the at least one heating block; and (d) a movable carriage configured to move relative to the housing, comprising at least five different light paths, wherein when the movable carriage is at a first reading position, at least two of the at least five different light paths are capable of providing excitation energy to at least two different assay tubes of the plurality of assay tubes simultaneously, and at least three of the at least five different light paths are not capable of providing excitation energy to an assay tube of the plurality of assay tubes.

[0059] In some embodiments, the plurality of sample holders is arrayed along a first axis.

[0060] In some embodiments, the analytic device described herein comprises a plurality of assay tubes arrayed in the plurality of sample holders along the first axis, and the movable carriage is configured to move linearly along a second axis that is parallel to the first axis.

[0061] In some embodiments, the movable carriage is configured to move continuously while providing excitation energy and receiving emission energy from the assay tube.

[0062] In some embodiments, each of the at least five different light paths further comprises an emission filter and an excitation filter.

[0063] In some embodiments, the at least five different light paths comprise at least five distinct light paths.

[0064] In some embodiments, the movable carriage further comprises a magnetic source configured to move with the movable carriage relative to the housing.

[0065] In some embodiments, the magnetic source is a magnet.

[0066] In some embodiments, the at least one heating block comprises a first opening disposed on a first side of the at least one heating block coincident with the movable carriage configured to permit the excitation energy to pass to the biological sample.

[0067] In some embodiments, the at least one heating block further comprises a second opening separate from the first opening, and wherein the second opening is configured to permit an emission energy from the biological sample to pass to a detector.

[0068] In some embodiments, the at least one heating block comprises a material having a specific heat capacity at 25 degrees Celsius of less than about 0.5 Joule / (gram x degrees Celsius).

[0069] In some embodiments, the analytic device described herein further comprises a cooling unit configured to permit removal of thermal energy from the assay tube through the at least one heating block.

[0070] In some embodiments, the analytic device described herein further comprises a cooling unit configured to permit removal of thermal energy from the plurality of assay tubes through the at least one heating block.

[0071] In some embodiments, the cooling unit is configured to generate a positive pressure to exhaust or force radiant heat surrounding the at least one heating block out of the analytic device.

[0072] In some embodiments, the analytic device described herein further comprises a vent adjacent to the at least one heating block, and wherein the vent is configured to allow air to pass through to exhaust or force radiant heat surrounding the at least one heating block out of the analytic device.

[0073] In some embodiments, the vent is configured to separate flow path of the air from the movable carriage such that components of the movable carriage are not exposed to the flow path.

[0074] In some embodiments, the vent is an internal plenum.

[0075] In some embodiments, the cooling unit comprises at least three fans not in direct contact with the heating block.

[0076] In some embodiments, the analytic device described herein further comprises one or more fins on the heating block.

[0077] In some embodiments, the analytic device described herein further comprises a processing unit comprising a circuit within the housing, wherein the processing unit is configured to communicate with a mobile electronic device external to the housing.

[0078] In some aspects, the present disclosure provides an analytic device for processing a biological sample, comprising: (a) a housing; (b) at least one heating block within the housing, the at least one heating block comprising a sample holder configured to receive an assay tube comprising the biological sample; (c) at least one heating unit in thermal communication withthe at least one heating block, which at least one heating unit provides thermal energy to the assay tube through the at least one heating block; (d) at least one cooling unit configured to permit removal of thermal energy from the assay tube through the at least one heating block; and (e) a vent adjacent to the at least one heating block, and wherein the vent is configured to allow air to pass through to exhaust or force radiant heat surrounding the at least one heating block out of the analytic device.

[0079] In some embodiments, the analytic device described herein further comprises a movable carriage configured to move relative to the housing, comprising at least five different light paths, wherein each of the at least five different light paths is configured to provide a different excitation energy from an excitation source to the assay tube.

[0080] In some aspects, the present disclosure provides a method for analyzing a sample, comprising: (a) activating an analytic device comprising: (i) a housing; (ii) at least one heating block within the housing, the at least one heating block comprising a sample holder holding an assay tube comprising the sample; (iii) at least one heating unit in thermal communication with the at least one heating block, which at least one heating unit provides thermal energy to the assay tube through the at least one heating block; (iv) a movable carriage that moves relative to the housing, comprising at least five different light paths, wherein each of the at least five different light paths provides a different excitation energy from an excitation source to the assay tube; and (v) a processing unit comprising a circuit within the housing, wherein the processing unit communicates with a mobile electronic device external to the housing; (b) receiving by the processing unit instructions from the mobile electronic device external to the housing for processing the sample in the assay tube; (c) in response to the instructions, directing the at least one heating unit to provide thermal energy to the at least one heating block to provide heat to the sample within the assay tube; and (d) in response to the instructions, moving the movable carriage to a first reading position corresponding to the assay tube.

[0081] In some embodiments, the movable carriage further comprises an excitation source configured to provide excitation energy.

[0082] In some embodiments, the excitation source is part of the movable carriage and movable relative to the housing.

[0083] In some embodiments, the method for analyzing a sample further comprises, in (d), directing the excitation source to expose the sample within the assay tube to excitation energy.

[0084] In some embodiments, the method for analyzing a sample further comprises, subsequent to (d), detecting emission from the sample within the assay tube, which emission is indicative of a presence or absence, or a relative amount, of a target molecule within the sample.

[0085] In some embodiments, the analytic device further comprises a cooling unit configured to permit removal of thermal energy from the assay tube through the at least one heating block.

[0086] In some embodiments, the cooling unit is configured to generate a positive pressure to exhaust or force radiant heat surrounding the at least one heating block out of the analytic device.

[0087] In some embodiments, the method for analyzing a sample further comprises directing the cooling unit to permit removal of thermal energy from the assay tube.

[0088] In some embodiments, the method for analyzing a sample further comprises a vent adjacent to the at least one heating block, and wherein the vent is configured to allow air to pass through to exhaust or force radiant heat surrounding the at least one heating block out of the method.

[0089] In some embodiments, the vent is configured to separate flow path of the air from the movable carriage such that components of the movable carriage are not exposed to the flow path.

[0090] In some embodiments, the vent is an internal plenum.

[0091] In some embodiments, the vent improves an Ingress Protection (IP) rating of the analytic device.

[0092] In some embodiments, the cooling unit comprises at least three fans not in direct contact with the heating block.

[0093] In some embodiments, the at least one heating block comprises a plurality of sample holders configured to receive a plurality of assay tubes, and the plurality of sample holders is arrayed along a first axis.

[0094] In some embodiments, the method for analyzing a sample further comprises a plurality of assay tubes arrayed in the plurality of sample holders along the first axis, and the movable carriage is configured to move linearly along a second axis that is parallel to the first axis.

[0095] In some embodiments, the movable carriage is configured to move continuously along the second axis while providing excitation energy and receiving emission energy from the plurality of assay tubes.

[0096] In some embodiments, a first light path of the at least five different light paths is aligned with a first assay tube to provide excitation energy and receive emission energy from the first assay tube, and a second light path of the at least five different light paths is misaligned with a second assay tube such that the second light path is blocked.

[0097] In some embodiments, when the movable carriage is at a first reading position along the second axis, at least two of the at least five different light paths are capable of providing excitation energy to at least two different assay tubes of the plurality of assay tubes arrayed along the first axis simultaneously.

[0098] In some embodiments, when the movable carriage is at a first reading position along the second axis, at least three of the at least five different light paths are not capable of providing excitation energy to an assay tube of the plurality of assay tubes arrayed along the first axis.

[0099] In some embodiments, the analytic device further comprises a magnetic source on the movable carriage configured to oscillate along an axis parallel or perpendicular to the first axis.

[0100] In some embodiments, the movable carriage further comprises a magnetic source configured to move with the movable carriage relative to the housing.

[0101] In some embodiments, the analytic device further comprises a power supply disposed within the housing, the power supply configured to provide power to the at least one heating unit, the movable carriage, and / or the excitation source.

[0102] In some aspects, the present disclosure provides a system for processing a sample, comprising: (a) a housing; (b) at least one heating block within the housing, the at least one heating block comprising a sample holder configured to receive an assay tube comprising the sample; (c) at least one heating unit in thermal communication with the at least one heating block, which at least one heating unit provides thermal energy to the assay tube through the at least one heating block; (d) a movable carriage configured to move relative to the housing, comprising at least five different light paths, wherein each of the at least five different light paths is configured to provide a different excitation energy from an excitation source to the assay tube; and (e) one or more computer processors operatively coupled to the at least one heating unit and the movable carriage, wherein the one or more computer processors are individually or collectively programmed to: (i) direct the at least one heating unit to provide thermal energy to the assay tube, and (ii) continuously move the movable carriage relative to the housing.

[0103] In some embodiments, the movable carriage further comprises an excitation source configured to provide excitation energy.

[0104] In some embodiments, each of the at least five different light paths is aligned with a designated excitation source, and the movable carriage comprises at least five different excitation sources.

[0105] In some embodiments, the movable carriage further comprises a detector configured to receive emission energy from the sample in the assay tube.

[0106] In some embodiments, the one or more computer processors are further operatively coupled to the excitation course and the detector, and the one or more computer processors are individually or collectively programmed to provide excitation energy from the excitation source to the assay tube; and receive the emission energy from the sample in the assay tube

[0107] In some embodiments, the one or more computer processors are individually or collectively programmed to receive the emission energy from the sample in the assay tube during the translation of the movable carriage.

[0108] In some embodiments, the at least one heating block comprises a plurality of sample holders configured to receive a plurality of assay tubes, and the one or more computer processors are individually or collectively programmed to simultaneously receive emission energy from at least two of the plurality of assay tubes simultaneously.

[0109] In some embodiments, the plurality of sample holders is arrayed along a first axis.

[0110] In some embodiments, the movable carriage is configured to move linearly along a second axis that is parallel to the first axis.[OHl] In some embodiments, the movable carriage is configured to move continuously along the second axis while providing excitation energy and receiving emission energy from the plurality of assay tubes.

[0112] In some embodiments, a first light path of the at least five different light paths is aligned with a first assay tube to provide excitation energy and receive emission energy from the first assay tube, and a second light path of the at least five different light paths is misaligned with a second assay tube such that the second light path is blocked.

[0113] In some embodiments, when the movable carriage is at a first reading position along the second axis, at least two of the at least five different light paths are capable of providing excitation energy to at least two different assay tubes of the plurality of assay tubes arrayed along the first axis simultaneously.

[0114] In some embodiments, when the movable carriage is at a first reading position along the second axis, at least three of the at least five different light paths are not capable of providing excitation energy to an assay tube of the plurality of assay tubes arrayed along the first axis.

[0115] In some embodiments, the system described herein further comprises a magnetic source on the movable carriage configured to oscillate along an axis parallel or perpendicular to the first axis.

[0116] In some embodiments, the system described herein further comprises a cooling unit configured to permit removal of thermal energy from the assay tube through the at least one heating block.

[0117] In some embodiments, the cooling unit is configured to generate a positive pressure to exhaust or force radiant heat surrounding the at least one heating block out of the housing.

[0118] In some embodiments, the system described herein further comprises a vent adjacent to the at least one heating block, and the vent is configured to allow air to pass through to exhaust or force radiant heat surrounding the at least one heating block out of the housing.

[0119] In some embodiments, the vent is configured to separate flow path of the air from the movable carriage such that components of the movable carriage are not exposed to the flow path.

[0120] In some embodiments, the vent is an internal plenum.

[0121] In some embodiments, the vent improves an Ingress Protection (IP) rating of the analytic device.

[0122] In some embodiments, the cooling unit comprises at least three fans not in direct contact with the heating block.

[0123] Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising machine executable code that, upon execution by one or more computer processors, implements any of the methods above or elsewhere herein.

[0124] Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a system comprising one or more computer processors and computer memory coupled thereto. The computer memory comprises machine executable code that, upon execution by the one or more computer processors, implements any of the methods above or elsewhere herein.

[0125] Additional aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the following detailed description, wherein only illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure are shown and described. As will be realized, the present disclosure is capable of other and different embodiments, and its several details are capable of modifications in various obvious respects, all without departing from the disclosure. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictiveINCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

[0126] All publications, patents, and patent applications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent, or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. To the extent publications and patents or patent applications incorporated by reference contradict the disclosure contained in the specification, the specification is intended to supersede and / or take precedence over any such contradictory material.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0127] The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. A better understanding of the features and advantages of the present invention will be obtained by reference to the following detailed description that sets forth illustrative embodiments, in which the principles of the invention are utilized, and the accompanying drawings (also “Figure” and “FIG.” herein), of which:

[0128] FIG. 1 shows a view of a housing for a portable analytic device for analyzing a biological sample.

[0129] FIGs. 2A-2B show perspective views of an exemplary analytic device. FIG. 2A shows a front view of an exemplary analytic device having multiple heating blocks for a plurality of assay tubes and a movable carriage. FIG. 2B shows a rear view of an exemplary analytic device having multiple heating blocks for a plurality of assay tubes and a movable carriage.

[0130] FIG. 3 shows an analytic device having multiple heating blocks for a plurality of assay tubes. The analytic device may be enclosed in a housing with a temperature control module and a control and power module.

[0131] FIG. 4 shows a side view of a movable carriage of an analytic device.

[0132] FIG. 5A shows an exemplary view of a movable carriage comprising optical components (e.g., emission filters, excitation filters, LEDs, and / or detectors).

[0133] FIG. 5B shows another exemplary view of a movable carriage comprising optical components.

[0134] FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of an exemplary optical path arrangement. An excitation path can communicate excitation energy to a sample (e.g., a biological sample in an assay tube), and an emission path can communicate emission energy to a detector.

[0135] FIG. 7A shows a top-view of the analytic device shown in FIG. 6. In this exemplary view, the first and fourth light paths are open to provide excitation energy to a sample and three light paths are blocked.

[0136] FIG. 7B shows a top-view of the analytic device shown in FIG. 6. In this exemplary view, the second and fifth light paths are open and three light paths are blocked.

[0137] FIG. 8 shows a flow chart of an exemplary method of analyzing a biological samples using an analytic device described herein.

[0138] FIG. 9A shows an exemplary control and power module of an analytic device.

[0139] FIG. 9B shows an exemplary temperature control module of an analytic device.

[0140] FIG. 9C shows an exemplary fluorimetry module of an analytic device.

[0141] FIG. 10 shows an example of a cooling system of an analytic device. An internal plenum provides forced convection and may separate the air flow path from optical components.

[0142] FIG. 11 shows a computer system that is programmed or otherwise configured to implement methods provided herein.

[0143] FIG. 12 shows an experimental result of fluorescence detection using an analytic device described herein.

[0144] FIG. 13 shows an experimental result of signal acquisition using an analytic device described herein. Position designates position of a moveable carriage along an axis.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0145] While various embodiments of the invention have been shown and described herein, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that such embodiments are provided by way of example only. Numerous variations, changes, and substitutions may occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. It should be understood that various alternatives to the embodiments of the invention described herein may be employed.

[0146] The present disclosure provides devices, systems, and methods for sample processing and / or analysis. An analytic device may be portable and may comprise a housing, a block heated by a heating unit (e.g., heating block) that is configured to provide thermal energy to a sample container (e.g., assay tube) including a sample, and a light path to provide excitation energy from an excitation source to the sample. An analytic device may also comprise a movable carriage that comprises an optical filter, an excitation source, and a detector and is configured to translate to bring the optical filter in alignment with the light path. The inclusion of a movable carriage may facilitate the production of a smaller and / or less expensive analytic device as one or more excitation sources, optical filters, detectors, and / or light paths of the movable carriage may be used to process and / or analyze multiple sample containers including multiple samples. An analytic device may comprise a plurality of light paths that may allow for detection of additional targets from a sample or reference dyes. The light paths can be detection channels for signal detection. The detection channels can be fluorescence detection channels. An analytic device may have greater than three detection channels, each having a different detector to detect a different signal. A greater number of detection channels may improve signal acquisition and signal -to-noise ratio of an analytic device.

[0147] A movable carriage may move along a track and continuously sample from a plurality of channels (e.g., excitation and emission paths) with the heating block. As the movable carriage moves along positions of a track, a light path may align with an assay tube of the heating block, providing excitation energy to and receiving emission energy from the assay tube. As the movable carriage moves along positions of a track, a light path may misalign with another assay tube ofthe heating block such that the light path is blocked and cannot provide excitation energy to or receive emission energy from the another assay tube. As the movable carriage moves along positions of a track, the sampling of light paths from the movable carriage may be integrated to improve system signaling and reduce sensitivity to optical misalignment. An analytic device using a plurality of light pipes that each align with a plurality of assay tubes may require greater efforts of calibration than an analytic device described herein with a continuously sampling moveable carriage. An analytic device described herein may include improved modulation of detection and excitation components to enhance channel separation and system signal-to-noise ratio. An analytic device may include a cooling unit configured to provide a positive pressure cooling system to a heating block. A cooling unit may have multiple blowers (e.g., fans) to provide an improved (e.g., faster) cooling rate. The addition of ducting and / or a plenum may improve an Ingress Protection (IP) rating of an analytic device and provide for more direct cooling of a heating block. An analytic device may be configured to accept and / or communicate with a mobile electronic device. An analytic device described herein may be used to analyze a biological sample including, or suspected of including, one or more nucleic acid molecules to determine the presence or an amount of the one or more nucleic acid molecules.Analytic Devices

[0148] An analytic device of the present disclosure may be used for processing and / or analyzing a sample, such as a biological sample. An analytic device of the present disclosure may be portable. For example, an analytic device may be hand-held. FIG. I shows an exemplary view of a housing 100 for a portable analytic device for analyzing a biological sample. A housing may have a lid 101, a securing unit 102 for securing the lid in an open or closed position, and / or a plurality of buttons or indicators 103-106. Housing 100 may comprise a button 103 for powering on / off the portable analytic device. Housing 100 may comprise a button 104 for restarting the portable analytic device. Housing 100 may comprise an indicator 105 for notifying a user that the battery is low and / or an indicator 106 that a wireless connection (e.g., a Bluetooth or Near Field Communication connection) has been established between the analytic device and a mobile electronic device.

[0149] An analytic device may comprise at least one button capable of, upon actuation, affecting the operability of the analytic device (e.g., powering on / off the portable analytic device or connecting the analytic device to other devices). An analytic device may comprise 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or more buttons. In some embodiments, an analytic device may comprise 4 buttons. A button may correspond to a different function or feature of the analytic device. In some embodiments, pairs of buttons may correspond to the same function or feature of the analytic device. For example, ananalytic device may include a button to increase a value, zoom level, volume, or other characteristic as well as a button to decrease the same value, zoom level, volume, or other characteristic.

[0150] A button mechanism may be a physical mechanism. For example, a button may comprise a depressible mechanism, such as button or micro-switch. Alternatively, a button may comprise a slidable or rotatable mechanism. For analytic devices including two or more buttons, each button may be separately selected from the group consisting of depressible mechanisms, slidable mechanisms, and rotatable mechanisms.

[0151] A button may comprise a touch-sensitive feature or mechanism. In some embodiments, the buttons of the housing may comprise a touch-sensitive feature or mechanism. A touch- sensitive mechanism may be a touch-sensitive virtual mechanism (e.g., a virtual button). Such a virtual mechanism may be virtually depressible, virtually slidable, or virtually rotatable, thereby giving the illusion of a physical button. For example, the analytic device may comprise or be configured to accept a mobile electronic device communicatively coupled with a wireless connection to the analytic device, and the mobile electronic device may comprise one or more virtual buttons. Depression of a virtual button of the mobile electronic device may transmit a signal from the mobile electronic device to the analytic device, thereby affecting, e.g., a thermocycling program or other process, as described herein. A connection between an analytic device and a mobile electronic device may comprise a one-way or two-way wired or wireless connection, such as a WiFi connection, a Bluetooth connection, a Bluetooth LE connection, an ANT+ connection, or a Gazell connection.

[0152] An analytic device may comprise one or more buttons disposed anywhere on the external surface of a housing of the analytic device. For example, a button may be located on a front face, a back face, a right side, a left side, a top side, or a bottom side of a housing of an analytic device. A button may be disposed in a location that is unavailable or hidden during operation of an analytic device (e.g., on the bottom side of a housing of the analytic device). In some cases, a panel may be used to cover or hide one or more buttons (e.g., when the analytic device is not in use and / or to prevent accidental actuation of a button).

[0153] Actuation or activation of one or more buttons may permit the user to cycle between a plurality of different thermocycling programs. For example, actuation of a button may cause an analytic device to switch from executing a first thermocycling program to a second thermocycling program. In another example, actuation of a button may cause an analytic device to switch from an “'‘off’ state to executing a first thermocycling program. Actuation of the button a second time may cause the analytic device to switch from executing a first thermocycling program to an “off”state. It should appreciated that an “off7state may refer to an idle state (e.g., wherein an analytic device may be on but a thennocycling program is paused, or wherein the analytic device is in a minimal power state) or a powered-down state (e.g., wherein the analytic device is powered off). Actuation of a button may affect a parameter of a thermocycling program. For example, an analytic device may comprise a depressible mechanism, and actuation of the depressible mechanism may cause a thermocycling program to switch from a denaturation step to an annealing step. In another example, an analytic device may comprise a rotatable mechanism, and rotation of the rotatable mechanism may cause a thermocycling temperature to increase. In some cases, actuation of two or more buttons may be required to affect a thennocycling program.

[0154] The degree of an input may affect the state of a thermocycling program. Non-limiting examples of a degree of an input that may be varied include a number of inputs (e.g., a number of times a button is actuated and released in succession), a speed of an input (e.g., a speed at which a button is actuated and / or released), a duration of an input (e.g., an amount of time that a button is actuated), a force exerted for the input (e.g., a force with which a button is actuated), and a direction of an input. An input may comprise actuation of a button. In one example, an analytic device may comprise a depressible mechanism, and brief (e.g., less than half of one second) depression and subsequent release of the depressible mechanism may pause a thermocyciing program. In another example, a paused thennocycling program may be resumed by depressing a depressible mechanism for, e.g., 1 -2 seconds.

[0155] An analytic device may be configured to accept one or more containers including a sample. For example, an analytic device may be configured to accept one or more assay tubes. An assaytube for use with an analytic device of the present disclosure may have any useful size and shape and comprise any useful material. For example, an assay tube may comprise a plastic, a polymer, or glass. An analytic device may be configured to accept an assay tube having a cross section that is substantially cylindrical, substantially rectangular, or has any other shape (e.g., a star shape). An analytic device may be configured to accept an assay tube having a mechanical key element such as a groove or protrusion disposed at one end of the assay tube or along a dimension of the assay tube to facilitate placement of the assay tube in the analytic device. For example, an assaytube may comprise a substantially rectangular protrusion along its length and the analytic device may comprise a corresponding indentation configured to accept the assay tube in a particular orientation. An analytic device may be configured to accept an assay tube having a cap or lid. Alternatively, an analytic device may comprise a component configured to cover an opening of an assay tube when the assay tube is placed in the analytic device. An analytic device may beconfigured to accept one or more assay tubes. For example, an analytic device may be configured to accept 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or more assay tubes.

[0156] A device described herein can have a surface or support to receive a reagent tube or a canridge. The cartridge can be a reagent cartridge. The surface or support can be a recessed surface or support, The surface can be a protruded surface or support. The stirface can be a chamber. The cartridge can be loaded onto the surface or support. Upon loading the cartridge onto the surface or support, a lid can be dosed to dick the cartridge in place.

[0157] An analytic device may be portable. The analytic device can have a housing. For example, an analytic device including a housing may be able to be easily carried or moved. A size, weight and / or shape of the housing and / or other components may affect the portability of the analytic device. For example, a volume of a housing of an analytic device may be at least about 100 cubic centimeters, at least about 200 cubic centimeters, at least about 300 cubic centimeters, at least about 400 cubic centimeters, at least about 450 cubic centimeters, at least about 500 cubic centimeters, at least about 510 cubic centimeters, at least about 520 cubic centimeters, at least about 530 cubic centimeters, at least about 540 cubic centimeters, at least about 550 cubic centimeters, at least about 560 cubic centimeters, at least about 570 cubic centimeters, at least about 580 cubic centimeters, at least about 590 cubic centimeters, at least about 600 cubic centimeters, at least about 700 cubic centimeters, at least about 750 cubic centimeters, at least about 800 cubic centimeters, at least about 900 cubic centimeters, or at least about 1,000 cubic centimeters. In some embodiments, a volume of a housing of an analytic device may be at most about 1,000 cubic centimeters, at most about 900 cubic centimeters, at most about 800 cubic centimeters, at most about 750 cubic centimeters, at most about 700 cubic centimeters, at most about 600 cubic centimeters, at most about 590 cubic centimeters, at most about 580 cubic centimeters, at most about 570 cubic centimeters, at most about 560 cubic centimeters, at most about 550 cubic centimeters, at most about 540 cubic centimeters, at most about 530 cubic centimeters, at most about 520 cubic centimeters, at most about 510 cubic centimeters, at most about 500 cubic centimeters, at most about 450 cubic centimeters, at most about 400 cubic centimeters, at most about 300 cubic centimeters, at most about 200 cubic centimeters, or at most about 100 cubic centimeters.

[0158] In some embodiments, a volume of a housing of an analytic device may be from about 200 cubic centimeters to about 900 cubic centimeters. In some embodiments, a volume of a housing of an analytic device may be from about 200 cubic centimeters to about 300 cubic centimeters, about 200 cubic centimeters to about 400 cubic centimeters, about 200 cubic centimeters to about 450 cubic centimeters, about 200 cubic centimeters to about 500 cubic centimeters, about 200cubic centimeters to about 525 cubic centimeters, about 200 cubic centimeters to about 550 cubic centimeters, about 200 cubic centimeters to about 575 cubic centimeters, about 200 cubic centimeters to about 600 cubic centimeters, about 200 cubic centimeters to about 700 cubic centimeters, about 200 cubic centimeters to about 800 cubic centimeters, about 200 cubic centimeters to about 900 cubic centimeters, about 300 cubic centimeters to about 400 cubic centimeters, about 300 cubic centimeters to about 450 cubic centimeters, about 300 cubic centimeters to about 500 cubic centimeters, about 300 cubic centimeters to about 525 cubic centimeters, about 300 cubic centimeters to about 550 cubic centimeters, about 300 cubic centimeters to about 575 cubic centimeters, about 300 cubic centimeters to about 600 cubic centimeters, about 300 cubic centimeters to about 700 cubic centimeters, about 300 cubic centimeters to about 800 cubic centimeters, about 300 cubic centimeters to about 900 cubic centimeters, about 400 cubic centimeters to about 450 cubic centimeters, about 400 cubic centimeters to about 500 cubic centimeters, about 400 cubic centimeters to about 525 cubic centimeters, about 400 cubic centimeters to about 550 cubic centimeters, about 400 cubic centimeters to about 575 cubic centimeters, about 400 cubic centimeters to about 600 cubic centimeters, about 400 cubic centimeters to about 700 cubic centimeters, about 400 cubic centimeters to about 800 cubic centimeters, about 400 cubic centimeters to about 900 cubic centimeters, about 450 cubic centimeters to about 500 cubic centimeters, about 450 cubic centimeters to about 525 cubic centimeters, about 450 cubic centimeters to about 550 cubic centimeters, about 450 cubic centimeters to about 575 cubic centimeters, about 450 cubic centimeters to about 600 cubic centimeters, about 450 cubic centimeters to about 700 cubic centimeters, about 450 cubic centimeters to about 800 cubic centimeters, about 450 cubic centimeters to about 900 cubic centimeters, about 500 cubic centimeters to about 525 cubic centimeters, about 500 cubic centimeters to about 550 cubic centimeters, about 500 cubic centimeters to about 575 cubic centimeters, about 500 cubic centimeters to about 600 cubic centimeters, about 500 cubic centimeters to about 700 cubic centimeters, about 500 cubic centimeters to about 800 cubic centimeters, about 500 cubic centimeters to about 900 cubic centimeters, about 525 cubic centimeters to about 550 cubic centimeters, about 525 cubic centimeters to about 575 cubic centimeters, about 525 cubic centimeters to about 600 cubic centimeters, about 525 cubic centimeters to about 700 cubic centimeters, about 525 cubic centimeters to about 800 cubic centimeters, about 525 cubic centimeters to about 900 cubic centimeters, about 550 cubic centimeters to about 575 cubic centimeters, about 550 cubic centimeters to about 600 cubic centimeters, about 550 cubic centimeters to about 700 cubic centimeters, about 550 cubic centimeters to about 800 cubic centimeters, about 550 cubiccentimeters to about 900 cubic centimeters, about 575 cubic centimeters to about 600 cubic centimeters, about 575 cubic centimeters to about 700 cubic centimeters, about 575 cubic centimeters to about 800 cubic centimeters, about 575 cubic centimeters to about 900 cubic centimeters, about 600 cubic centimeters to about 700 cubic centimeters, about 600 cubic centimeters to about 800 cubic centimeters, about 600 cubic centimeters to about 900 cubic centimeters, about 700 cubic centimeters to about 800 cubic centimeters, about 700 cubic centimeters to about 900 cubic centimeters, or about 800 cubic centimeters to about 900 cubic centimeters.

[0159] A volume of a housing of an analytic device may be less than about 4,000 cubic centimeters, less than about 3,500 cubic centimeters, less than about 3,000 cubic centimeters, less than about 2,900 cubic centimeters, less than about 2,800 cubic centimeters, less than about 2,700 cubic centimeters, less than about 2,600 cubic centimeters, less than about 2,500 cubic centimeters, less than about 2,400 cubic centimeters, less than about 2,300 cubic centimeters, less than about 2,200 cubic centimeters, less than about 2,100 cubic centimeters, less than about 2,000 cubic centimeters, less than about 1,900 cubic centimeters, less than about 1,800 cubic centimeters, less than about 1,700 cubic centimeters, less than about 1,600 cubic centimeters, less than about 1,500 cubic centimeters, or less than about 1,000 cubic centimeters. For example, a volume of an analytic device may be less than 2,000 cubic centimeters. A volume of a housing of an analytic device may be more than about 1,000 cubic centimeters, more than about 1,500, more than about 1,600 cubic centimeters, more than about 1,700 cubic centimeters, more than about 1,800 cubic centimeters, more than about 1,900 cubic centimeters, more than about 2,000 cubic centimeters, more than about 2,100 cubic centimeters, more than about 2,200 cubic centimeters, more than about 2,300 cubic centimeters, more than about 2,400 cubic centimeters, more than about 2,500 cubic centimeters, more than about 2,600 cubic centimeters, more than about 2,700 cubic centimeters, more than about 2,800 cubic centimeters, more than about 2,900 cubic centimeters, more than about 3,000 cubic centimeters, more than about 3,500 cubic centimeters, or more than about 4,000 cubic centimeters.

[0160] A volume of a housing of an analytic device may be from about 1,000 cubic centimeters to about 3,500 cubic centimeters. A volume of a housing of an analytic device may be from about 1,000 cubic centimeters to about 1,500 cubic centimeters, about 1,000 cubic centimeters to about 1,750 cubic centimeters, about 1,000 cubic centimeters to about 2,000 cubic centimeters, about 1,000 cubic centimeters to about 2,200 cubic centimeters, about 1,000 cubic centimeters to about 2,400 cubic centimeters, about 1,000 cubic centimeters to about 2,600 cubic centimeters, about 1,000 cubic centimeters to about 2,800 cubic centimeters, about 1,000 cubic centimeters to about,900 cubic centimeters, about 1,000 cubic centimeters to about 3,000 cubic centimeters, about,000 cubic centimeters to about 3,250 cubic centimeters, about 1,000 cubic centimeters to about.500 cubic centimeters, about 1,500 cubic centimeters to about 1,750 cubic centimeters, about.500 cubic centimeters to about 2,000 cubic centimeters, about 1,500 cubic centimeters to about,200 cubic centimeters, about 1,500 cubic centimeters to about 2,400 cubic centimeters, about,500 cubic centimeters to about 2,600 cubic centimeters, about 1,500 cubic centimeters to about,800 cubic centimeters, about 1,500 cubic centimeters to about 2,900 cubic centimeters, about.500 cubic centimeters to about 3,000 cubic centimeters, about 1,500 cubic centimeters to about,250 cubic centimeters, about 1,500 cubic centimeters to about 3,500 cubic centimeters, about,750 cubic centimeters to about 2,000 cubic centimeters, about 1,750 cubic centimeters to about,200 cubic centimeters, about 1,750 cubic centimeters to about 2,400 cubic centimeters, about,750 cubic centimeters to about 2,600 cubic centimeters, about 1,750 cubic centimeters to about,800 cubic centimeters, about 1,750 cubic centimeters to about 2,900 cubic centimeters, about,750 cubic centimeters to about 3,000 cubic centimeters, about 1,750 cubic centimeters to about,250 cubic centimeters, about 1,750 cubic centimeters to about 3,500 cubic centimeters, about,000 cubic centimeters to about 2,200 cubic centimeters, about 2,000 cubic centimeters to about,400 cubic centimeters, about 2,000 cubic centimeters to about 2,600 cubic centimeters, about,000 cubic centimeters to about 2,800 cubic centimeters, about 2,000 cubic centimeters to about,900 cubic centimeters, about 2,000 cubic centimeters to about 3,000 cubic centimeters, about,000 cubic centimeters to about 3,250 cubic centimeters, about 2,000 cubic centimeters to about.500 cubic centimeters, about 2,200 cubic centimeters to about 2,400 cubic centimeters, about,200 cubic centimeters to about 2,600 cubic centimeters, about 2,200 cubic centimeters to about,800 cubic centimeters, about 2,200 cubic centimeters to about 2,900 cubic centimeters, about,200 cubic centimeters to about 3,000 cubic centimeters, about 2,200 cubic centimeters to about,250 cubic centimeters, about 2,200 cubic centimeters to about 3,500 cubic centimeters, about,400 cubic centimeters to about 2,600 cubic centimeters, about 2,400 cubic centimeters to about,800 cubic centimeters, about 2,400 cubic centimeters to about 2,900 cubic centimeters, about,400 cubic centimeters to about 3,000 cubic centimeters, about 2,400 cubic centimeters to about,250 cubic centimeters, about 2,400 cubic centimeters to about 3,500 cubic centimeters, about,600 cubic centimeters to about 2,800 cubic centimeters, about 2,600 cubic centimeters to about,900 cubic centimeters, about 2,600 cubic centimeters to about 3,000 cubic centimeters, about,600 cubic centimeters to about 3,250 cubic centimeters, about 2,600 cubic centimeters to about,500 cubic centimeters, about 2,800 cubic centimeters to about 2,900 cubic centimeters, about,800 cubic centimeters to about 3,000 cubic centimeters, about 2,800 cubic centimeters to about3,250 cubic centimeters, about 2,800 cubic centimeters to about 3,500 cubic centimeters, about 2,900 cubic centimeters to about 3,000 cubic centimeters, about 2,900 cubic centimeters to about 3,250 cubic centimeters, about 2,900 cubic centimeters to about 3,500 cubic centimeters, about 3,000 cubic centimeters to about 3,250 cubic centimeters, about 3,000 cubic centimeters to about 3,500 cubic centimeters, or about 3,250 cubic centimeters to about 3,500 cubic centimeters.

[0161] A weight of an analytic device including a housing may be at least about 0.1 kilograms, at least about 0.2 kilograms, at least about 0.3 kilograms, at least about 0.4 kilograms, at least about 0.5 kilograms, at least about 0.6 kilograms, at least about 0.7 kilograms, at least about 0.8 kilograms, at least about 0.9 kilograms, at least about 1.0 kilograms, at least about 1.1 kilograms, at least about 1.2 kilograms, at least about 1.3 kilograms, at least about 1.4 kilograms, at least about 1.5 kilograms, at least about 1.6 kilograms, at least about 1.7 kilograms, at least about 1.8 kilograms, at least about 1.9 kilograms, at least about 2.0 kilograms, at least about 2.1 kilograms, at least about 2.2 kilograms, at least about 2.3 kilograms, at least about 2.4 kilograms, at least about 2.5 kilograms, at least about 2.6 kilograms, at least about 2.7 kilograms, at least about 2.8 kilograms, at least about 2.9 kilograms, at least about 3.0 kilograms, at least about 3.5 kilograms, at least about 4.0 kilograms, at least about 4.5 kilograms, at least about 5.0 kilograms, at least about 6.0 kilograms, at least about 7.0 kilograms, at least about 8.0 kilograms, at least about 9.0 kilograms, at least about 10.0 kilograms, at least about 15.0 kilograms, at least about 20.0 kilograms, at least about 25.0 kilograms, at least about 30.0 kilograms, at least about 40.0 kilograms, at least about 50.0 kilograms, at least about 75.0 kilograms, at least about 100.0 kilograms, at least about 150.0 kilograms, or at least about 200.0 kilograms. In some embodiments, a weight of an analytic device including a housing may be at most about 200.0 kilograms, at most about 150.0 kilograms, at most about 100.0 kilograms, at most about 75.0 kilograms, at most about 50.0 kilograms, at most about 40.0 kilograms, at most about 30.0 kilograms, at most about 25.0 kilograms, at most about 20.0 kilograms, at most about 15.0 kilograms, at most about 10.0 kilograms, at most about 9.0 kilograms, at most about 8.0 kilograms, at most about 7.0 kilograms, at most about 6.0 kilograms, at most about 5.0 kilograms, at most about 4.5 kilograms, at most about 4.0 kilograms, at most about 3.5 kilograms, at most about 3.0 kilograms, at most about 2.9 kilograms, at most about 2.8 kilograms, at most about 2.7 kilograms, at most about 2.6 kilograms, at most about 2.5 kilograms, at most about 2.4 kilograms, at most about 2.3 kilograms, at most about 2.2 kilograms, at most about 2.1 kilograms, at most about 2.0 kilograms, at most about 1.9 kilograms, at most about 1.8 kilograms, at most about 1.7 kilograms, at most about 1.6 kilograms, at most about 1.5 kilograms, at most about 1.4 kilograms, at most about 1.3 kilograms, at most about 1.2 kilograms, at most about 1.1 kilograms, at most about 1.0kilograms, at most about 0.9 kilograms, at most about 0.8 kilograms, at most about 0.7 kilograms, at most about 0.6 kilograms, at most about 0.5 kilograms, at most about 0.4 kilograms, at most about 0.3 kilograms, at most about 0.2 kilograms, or at most about 0.1 kilograms.

[0162] An analytic device may be a table-top analytic device. An analytic device may be a portable analytic device.

[0163] In some embodiments, a weight of an analytic device including a housing may be from about 5 kilograms to about 200 kilograms. In some embodiments, a weight of an analytic device including a housing may be from about 5 kilograms to about 10 kilograms, about 5 kilograms to about 15 kilograms, about 5 kilograms to about 20 kilograms, about 5 kilograms to about 25 kilograms, about 5 kilograms to about 30 kilograms, about 5 kilograms to about 40 kilograms, about 5 kilograms to about 50 kilograms, about 5 kilograms to about 75 kilograms, about 5 kilograms to about 100 kilograms, about 5 kilograms to about 150 kilograms, about 5 kilograms to about 200 kilograms, about 10 kilograms to about 15 kilograms, about 10 kilograms to about 20 kilograms, about 10 kilograms to about 25 kilograms, about 10 kilograms to about 30 kilograms, about 10 kilograms to about 40 kilograms, about 10 kilograms to about 50 kilograms, about 10 kilograms to about 75 kilograms, about 10 kilograms to about 100 kilograms, about 10 kilograms to about 150 kilograms, about 10 kilograms to about 200 kilograms, about 15 kilograms to about 20 kilograms, about 15 kilograms to about 25 kilograms, about 15 kilograms to about 30 kilograms, about 15 kilograms to about 40 kilograms, about 15 kilograms to about 50 kilograms, about 15 kilograms to about 75 kilograms, about 15 kilograms to about 100 kilograms, about 15 kilograms to about 150 kilograms, about 15 kilograms to about 200 kilograms, about 20 kilograms to about 25 kilograms, about 20 kilograms to about 30 kilograms, about 20 kilograms to about 40 kilograms, about 20 kilograms to about 50 kilograms, about 20 kilograms to about 75 kilograms, about 20 kilograms to about 100 kilograms, about 20 kilograms to about 150 kilograms, about 20 kilograms to about 200 kilograms, about 25 kilograms to about 30 kilograms, about 25 kilograms to about 40 kilograms, about 25 kilograms to about 50 kilograms, about 25 kilograms to about 75 kilograms, about 25 kilograms to about 100 kilograms, about 25 kilograms to about 150 kilograms, about 25 kilograms to about 200 kilograms, about 30 kilograms to about 40 kilograms, about 30 kilograms to about 50 kilograms, about 30 kilograms to about 75 kilograms, about 30 kilograms to about 100 kilograms, about 30 kilograms to about 150 kilograms, about 30 kilograms to about 200 kilograms, about 40 kilograms to about 50 kilograms, about 40 kilograms to about 75 kilograms, about 40 kilograms to about 100 kilograms, about 40 kilograms to about 150 kilograms, about 40 kilograms to about 200 kilograms, about 50 kilograms to about 75 kilograms, about 50 kilograms to about 100 kilograms, about 50 kilograms to about 150 kilograms, about 50kilograms to about 200 kilograms, about 75 kilograms to about 100 kilograms, about 75 kilograms to about 150 kilograms, about 75 kilograms to about 200 kilograms, about 100 kilograms to about 150 kilograms, about 100 kilograms to about 200 kilograms, or about 150 kilograms to about 200 kilograms.

[0164] In some embodiments, a weight of an analytic device including a housing may be from about 0.5 kilograms to about 20 kilograms. In some embodiments, a weight of an analytic device including a housing may be from about 0.5 kilograms to about 1 kilogram, about 0.5 kilograms to about 1.5 kilograms, about 0.5 kilograms to about 2 kilograms, about 0.5 kilograms to about 2.5 kilograms, about 0.5 kilograms to about 3 kilograms, about 0.5 kilograms to about 4 kilograms, about 0.5 kilograms to about 5 kilograms, about 0.5 kilograms to about 7.5 kilograms, about 0.5 kilograms to about 10 kilograms, about 0.5 kilograms to about 15 kilograms, about 0.5 kilograms to about 20 kilograms, about 1 kilogram to about 1.5 kilograms, about 1 kilogram to about 2 kilograms, about 1 kilogram to about 2.5 kilograms, about 1 kilogram to about 3 kilograms, about 1 kilogram to about 4 kilograms, about 1 kilogram to about 5 kilograms, about 1 kilogram to about 7.5 kilograms, about 1 kilogram to about 10 kilograms, about 1 kilogram to about 15 kilograms, about 1 kilogram to about 20 kilograms, about 1.5 kilograms to about 2 kilograms, about 1.5 kilograms to about 2.5 kilograms, about 1.5 kilograms to about 3 kilograms, about 1.5 kilograms to about 4 kilograms, about 1.5 kilograms to about 5 kilograms, about 1.5 kilograms to about 7.5 kilograms, about 1.5 kilograms to about 10 kilograms, about 1.5 kilograms to about 15 kilograms, about 1.5 kilograms to about 20 kilograms, about 2 kilograms to about 2.5 kilograms, about 2 kilograms to about 3 kilograms, about 2 kilograms to about 4 kilograms, about 2 kilograms to about 5 kilograms, about 2 kilograms to about 7.5 kilograms, about 2 kilograms to about 10 kilograms, about 2 kilograms to about 15 kilograms, about 2 kilograms to about 20 kilograms, about 2.5 kilograms to about 3 kilograms, about 2.5 kilograms to about 4 kilograms, about 2.5 kilograms to about 5 kilograms, about 2.5 kilograms to about 7.5 kilograms, about 2.5 kilograms to about 10 kilograms, about 2.5 kilograms to about 15 kilograms, about 2.5 kilograms to about 20 kilograms, about 3 kilograms to about 4 kilograms, about 3 kilograms to about 5 kilograms, about 3 kilograms to about 7.5 kilograms, about 3 kilograms to about 10 kilograms, about 3 kilograms to about 15 kilograms, about 3 kilograms to about 20 kilograms, about 4 kilograms to about 5 kilograms, about 4 kilograms to about 7.5 kilograms, about 4 kilograms to about 10 kilograms, about 4 kilograms to about 15 kilograms, about 4 kilograms to about 20 kilograms, about 5 kilograms to about 7.5 kilograms, about 5 kilograms to about 10 kilograms, about 5 kilograms to about 15 kilograms, about 5 kilograms to about 20 kilograms, about 7.5 kilograms to about 10 kilograms, about 7.5 kilograms to about 15 kilograms, about 7.5 kilograms to about20 kilograms, about 10 kilograms to about 15 kilograms, about 10 kilograms to about 20 kilograms, or about 15 kilograms to about 20 kilograms.

[0165] A shape of a housing of an analytic device may also contribute to the portability of the analytic device. At least one dimension of a housing (e.g., length, width or height), may be sufficiently small such that the housing may be easily grasped by the human hand. An analytic device may have an ergonomically shaped housing of a size that enables a user to hold the analytic device with one or two hands. The housing may comprise a gripping region, e.g., a portion of the housing that is gripped by the user when the user holds the analytic device. A gripping region of a housing may be shaped to conform to the fingers of the user, thereby allowing the user to maintain a secure grip on the housing. A front surface of a housing of an analytic device may be narrower in a middle section associated with a gripping region than at a top or bottom section of the front surface. The narrower section may be conveniently and securely gripped by the user, while the relatively wider top section may include a display device or a component thereof, such as a screen. A housing may comprise a retractable handle that may be ergonomically shaped. A housing of an analytic device may feature rounded corners and / or edges (e.g., where perpendicular surfaces meet) such that when a user holds the analytic device, the user’s hand may be in contact with rounded comers rather than sharp comers. The analytic device may be used as a portable device, such that the device may be moved with minimal effort between one location and another location. The analytic device may be used as table-top device.

[0166] As an example, an analytic device for processing a sample (e.g., a biological sample) can comprise: (i) a housing; (ii) at least one heating block within the housing, the at least one heating block comprising a sample holder configured to receive an assay tube comprising the biological sample; (iii) at least one heating unit in thermal communication with the at least one heating block, which at least one heating unit is configured to provide thermal energy to the assay tube through the at least one heating block; and (iv) a movable carriage configured to move relative to the housing, wherein the movable carriage comprises at least five different light paths, wherein each of the at least five different light paths is configured to provide a different excitation energy from an excitation source to the assay tube.

[0167] FIGs. 2A-2B show an example of a portable analytic device with a moveable carriage 201 described herein. The moveable carriage 201 comprises magnetic mixers 202 that can subject beads in assay tubes to motion by generated external magnetic fields. The analytic device may comprise a plurality of electrical modules, for example a control and power module 203 and a temperature control module 204. The analytic device may further comprise a cooling unit comprising a blower shroud 205, a filter pack 206, and one or more fans 207. The analytic devicemay comprise one or more heating blocks 208 within which an assay tube containing a sample is placed. Movement of the moveable carriage may be accomplished using a plurality of methods. In some embodiments, an induction motor 209 may be used to move the carriage from a first position to a second position. A magnetic motor shaft 210 may be used to move the carriage along a guide among the heating blocks containing assay tubes. The components of the analytic device may be contained within a chassis 211. FIG. 3 shows another example of a portable analytic device having a plurality of heating blocks 208 which may contain assay tubes comprising samples.

[0168] The analytic device for processing a biological sample can comprise a housing. The analytic device can comprise at least one heating block within the housing. The analytic device can further comprise at least one heating block comprising a sample holder configured to receive an assay tube comprising a biological sample. For example, the biological sample may comprise a nucleic acid molecule for processing or analysis. The biological sample can be a blood sample, a swab sample or any other sample described herein. The analytic device can further comprise at least one heating unit in thermal communication with the at least one heating block. The heating unit can comprise a plurality of heating blocks with each heating block configured to receive an assay tube. The at least one heating unit can provide thermal energy to the assay tube through the at least one heating block.

[0169] The analytic device can further comprise a movable carriage configured to move relative to the housing. The movable carriage can comprise at least five different light paths, where each of the at least five different light paths is configured to provide a different excitation energy from an excitation source to the assay tube. The moveable carriage can comprise an excitation source which may provide excitation energy to an assay tube of at least one heating block of the analytic device. The movable carriage may further comprise a detector which may receive emission energy from an assay tube of at least one heating block of the analytic device.

[0170] As another example, an analytic device for processing a sample (e.g., a biological sample) can comprise: (i) a housing; (ii) at least one heating block within the housing, the at least one heating block comprising a sample holder configured to receive an assay tube comprising the biological sample; (iii) at least one heating unit in thermal communication with the at least one heating block, which at least one heating unit is configured to provide thermal energy to the assay tube through the at least one heating block; and (iv) a movable carriage configured to move relative to the housing, wherein the movable carriage comprises at least five different light paths, wherein the movable carriage is configured to (i) provide excitation energy to the assay tube along a first light path of the at least five different light paths and (ii) receive emission energy from theassay tube along a second light path of the at least five different light paths during continuous movement of the movable carriage.Temperature Control and Thermocycling

[0171] An analytic device can comprise at least one heating block. An analytic device may be configured to heat or cool a sample within an assay tube. As shown in FIG. 2B, an analytic device may comprise one or more heating blocks 208 within which an assay tube containing a sample is placed. The analytic device may be configured to raise or lower the temperature of the heating block using a heater (e.g., a resistive heater) in discrete steps.

[0172] In some cases, the heating block can convert electrical energy into heat through the process of resistive or Joule heating. The heating block can be a resistive heater. Heating blocks can have power resister (e.g., thermistor), thermal epoxy to bring in thermal communication with sample chambers. The heating blocks may be level and uniform. Cooling of the heating block can be achieved or controlled through a fan.

[0173] In some cases, the heating block can be a Peltier heater. Heating and cooling can be achieved or controlled through a Peltier controller. In some other cases, the heating block may not be a Peltier heater or the heating block may not be controlled by a Peltier controller.

[0174] The portable analytic device described herein may or may not comprise a heated lid.

[0175] A heating block 208 may comprise any useful material. Non-limiting examples of materials that may be used to construct a heating block include aluminum, concrete, glass, quartz, steel, iron, nickel, zinc, copper, brass, silver, tin, gold, carbon, and any combination thereof (e.g., a zinc alloy such as Zamak). In some embodiments, a heating block may be constructed using silver. In some embodiments, a heating block may be constructed using aluminum. The heating block may include a first opening for accepting a vial containing or configured to contain a sample (e.g., biological sample), and a second opening configured to be in optical communication with a detector or an optical source (e.g., for excitation). The heating block may include a third opening (not shown) configured to be in optical communication with a detector or an optical source. For example, the second opening may be in optical communication with a detector and the third opening (not shown) may be in optical communication with an optical source for excitation. The heating block may comprise one or more fins. Without wishing to be bound by theory, fins may assist in cooling a sample in an assay tube contained in a heating block.

[0176] A heating block may be formed of an alloy. For example, a heating block may be constructed using steel. It is contemplated that constructing the heating block using a material compatible with the process of die casting, (e.g., a material that that may be used in the die cast construction of a block) can allow for the heating blocks to be manufactured at a larger scale (e.g.,at a higher volume in a shorter period of time, and / or at a reduced cost per unit). In some embodiments, a heating block can be constructed using a combination of materials. For example, a heating block can be constructed using aluminum and subsequently coated with nickel. In another example, a heating block can be constructed using zinc, and coated with silver. Coating the heating block can be advantageous for several reasons. For example, coating a heating block (e.g., with nickel) can allow the heating block to be soldered to a printed circuit board (PCB), as opposed to using thermal epoxy. Soldering the heating block to the PCB can allow an analytic device to be manufactured with a removable heating block (e.g., in the case of damage), whereas the use of a thermal epoxy can permanently affix the heating block to the PCB. It is contemplated that the choice of the material used to produce the heating block may affect the number of thermal cycles that the analytic device is capable of undergoing using a power supply (e.g., a self- contained power supply, such as a battery). In particular, the higher the specific heat capacity of the material, the more energy may be required to raise the temperature of the material. Accordingly, a heating block can be constructed using a material with a specific heat capacity (e.g., at 25°C, as measured in Joules per gram per °C; J / g°C) of less than about 2 J / g°C, less than about 1.5 J / g°C, less than about 1 J / g°C, less than about 0.9 J / g°C, less than about 0.8 J / g°C, less than about 0.7 J / g°C, less than about 0.6 J / g°C, less than about 0.5 J / g°C, less than about 0.45 J / g°C, less than about 0.4 J / g°C, less than about 0.35 J / g°C, less than about 0.3 J / g°C, less than about 0.25 J / g°C, less than about 0.2 J / g°C, less than about 0.15 J / g°C, less than about 0.1 J / g°C, less than about 0.05 J / g°C, or less than about 0.01 J / g°C. For example, a heating block can be constructed using a material having a specific heat capacity of less than about 1 J / g°C at 25°C.

[0177] Additionally, the lower the thermal conductivity of a material, the more energy may be required to raise the temperature of the material. Accordingly, a heating block can be constructed using a material with a thermal conductivity (e.g., as measured in Watt per meter per Kelvin; W / mK) of at least about 500 W / mK, at least about 400 W / mK, at least about 300 W / mK, at least about 200 W / mK, at least about 175 W / mK, at least about 150 W / mK, at least about 125 W / mK, at least about 100 W / mK, at least about 75 W / mK, at least about 50 W / mK, at least about 25 W / mK, or at least about 10 W / mK. For example, a heating block can be constructed using a material having a thermal conductivity of at least about 75 W / mK. In another example, a heating block can be constructed using a material having a thermal conductivity of at least about 400 W / mK.

[0178] A heating block may also comprise one or more fins to increase a surface area of the heating block and provide better heat dissipation from the heating block. It is also contemplated that the volume of the material used to form a heating block may affect the number of thermalcycles that the analytic device is capable of undergoing using a power supply (e.g., a self- contained power supply, such as a battery). In particular, the greater the volume of the material used to construct the block, the more energy may be required to raise the temperature of the heating block. Accordingly, a volume of a material used to construct a heating block may be less than about 20 cubic centimeters, less than about 15 cubic centimeters, less than about 10 cubic centimeters, less than about 9 cubic centimeters, less than about 8 cubic centimeters, less than about 7 cubic centimeters, less than about 6 cubic centimeters, less than about 5 cubic centimeters, less than about 4 cubic centimeters, less than about 3 cubic centimeters, less than about 2 cubic centimeters, less than about 1 cubic centimeters, less than about 0.9 cubic centimeters, less than about 0.8 cubic centimeters, less than about 0.7 cubic centimeters, less than about 0.6 cubic centimeters, less than about 0.5 cubic centimeters, less than about 0.4 cubic centimeters, less than about 0.3 cubic centimeters, less than about 0.2 cubic centimeters, or less than about 0.1 cubic centimeters. For example, a volume of a material used to construct a heating block may be less than about 0.5 cubic centimeters.

[0179] As described above, the material and / or volume of material used to construct the heating may be selected based on minimizing the energy required to heat or cool the heating block. Accordingly, an analytic device of the present disclosure may provide more energy to perform a greater number of thermal cycles, as compared to a device that uses a larger block, or a heating block constructed using a material with a higher specific heat capacity. An analytic device of the present disclosure may perform any number of thermal cycles. An analytic device may perform a given number of thermal cycles on a single charge of a power supply (e.g., a self-contained power supply, such as a battery). An analytic device of the present disclosure may perform at least about 1 thermal cycle, at least about 2 thermal cycles, at least about 3 thermal cycles, at least about 4 thermal cycles, at least about 5 thermal cycles, at least about 6 thermal cycles, at least about 7 thermal cycles at least about 8 thermal cycles, at least about 9 thermal cycles, at least about 10 thermal cycles, at least about 11 thermal cycles, at least about 12 thermal cycle, at least about 13 thermal cycles, at least about 14 thermal cycles, at least about 15 thermal cycles, at least about 16 thermal cycles, at least about 17 thermal cycles, at least about 18 thermal cycles at least about 19 thermal cycles, at least about 20 thermal cycles, at least about 25 thermal cycles, at least about 30 thermal cycles, at least about 35 thermal cycle, at least about 40 thermal cycles, at least about 45 thermal cycles, at least about 50 thermal cycles, or at least about 100 thermal cycles. An analytic device of the present disclosure may perform from about 1 to about 10 thermal cycles, about 5 to about 15 thermal cycles, about 10 to about 20 thermal cycles, or about 15 to about 25 thermal cycles.

[0180] Two or more individual heating blocks may be connected. For example, two or more heating blocks may be connected to form a strip of heating blocks (e.g., monolithic block model / configuration). Multiple individual heating blocks may be brought in contact with one another to yield a single heating block (e.g., a monolithic heating block). The individual heating blocks may be formed of the same material or different materials. Adjacent heating blocks may be in direct contact with one another. Adjacent heating blocks may be in contact with one another through a thermally conductive material (e.g., a thermally conductive epoxy).

[0181] A monolithic heating block can comprise a plurality of heating subunits (e.g., each subunit can be a functional equivalent to an individual heating block). The heating subunits may be formed of the same material (e.g., by removing material from a monolithic object to generate recesses). For example, a monolithic heating block may have a plurality of heating subunits installed on a circuit board of an analytic device.

[0182] An analytic device of the present disclosure may be configured to perform an amplification reaction such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (e.g., by cycling the temperature of a sample in an assay tube). Performing PCR may involve making a series of repeated temperature changes (e.g., thermal cycles) with each series (e.g., cycle) including two or three discrete temperature steps. Thermal cycling may be preceded by a single temperature step at a higher temperature (e.g., >90°C). Temperatures used and the length of time they are applied in each cycle may vary based on, for example, the enzyme used for deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthesis, the concentration of bivalent ions and nucleotides (dNTPs) in the reaction, and the melting temperature (Tm) of one or more primers. The individual steps of an amplification reaction such as PCR may comprise initialization, denaturation, annealing, and / or extension / elongation. Initialization may be used for DNA polymerases that require heat activation (e.g., “hot start” PCR). Initialization may comprise heating a sample (e.g., a sample in an assay tube) to a high temperature (e.g., 94-96°C [201- 205°F) or 98°C [208°F], if thermostable polymerases are used), which may be maintained for about 1-10 minutes. Denaturation may comprise heating (e.g., to 94-98°C [201-208°F]) a sample (e.g., a sample in an assay tube) for a given time such as between about 5 seconds and 5 minutes. This may result in DNA melting, or denaturation, of a double-stranded DNA template by breaking hydrogen bonds between complementary bases, yielding two single-stranded nucleic acid molecules (e.g., templates). Annealing may comprise lowering the temperature of a sample (e.g., a sample in an assay tube) to, e.g., 50-65°C (122-149°F) for a given time, such as between about 5 seconds and 5 minutes, thereby allowing annealing of one or more primers to each of the singlestranded nucleic acid templates. At least two different primers may be included in the reaction mixture, including one for each of the two single-stranded nucleic acid templates containing atarget region. The primers may be single-stranded nucleic acid molecules themselves. Conditions suitable for effective extension / elongation may depend on the DNA polymerase used. Extension / elongation comprises synthesizing a new DNA strand complementary to a singlestranded nucleic acid template by adding, in the presence of a DNA polymerase, free dNTPs from a reaction mixture that are complementary to the template in the 5'-to-3' direction and condensing the 5'-phosphate group of the dNTPs with the 3'-hydroxy group at the end of the nascent (elongating) DNA strand. The time required for extension / elongation may depend on the DNA polymerase used and / or on the length of the DNA target region to amplify.

[0183] An analytic device of the present disclosure may be configured to perform an amplification reaction such as isothermal amplification (e.g., amplification without temperature changing cycles). Isothermal amplification may take advantage of DNA polymerases with high stranddisplacement activity and specially designed primer sets to exponentially amplify a target sequence. Different isothermal amplification methods can utilize different DNA polymerases. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) utilizes two sets of specially designed primers, termed inner and outer primers and may be performed under a constant temperature of 50-65°C (122-149°F). Helicase-dependent amplification (HDA) utilizes DNA helicase activity to separate complementary strands of double strand DNA molecules, and thus may avoid temperature cycling to produce single-stranded templates for primer hybridization and subsequent primer extension by a DNA polymerase. The rolling circle amplification (RCA) method utilizes the continuous amplification of a circular DNA template by a strand-displacing DNA polymerase. RCA functions at a constant temperature (e.g., between 37°C-42°C, [98.6-107.6°F]) to produce a long singlestranded DNA molecule with tandem repeats of the circular template. Multiple displacement amplification (MDA) may utilize random exonuclease-resistant primers as well as a cp29 DNA polymerase with strand-displacement activity to produce target DNA strands at a constant temperature, e.g., 30 °C (86°F). MDA may also be used for whole genome amplification. The recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) method is a low temperature (e.g., 37°C [98.6°F]) isothermal amplification that couples isothermal recombinase-driven primer targeting of a target molecule with strand-displacement DNA activity. RPA utilizes nucleoprotein complexes formed by oligonucleotide primers and recombinase proteins to guide and facilitate binding to a target DNA strand. Nucleic acid sequence-based amplification (NASBA) is an isothermal, transcriptionbased amplification method designed for the amplification of single-stranded RNA or DNA sequence and performed at a constant temperature of 41°C (105.8°F).

[0184] Denaturation, annealing, and extension / elongation may constitute a single thermal cycle. Multiple cycles may be required to amplify a DNA target to a detectable level.

[0185] The temperature of a heating block may be regulated in any useful way. Thermal energy may be provided to or removed from a sample (e.g., a sample in an assay tube) by heating or cooling, respectively, the heating block. A temperature of a heating block may be controlled (e.g., increased or decreased) using a heating unit (e.g., comprising a resistive, ohmic heater, or flexible heater) and / or a cooling unit (e.g., comprising a thermoelectric cooler or a fan). Temperature monitoring may be necessary for thermocycling applications. Accordingly, a heating or cooling unit may also comprise one or more thermistors and / or temperature transducers to monitor and / or provide feedback to a heating or cooling unit to regulate the temperature of a heating block. A heating or cooling unit may be disposed adjacent to a heating block (e.g., on a surface of a block). Alternatively, a heating or cooling unit may be disposed within a recess along a surface of a heating block. A cooling unit may comprise a fan disposed away (e.g., not in direct contact with) a heating block. A fan may be used to apply a positive or negative pressure to a volume adjacent to a block, thereby evacuating the area surrounding the heating block. By evacuating the area surrounding the block, which may comprise air having radiant heat energy from the block, the temperature of the heating block may be reduced. A fan may be used to generate a vacuum to evacuate radiant heat surrounding the heating block. Alternatively, a fan may be used to generate positive pressure to exhaust or force radiant heat surrounding the heating block (e.g., a fluid comprising heat from the block) out of the analytic device. Radiant heat surrounding the heating block may be removed from the analytic device through one or more vents disposed on the analytic device. One or more fans 207 may be fluidly connected to the space surrounding the heating block and one or more vents. An analytic device may comprise any number of fans. For example, an analytic device may comprise 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or more fans. An analytic device may comprise one fan for each heating block.Carriage

[0186] An analytic device may comprise a carriage. A carriage may be used to hold in place or shift one or more optical components (e.g., an optical filter such as an emission filter or an excitation filter, a light path, and / or a light source) to align with a specified assay tube. A carriage may move relative to a housing of an analytic device (e.g., a moveable carriage). The moveable carriage may comprise a number of light paths, where the movable carriage may comprise at least five light paths. A light path may be configured to provide an excitation energy from an excitation source to an assay tube. Each of the light paths in the plurality of light paths of the moveable carriage may be configured to provide a different excitation energy from an excitation source to an assay tube.

[0187] The movable carriage can comprise an excitation source (e.g., a Light Emitting Diode (LED) or an array of LEDs) and / or a detector (e.g., a photodiode). A moveable carriage described herein may comprise a plurality of excitation sources that may be used to provide excitation energy to a sample within an assay tube. A moveable carriage described herein may further comprise a plurality of detectors that may be used for receiving emission energy from a sample within an assay tube. The excitation source may be configured to move with the movable carriage within a housing of the analytic device. The detector may be configured to move with the movable carriage within a housing of the analytic device.

[0188] A moveable carriage 201 may comprise a particular geometry and volume as shown in FIG. 4. In some embodiments, a volume of a movable carriage of an analytic device may be at least about 50 cubic centimeters, at least about 60 cubic centimeters, at least about 70 cubic centimeters, at least about 80 cubic centimeters, at least about 90 cubic centimeters, at least about 95 cubic centimeters, at least about 100 cubic centimeters, at least about 110 cubic centimeters, at least about 120 cubic centimeters, at least about 130 cubic centimeters, at least about 140 cubic centimeters, at least about 150 cubic centimeters, at least about 160 cubic centimeters, at least about 170 cubic centimeters, at least about 180 cubic centimeters, at least about 190 cubic centimeters, at least about 200 cubic centimeters, at least about 250 cubic centimeters, at least about 300 cubic centimeters, at least about 350 cubic centimeters, at least about 400 cubic centimeters, at least about 500 cubic centimeters, at least about 600 cubic centimeters, at least about 750 cubic centimeters, or at least about 1,000 cubic centimeters. In some embodiments, a volume of a movable carriage of an analytic device may be at most about 1,000 cubic centimeters, at most about 750 cubic centimeters, at most about 600 cubic centimeters, at most about 500 cubic centimeters, at most about 400 cubic centimeters, at most about 450 cubic centimeters, at most about 400 cubic centimeters, at most about 350 cubic centimeters, at most about 300 cubic centimeters, at most about 250 cubic centimeters, at most about 200 cubic centimeters, at most about 190 cubic centimeters, at most about 180 cubic centimeters, at most about 170 cubic centimeters, at most about 160 cubic centimeters, at most about 150 cubic centimeters, at most about 140 cubic centimeters, at most about 130 cubic centimeters, at most about 120 cubic centimeters, at most about 110 cubic centimeters, at most about 100 cubic centimeters, at most about 95 cubic centimeters, at most about 90 cubic centimeters, at most about 80 cubic centimeters, at most about 70 cubic centimeters, at most about 60 cubic centimeters, or at most about 50 cubic centimeters.

[0189] In some embodiments, a volume of a movable carriage of an analytic device may be from about 50 cubic centimeters to about 750 cubic centimeters. In some embodiments, a volume of amovable carriage of an analytic device may be from about 50 cubic centimeters to about 75 cubic centimeters, about 50 cubic centimeters to about 100 cubic centimeters, about 50 cubic centimeters to about 125 cubic centimeters, about 50 cubic centimeters to about 150 cubic centimeters, about 50 cubic centimeters to about 175 cubic centimeters, about 50 cubic centimeters to about 200 cubic centimeters, about 50 cubic centimeters to about 250 cubic centimeters, about 50 cubic centimeters to about 300 cubic centimeters, about 50 cubic centimeters to about 400 cubic centimeters, about 50 cubic centimeters to about 500 cubic centimeters, about 50 cubic centimeters to about 750 cubic centimeters, about 75 cubic centimeters to about 100 cubic centimeters, about 75 cubic centimeters to about 125 cubic centimeters, about 75 cubic centimeters to about 150 cubic centimeters, about 75 cubic centimeters to about 175 cubic centimeters, about 75 cubic centimeters to about 200 cubic centimeters, about 75 cubic centimeters to about 250 cubic centimeters, about 75 cubic centimeters to about 300 cubic centimeters, about 75 cubic centimeters to about 400 cubic centimeters, about 75 cubic centimeters to about 500 cubic centimeters, about 75 cubic centimeters to about 750 cubic centimeters, about 100 cubic centimeters to about 125 cubic centimeters, about 100 cubic centimeters to about 150 cubic centimeters, about 100 cubic centimeters to about 175 cubic centimeters, about 100 cubic centimeters to about 200 cubic centimeters, about 100 cubic centimeters to about 250 cubic centimeters, about 100 cubic centimeters to about 300 cubic centimeters, about 100 cubic centimeters to about 400 cubic centimeters, about 100 cubic centimeters to about 500 cubic centimeters, about 100 cubic centimeters to about 750 cubic centimeters, about 125 cubic centimeters to about 150 cubic centimeters, about 125 cubic centimeters to about 175 cubic centimeters, about 125 cubic centimeters to about 200 cubic centimeters, about 125 cubic centimeters to about 250 cubic centimeters, about 125 cubic centimeters to about 300 cubic centimeters, about 125 cubic centimeters to about 400 cubic centimeters, about 125 cubic centimeters to about 500 cubic centimeters, about 125 cubic centimeters to about 750 cubic centimeters, about 150 cubic centimeters to about 175 cubic centimeters, about 150 cubic centimeters to about 200 cubic centimeters, about 150 cubic centimeters to about 250 cubic centimeters, about 150 cubic centimeters to about 300 cubic centimeters, about 150 cubic centimeters to about 400 cubic centimeters, about 150 cubic centimeters to about 500 cubic centimeters, about 150 cubic centimeters to about 750 cubic centimeters, about 175 cubic centimeters to about 200 cubic centimeters, about 175 cubic centimeters to about 250 cubic centimeters, about 175 cubic centimeters to about 300 cubic centimeters, about 175 cubic centimeters to about 400 cubic centimeters, about 175 cubic centimeters to about 500 cubic centimeters, about 175 cubiccentimeters to about 750 cubic centimeters, about 200 cubic centimeters to about 250 cubic centimeters, about 200 cubic centimeters to about 300 cubic centimeters, about 200 cubic centimeters to about 400 cubic centimeters, about 200 cubic centimeters to about 500 cubic centimeters, about 200 cubic centimeters to about 750 cubic centimeters, about 250 cubic centimeters to about 300 cubic centimeters, about 250 cubic centimeters to about 400 cubic centimeters, about 250 cubic centimeters to about 500 cubic centimeters, about 250 cubic centimeters to about 750 cubic centimeters, about 300 cubic centimeters to about 400 cubic centimeters, about 300 cubic centimeters to about 500 cubic centimeters, about 300 cubic centimeters to about 750 cubic centimeters, about 400 cubic centimeters to about 500 cubic centimeters, about 400 cubic centimeters to about 750 cubic centimeters, or about 500 cubic centimeters to about 750 cubic centimeters.

[0190] For example, a volume of a movable carriage of the analytic device may be less than 500 cubic centimeters, less than 450 cubic centimeters, less than 400 cubic centimeters, less than 350 cubic centimeters, less than 300 cubic centimeters, less than 250 cubic centimeters, less than 200 cubic centimeters, less than 150 cubic centimeters, less than 125 cubic centimeters, less than 120 cubic centimeters, less than 115 cubic centimeters, less than 110 cubic centimeters, less than 109 cubic centimeters, less than 108 cubic centimeters, less than 107 cubic centimeters, less than 106 cubic centimeters, less than 105 cubic centimeters, less than 104 cubic centimeters, less than 103 cubic centimeters, less than 102 cubic centimeters, less than 101 cubic centimeters, less than 100 cubic centimeters, less than 90 cubic centimeters, less than 80 cubic centimeters, less than 75 cubic centimeters, or less than 50 cubic centimeters. A volume of a movable carriage of an analytic device may be about 109 cubic centimeters.

[0191] A deconstructed view of an example movable carriage described herein is shown in FIGs. 5A-5B. A carriage 201 may comprise various components such as a fuselage 510, a linear guide 520, and magnet mixers 202. A fuselage 510 (e.g., chassis) may house the electrical and optical components of a moveable carriage 201. The linear guide 520 may provide stability and / or guide a moveable carriage along a track of the analytic device. Magnet mixers 202 may comprise a magnetic source to aid in mixing a sample of an assay tube. A moveable carriage may comprise various optical and electrical components, including but not limited to, a light path to communicate filtered excitation energy to a sample (e.g., a sample in an assay tube), a fluorometer PCBA 530 which may comprise a detector 540 or a plurality of detectors, a light shield, an excitation filter, and a LED excitation control PCBA 550 which may comprise an excitation source or a plurality of excitation sources. An induction motor 209 and the linear guide 520 can assist the movable carriage as it moves from a first position to a second position along a track.

[0192] The carriage may be configured to move along one or more paths, grooves, or rails. The carriage may be constructed using any useful material. Non-limiting examples of materials that may be used to construct the carriage include polysiloxane, polyphosphazene, low-density polyethylene (Idpe), high-density polyethylene (hdpe), polypropylene (pp), polyvinyl chloride (pvc), polystyrene (ps), nylon, nylon 6, nylon 6,6, teflon (polytetrafluoroethylene), thermoplastic polyurethanes (tpu), polychlorotrifluoroethylene (pctfe), bakelite, kevlar, twaron, mylar, neoprene, nylon, nomex, orlon, rilsan, technora, teflon, ultem, vectran, viton, zylon, polyamides, polycarbonate, polyester, polyethylene, polyvinylidene chloride (pvdc), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (abs), polyepoxide, polymethyl methacrylate, maleimide, polyetherimide, polylactic acid, furan, silicone, polysulfone, or a metal or metal alloy (e.g., aluminum, brass, copper, iron, and silver). A light path may comprise an open space of a particular geometry and volume. The space may be defined by a container or guide such as a pipe. A light path (e.g., a light pipe) may be constructed using any useful material. Non-limiting examples of materials that may be used to construct a light path (e.g., a light pipe) include glass, silica, fluorozirconate, fluoroaluminate, chalcogenide, plastic, PMMA, polystyrene, silicone resin, and any combination thereof.

[0193] A moveable carriage may be used to shift a light path aligning with a first light source and a first assay tube to a second light source and a second assay tube. Similarly, a moveable carriage may be used to shift a sample from aligning with a first light path to align with a second light path. An analytic device comprising a moveable carriage may provide certain advantages compared to an analytic device comprising, in lieu of a moveable carriage, a stationary component. For example, the inclusion of a moveable carriage may allow multiple assay tubes to share light paths and associated components such as optical filters (e.g., excitation and emission filters). This may reduce the cost of producing the analytic device (e.g., by requiring fewer optical filters, e.g., excitation and emission filters, which may be costly). Without wishing to be bound by theory, the sharing of light paths may also reduce the overall size of the analytic device (e.g., by reducing the number of optical components necessary for analyzing the sample in each assay tube), thereby making the analytic device more portable. A moveable carriage may be configured to move from a first or original position to a final position, making one or more stops at specified positions between the original and final positions. In some cases, a moveable carriage may be configured to move continuously from a first or original position to a final position (e.g., making zero stops between the original and final positions). The path between the original and final positions may be a linear path and may comprise one or more grooves, tracks, or rails along which a moveable carriage may travel. The path between the original and final positions may comprise one or more specified positions at which the moveable carriage may stop (e.g., via a manual or automatedcontrol, as described herein). The one or more specified positions may correspond to the positions of one or more assay tubes or seats or housings therefor in an analytic device. A specified position may comprise a mechanical component such as a key to facilitate positioning of the moveable carriage in the specified position (e.g., adjacent to an assay tube). Movement of a moveable carriage may be achieved using a variety of methods. For example, an induction motor may be used to move the carriage from a first position to a second position. A spring may be used to return a moveable carriage to its original position, e.g., after it has moved from its original position to a final position, such as the end of a rail, track, or groove.

[0194] A moveable carriage may comprise one or more optical filters (e.g., excitation or emission filters). An analytic device may comprise any useful optical filters (e.g., excitation and / or emission filters). Filters may be optical bandpass filters (e.g., optical interference films) having a bandpass at a frequency that may be optimal for one or more of (i) the excitation wavelength of a fluorophore or dye, and (ii) the emission wavelength of a fluorophore or dye. A filter may substantially attenuate non-bandpass frequencies to prevent transmission of undesirable light. For example, when using SYBR Green dye, an excitation filter bandpass may center around a wavelength of 485 nm, and an emission filter bandpass may center around a wavelength of 555 nm. An optical filter (e.g., an excitation filter and / or an emission filter) may be tilted (e.g., a plane containing the filter may be disposed at an angle) relative to a light path.

[0195] In some embodiments, the movable carriage may comprise a number of light paths. In some embodiments, a movable carriage of an analytic device may have at least two different light paths, at least three different light paths, at least four different light paths, at least five different light paths, at least six different light paths, at least seven different light paths, at least eight different light paths, at least nine different light paths, or at least ten different light paths. In some embodiments, a movable carriage of an analytic device may have at most ten different light paths, at most nine different light paths, at most eight different light paths, at most seven different light paths, at most six different light paths, at most five different light paths, at most four different light paths, at most three different light paths, or at most two different light paths.

[0196] In some embodiments, a light path comprises an emission filter and / or an excitation filter. In some embodiments, a light path comprises one, two, three, four, five, or more filters. In some embodiments, a light path comprises one filter. In some embodiments, the excitation filter may be configured to filter a wavelength of energy from excitation source for a light path. In some embodiments, each light path of the analytic device has a distinct excitation filter (e.g., a designated filter).

[0197] In some embodiments, each light path can comprise a distinct emission filter. The emission filter can be configured to filter a wavelength of energy from an assay tube. In some embodiments, a wavelength of energy from an assay tube may be different than a wavelength of energy from another assay tube. In some embodiments, the light paths of the analytic device comprise different emission filters each configured to filter different wavelengths emitted from an assay tube.

[0198] In some embodiments, the light paths of the analytic device are different light paths. For example, the light paths may partially overlap. In some embodiments, the light paths of the analytic device are distinct light paths. For example, the light paths may not overlap. For another example, the light paths can be separated from each other except being converged at the focal point of the sample or the assay tube being detected. A light path can comprise an excitation light path 610 and an emission light path 620. In some embodiments, a light path comprises an excitation light path. In some embodiments, a light path comprises an emission light path.

[0199] FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of an exemplary optical path arrangement. An excitation light path 610 may comprise a path from an excitation source 630 to an assay tube 640. In some cases, an excitation light path 610 comprises a path from an excitation source 630 through an excitation filter 650 to an assay tube 640. An emission light path 620 may comprise a path from a sample of an assay tube 640 to a detector 670 on a movable carriage. In some cases, an emission light path 620 may comprise a path from a sample of an assay tube 640 through an emission filter 660 to a detector 670 on a movable carriage. In some cases, the excitation light path 610 and the emission light path 620 overlap. In some cases, the excitation light path 610 and the emission light path 620 do not overlap. In some cases, the excitation light path 610 and the emission light path 620 partially overlap.

[0200] The excitation light path 610 and emission light path 620 can converge at a point. For example, the excitation light path 610 and emission light path 620 can converge at a point at an assay tube 640. In some cases, the excitation light path 610 and emission light path 620 can converge at a point that is not an assay tube. An angle may be created between the centerline of the excitation light path 610 and the emission light path 620 of the analytic device as shown in FIG. 6. In some embodiments, an angle between the excitation light path and the emission light path may be at least about 15°, at least about 20°, at least about 25°, at least about 30°, at least about 35°, at least about 40°, at least about 45°, at least about 50°, at least about 55°, at least about 60°, at least about 65°, at least about 70°, at least about 80°, at least about 90°, at least about 100°, at least about 120°, or at least about 150°. In some embodiments, an angle between the excitation light path and the emission light path may be at most about 150°, at most about 120°, at most about 100°, at most about 90°, at most about 80°, at most about 70°, at most about 65°, at mostabout 60°, at most about 55°, at most about 50°, at most about 45°, at most about 40°, at most about 35°, at most about 30°, at most about 25°, at most about 20°, or at most about 15°.

[0201] In some embodiments, an angle between the excitation light path and the emission light path may be from about 20° to about 100°. In some embodiments, an angle between the excitation light path and the emission light path may be from about 20° to about 30°, about 20° to about 40°, about 20° to about 42.5°, about 20° to about 45°, about 20° to about 47.5°, about 20° to about 50°, about 20° to about 60°, about 20° to about 70°, about 20° to about 80°, about 20° to about 90°, about 20° to about 100°, about 30° to about 40°, about 30° to about 42.5°, about 30° to about 45°, about 30° to about 47.5°, about 30° to about 50°, about 30° to about 60°, about 30° to about 70°, about 30° to about 80°, about 30° to about 90°, about 30° to about 100°, about 40° to about 42.5°, about 40° to about 45°, about 40° to about 47.5°, about 40° to about 50°, about 40° to about 60°, about 40° to about 70°, about 40° to about 80°, about 40° to about 90°, about 40° to about 100°, about 42.5° to about 45°, about 42.5° to about 47.5°, about 42.5° to about 50°, about 42.5° to about 60°, about 42.5° to about 70°, about 42.5° to about 80°, about 42.5° to about 90°, about 42.5° to about 100°, about 45° to about 47.5°, about 45° to about 50°, about 45° to about 60°, about 45° to about 70°, about 45° to about 80°, about 45° to about 90°, about 45° to about 100°, about 47.5° to about 50°, about 47.5° to about 60°, about 47.5° to about 70°, about 47.5° to about 80°, about 47.5° to about 90°, about 47.5° to about 100°, about 50° to about 60°, about 50° to about 70°, about 50° to about 80°, about 50° to about 90°, about 50° to about 100°, about 60° to about 70°, about 60° to about 80°, about 60° to about 90°, about 60° to about 100°, about 70° to about 80°, about 70° to about 90°, about 70° to about 100°, about 80° to about 90°, about 80° to about 100°, or about 90° to about 100°.

[0202] In some embodiments, an analytic device described herein may have one or more features / operations that are operatively electronically activatable. The light paths of the analytic device can be configured to be activated (e.g., unlocked) by an electronic device or system. The analytic device may be programmed to receive instructions that activate one or more features of the analytic device.

[0203] In some embodiments, the analytic device does not comprise a lens, a fiber optic, a prism, a dichroic filter, and / or a beamsplitter. In some embodiments, the analytic device comprises at least one of a lens, a fiber optic, a prism, a dichroic filter, and / or a beamsplitter.

[0204] One or more lenses may be used to direct, re-direct, focus, disperse, or collimate excitation or emission energy. For example, a lens may be used to focus excitation energy onto a sample (e.g., a sample in an assay tube). In another example, a lens may be used to collimate excitation energy from an excitation source. Non-limiting examples of lenses that may be used include abiconvex lens, a plano-convex lens, a positive meniscus lens, a negative meniscus lens, a planoconcave lens, a biconcave lens, a Fresnel lens, a cylindrical lens, a lenticular lens, and a gradient index lens. For example, a Fresnel lens may be used to collimate excitation energy from an excitation source and direct the excitation energy into a light path. A Fresnel lens may be made much thinner than a comparable plano-convex lens, in some cases taking the form of a flat sheet, which may be advantageous for producing a portable analytic device. The analytic device may not comprise a lens. A light path of the analytic device may focus using an aperture.

[0205] In some embodiments, the analytic device comprises a detector which may be configured to receive emission energy from an assay tube. The detector may be configured to receive emission energy from a sample (e.g., a sample in an assay tube), and possibly through an emission filter. Accordingly, the detector may comprise any suitable photodetector, such as, for example, an optical detector, a photoresistor, a photovoltaic cell, a photo diode, a phototube, a photomultiplier tube, a charge coupled device (CCD) camera, a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS), or any combination thereof. Emission energy may be produced by any suitable source, such as, for example, by the excitation of a component of a sample in an assay tube (e.g., an excitable fluorophore). A detector may be configured to selectively receive emission energy from a sample (e.g., energy of a particular wavelength or intensity). A detector may comprise a plurality of detectors (e.g., a series of photodetectors, each configured to receive a light beam having a different wavelength than the light beams received by the other photodetectors).

[0206] In some embodiments, a detector of the analytic device is configured to a light path so that each detector is in optical communication with a distinct light path. An emission light path of the analytic device may extend from an emission filter to the detector. In some embodiments, the detector may be a silicon photodiode. In some embodiments, the detector may be a germanium photodiode, a gallium phosphide photodiode, an indium gallium arsenide photodiode, an indium arsenide antimonide photodiode, an extended range indium gallium arsenide photodiode, or a mercury cadmium telluride photodiode. In some embodiments, the detector may be fixed to the movable carriage or on part of the movable carriage. In some embodiments, the detector is configured to move with the movable carriage of the analytic device relative to the housing of the analytic device.

[0207] A heating block of the analytic device can comprise a sample holder. A heating block of the analytic device can comprise a plurality of sample holder. The plurality of sample holders may be configured to receive a plurality of assay tubes. The assay tubes may comprise a sample to be analyzed by the analytic device. The sample holders may be configured to an arrangement to ease sample analysis. For example, the sample holders can be arrayed along a first axis of the analyticdevice. The analytic device may further comprise a plurality of assay tubes arrayed in a plurality of sample holders along a first axis.

[0208] The movable carriage may be configured to move linearly along a second axis, where the movable carriage is configured to move linearly along a second axis that is parallel to the first axis. The movable carriage may be configured to move continuously along the second axis without stopping at a given position while providing excitation energy and receiving emission energy from the plurality of assay tubes. The movable carriage may be configured to move continuously along the second axis without stopping at a given position for equal to or more than 0 to 2 seconds while providing excitation energy and receiving emission energy from the plurality of assay tubes. In some embodiments, the moveable carriage moves along the second axis without stopping at a given position for equal to or more than about 0.1 seconds, equal to or more than about 0.2 seconds, equal to or more than about 0.3 seconds, equal to or more than about 0.4 seconds, equal to or more than about 0.5 seconds, equal to or more than about 0.6 seconds, equal to or more than about 0.7 seconds, equal to or more than about 0.8 seconds, equal to or more than about 0.9 seconds, equal to or more than about 1.0 seconds, equal to or more than about 1.1 seconds, equal to or more than about 1.2 seconds, equal to or more than about 1.3 seconds, equal to or more than about 1.4 seconds, equal to or more than about 1.5 seconds, equal to or more than about 2.0 seconds, equal to or more than about 3.0 seconds, equal to or more than about 4.0 seconds, or equal to or more than about 5.0 seconds.

[0209] In some embodiments, the moveable carriage moves along the second axis without stopping at a given position for a period of time from about 0 seconds to about 2 seconds. In some embodiments, the moveable carriage moves along the second axis without stopping at a given position for a period of time from about 0 seconds to about 0.1 seconds, about 0 seconds to about 0.2 seconds, about 0 seconds to about 0.3 seconds, about 0 seconds to about 0.4 seconds, about 0 seconds to about 0.5 seconds, about 0 seconds to about 0.6 seconds, about 0 seconds to about 0.7 seconds, about 0 seconds to about 0.8 seconds, about 0 seconds to about 0.9 seconds, about 0 seconds to about 1 second, about 0 seconds to about 2 seconds, about 0.1 seconds to about 0.2 seconds, about 0.1 seconds to about 0.3 seconds, about 0.1 seconds to about 0.4 seconds, about 0.1 seconds to about 0.5 seconds, about 0.1 seconds to about 0.6 seconds, about 0.1 seconds to about 0.7 seconds, about 0.1 seconds to about 0.8 seconds, about 0.1 seconds to about 0.9 seconds, about 0.1 seconds to about 1 second, about 0.1 seconds to about 2 seconds, about 0.2 seconds to about 0.3 seconds, about 0.2 seconds to about 0.4 seconds, about 0.2 seconds to about 0.5 seconds, about 0.2 seconds to about 0.6 seconds, about 0.2 seconds to about 0.7 seconds, about 0.2 seconds to about 0.8 seconds, about 0.2 seconds to about 0.9 seconds, about 0.2 seconds to about 1 second,about 0.2 seconds to about 2 seconds, about 0.3 seconds to about 0.4 seconds, about 0.3 seconds to about 0.5 seconds, about 0.3 seconds to about 0.6 seconds, about 0.3 seconds to about 0.7 seconds, about 0.3 seconds to about 0.8 seconds, about 0.3 seconds to about 0.9 seconds, about 0.3 seconds to about 1 second, about 0.3 seconds to about 2 seconds, about 0.4 seconds to about 0.5 seconds, about 0.4 seconds to about 0.6 seconds, about 0.4 seconds to about 0.7 seconds, about 0.4 seconds to about 0.8 seconds, about 0.4 seconds to about 0.9 seconds, about 0.4 seconds to about 1 second, about 0.4 seconds to about 2 seconds, about 0.5 seconds to about 0.6 seconds, about 0.5 seconds to about 0.7 seconds, about 0.5 seconds to about 0.8 seconds, about 0.5 seconds to about 0.9 seconds, about 0.5 seconds to about 1 second, about 0.5 seconds to about 2 seconds, about 0.6 seconds to about 0.7 seconds, about 0.6 seconds to about 0.8 seconds, about 0.6 seconds to about 0.9 seconds, about 0.6 seconds to about 1 second, about 0.6 seconds to about 2 seconds, about 0.7 seconds to about 0.8 seconds, about 0.7 seconds to about 0.9 seconds, about 0.7 seconds to about 1 second, about 0.7 seconds to about 2 seconds, about 0.8 seconds to about 0.9 seconds, about 0.8 seconds to about 1 second, about 0.8 seconds to about 2 seconds, about 0.9 seconds to about 1 second, about 0.9 seconds to about 2 seconds, or about 1 second to about 2 seconds.

[0210] The movable carriage may move between two positions in a linear motion along a track. The two positions may be a start position and an end position, where the start position may be on one end of the track and the end position may be on another end of the track. The movable carriage may cycle in a linear motion along a track. A cycle may comprise a movable carriage moving from (i) a first position to a second position and (ii) returning to a first position, wherein (i) and (ii) can be repeated a number of times. A movable carriage can cycle in a linear motion within at least about 20 millimeters (mm), at least about 30 mm, at least about 40 mm, at least about 50 mm, at least about 60 mm, at least about 70 mm, at least about 80 mm, at least about 90 mm, at least about 95 mm, at least about 100 mm, at least about 105 mm, at least about 110 mm, at least about 120 mm, at least about 130 mm, at least about 140 mm, at least about 150 mm, or at least about 200 mm. A moveable carriage can cycle in a linear motion within at most about 200 mm, at most about 150 mm, at most about 140 mm, at most about 130 mm, at most about 120 mm, at most about 110 mm, at most about 105 mm, at most about 100 mm, at most about 95 mm, at most about 90 mm, at most about 80 mm, at most about 70 mm, at most about 60 mm, at most about 50 mm, at most about 40 mm, at most about 30 mm, at most about 20 mm, or at most about 10 mm. In some cases, a moveable carriage can cycle in a linear motion within at least 100 mm.

[0211] A movable carriage can cycle in a linear motion within a distance from about 50 mm to about 150 mm. A movable carriage can cycle in a linear motion within a distance from about50 mm to about 60 mm, about 50 mm to about 70 mm, about 50 mm to about 80 mm, about 50 mm to about 85 mm, about 50 mm to about 90 mm, about 50 mm to about 95 mm, about 50 mm to about 100 mm, about 50 mm to about 105 mm, about 50 mm to about 110 mm, about 50 mm to about 125 mm, about 50 mm to about 150 mm, about 60 mm to about 70 mm, about 60 mm to about 80 mm, about 60 mm to about 85 mm, about 60 mm to about 90 mm, about 60 mm to about 95 mm, about 60 mm to about 100 mm, about 60 mm to about 105 mm, about 60 mm to about 110 mm, about 60 mm to about 125 mm, about 60 mm to about 150 mm, about 70 mm to about 80 mm, about 70 mm to about 85 mm, about 70 mm to about 90 mm, about 70 mm to about 95 mm, about 70 mm to about 100 mm, about 70 mm to about 105 mm, about 70 mm to about 110 mm, about 70 mm to about 125 mm, about 70 mm to about 150 mm, about 80 mm to about 85 mm, about 80 mm to about 90 mm, about 80 mm to about 95 mm, about 80 mm to about 100 mm, about 80 mm to about 105 mm, about 80 mm to about 110 mm, about 80 mm to about 125 mm, about 80 mm to about 150 mm, about 85 mm to about 90 mm, about 85 mm to about 95 mm, about 85 mm to about 100 mm, about 85 mm to about 105 mm, about 85 mm to about 110 mm, about 85 mm to about 125 mm, about 85 mm to about 150 mm, about 90 mm to about 95 mm, about 90 mm to about 100 mm, about 90 mm to about 105 mm, about 90 mm to about 110 mm, about 90 mm to about 125 mm, about 90 mm to about 150 mm, about 95 mm to about 100 mm, about 95 mm to about 105 mm, about 95 mm to about 110 mm, about 95 mm to about 125 mm, about 95 mm to about 150 mm, about 100 mm to about 105 mm, about 100 mm to about 110 mm, about 100 mm to about 125 mm, about 100 mm to about 150 mm, about 105 mm to about 110 mm, about 105 mm to about 125 mm, about 105 mm to about 150 mm, about 110 mm to about 125 mm, about 110 mm to about 150 mm, or about 125 mm to about 150 mm.

[0212] As the movable carriage moves along an axis, a light path from the movable carriage may align with an assay tube in the sample holder of the analytic device to provide excitation energy and receive emission energy from the assay tube. In some cases, as the moveable carriage moves along an axis, more than one light paths from the movable carriage may align with more than one assay tubes in the sample holders of the analytic device to provide excitation energy and receive emission energy. In some cases, as the moveable carriage moves along an axis, a light path from the movable carriage may align with an assay tube in the sample holder of the analytic device and a different light path from the movable carriage may misalign with another assay tube in the sample holder of the analytic device such that the different light path is blocked. For example, a first light path of at least five different light paths may be aligned with a first assay tube to provide excitation energy and receive emission energy from the first assay tube, and a second light pathof at least five different light paths may be misaligned with a second assay tube such that a second light path is blocked (see FIG. 7A).

[0213] A movable carriage may move to a first reading position along an axis, where at that first reading position, at least two of at least five different light paths may be capable of providing excitation energy to at least two different assay tubes of a plurality of arrayed assay tubes simultaneously. The at least two different assay tubes may be adjacent to one another or the at least two different assay tubes may be separated by one, two, three, four, or more assay tubes. In some cases, the assay tubes provided excitation energy simultaneously may extend emission energy simultaneously to detectors. Any adjacent assay tubes may not be aligned simultaneously with the light paths. For example, two adjacent assay tubes of the plurality of assay tubes to be analyzed by the analytic device may not be simultaneously aligned with two light paths for signal acquisition such that noise can be reduced. Any adjacent light paths may not be aligned simultaneously with two assay tubes. A movable carriage may move to a first reading position along an axis, where at least three of at least five different light paths may not be capable of providing excitation energy to an assay tube of a plurality of arrayed assay tubes. An assay tube incapable of receiving excitation energy may be blocked from the excitation energy. When one assay tube is aligned with a light path for excitation and / or emission, the adjacent assay tube(s) can be misaligned with the light path(s) such that the light path(s) are blocked. As the movable carriage moves continuously relative to the housing of the analytic device, the carriage may be configured to provide excitation energy to an assay tube along a first light path of at least five different light paths. As the movable carriage moves continuously relative to the housing of the analytic device, the carriage may be configured to receive emission energy from an assay tube along a second light path of at least five different light paths. The first light path and the second light path may be the same light path. The first light path and the second light path may not be the same light path.

[0214] As another example, an analytic device for processing a sample (e.g., a biological sample) can comprise: (i) a housing; (ii) at least one heating block within the housing, the at least one heating block comprising a plurality of sample holders configured to receive a plurality of assay tubes comprising the biological sample; (iii) at least one heating unit in thermal communication with the at least one heating block, which at least one heating unit provides thermal energy to the plurality of assay tubes through the at least one heating block; and (iv) a movable carriage configured to move relative to the housing, comprising at least five different light paths, wherein when the movable carriage is at a first reading position, at least two of the at least five different light paths are capable of providing excitation energy to at least two different assay tubes of theplurality of assay tubes simultaneously, and at least three of the at least five different light paths are not capable of providing excitation energy to an assay tube of the plurality of assay tubes.Excitation Source

[0215] An analytic device described herein may comprise one or more excitation sources. An excitation source may be disposed on a carriage (e.g., a movable carriage, as described herein) and may be configured to deliver excitation energy to a sample (e.g., a sample in an assay tube) through an excitation filter and a light path. For an analytic device comprising a moveable carriage, a single excitation source disposed on the carriage may be configured to deliver excitation energy to two or more samples (e.g., two or more samples in two or more assay tubes) through the same excitation filter and light path (e.g., as the moveable carriage aligns the excitation source and light path with different assay tubes containing different samples).

[0216] A movable carriage of an analytic device described herein may have a plurality of excitation sources. An excitation source (e.g., 630 in FIG. 6) may be fixed to the moveable carriage of the analytic device. A top-view of an exemplary arrangement of optical paths is shown in FIGs. 7A-7B, wherein the excitation and emission paths are in the same plane. As the moveable carriage travels down from a first position to a second position, an excitation path may open that was blocked at the previous position. For example, as shown in FIG. 7A, at a first position (e.g., Position 1) the excitation / emission light path 610a is aligned. An excitation source (not shown) may provide excitation energy to a sample in an assay tube 640a of the heating block and a detector 670a may receive emission energy from the assay tube 640a. The excitation / emission path 610b is blocked. In FIG. 7B, as the moveable carriage travels to a second position (e.g., Position 2), the excitation / emission path 610a is blocked. The excitation / emission light path 610b is now aligned. An excitation source (not shown) may provide excitation energy to a sample in an assay tube 640b of the heating block and a detector 670b may receive emission energy from the assay tube 640b.

[0217] In some embodiments, at a given position of the moveable carriage, at least one light path may be aligned, at least two light paths may be aligned, or at least three light paths may be aligned. In some embodiments, at a given position of the moveable carriage, at least one light path may be blocked, at least two light paths may be blocked, or at least three light paths may be blocked. Each light path may comprise a different wavelength. In some embodiments, each excitation source may comprise a different excitation filter and / or a different wavelength. Without wishing to be bound by theory, as the moveable carriage travels down a guided track along a plurality of heating blocks containing a plurality of assay tubes, each assay tube may acquire a signal from each excitation source. Multiple acquired signals from an assay tube may be integrated (e.g., averaged, summed, or another form of combination) to provide a final resulting signal of the sample.

[0218] An excitation source may comprise a Light Emitting Diode (LED) or an array of LEDs (e.g., a set of single-color LEDs). An LED may have any useful size, shape, wavelength, or other characteristic. An LED may be a high power LED that may emit greater than or equal to about 1 mW of excitation energy. A high power LED may emit at least about 5 mW of excitation energy. An LED or an array of LEDs may emit, for example, about 50 mW of excitation energy. An array of high-powered LEDs may be used that draws, for example, about 10 watts of energy or less, or about 10 watts of energy or more. The total power draw may depend on the power of each LED and the number of LEDs in the array. The use of LEDs in an analytic device as an excitation source may be beneficial, for example, because an LED array may result in a significant reduction in power requirement over other light sources such as halogen light sources. An excitation source may use a power of about 1 microwatt (pW) or less. Alternatively, an excitation source may use a power of about 1 microwatt (pW), about 5 pW, about 25 pW, about 50 pW, about 100 pW, about 1 milliwatt (mW), about 5 mW, about 25 mW, about 50 mW, about 100 mW, about 1 W, about 5 W, about 50 W, or about 100 W or more, individually or when in used in an array. In some cases, a cooling device such as, but not limited to, a heat sink or fan may be used to cool the excitation source or a component thereof.

[0219] An excitation source may comprise an organic LED (OLED) or an array of OLEDs. An OLED may have any useful size, shape, wavelength, or other characteristic. An OLED may provide luminescence over a large area, for example, to provide excitation energy to multiple assay tubes simultaneously. Scatter or cross-talk light between multiple sample wells (e.g., seats or housings for assay tubes) for such an OLED may be reduced by overlaying a mask on the OLED or by patterning the luminescence of the OLED to operatively align with the multiple sample wells. An OLED may be a low power consumption device. An OLED may include a smallmolecule OLED and / or a polymer-based OLED also known as a Light-Emitting Polymer (LEP). A small-molecule OLED that is deposited on a substrate may be used. An OLED that is deposited on a surface by vapor-deposition technique may be used. An OLED may also be deposited on a surface by, for example, silk-screening. An LEP may be used that is deposited by, for example, via solvent coating.

[0220] The excitation source may be located on the movable carriage. In some embodiments, the excitation source is not fixed to the housing of the analytic device. In some embodiments, the excitation source can move with the moveable carriage relative to the housing of the analytic device.

[0221] In some embodiments, as the movable carriage travels along an axis relative to a housing of the analytic device, the movable carriage may reach multiple specified positions. At a specifiedposition, an excitation path may align with an assay tube and provide excitation energy to the assay tube.

[0222] The movable carriage can comprise two or more different light paths (e.g., at least five different light paths), each providing a different excitation energy from a different excitation source. The distance between different light paths can be designed in a way such that one or more light paths are aligned with assay tubes for excitation and emission while one or more other light paths are misaligned with assays tubes. A “carriage pitch” 710 as used herein, refers to a distance between two adjacent detectors on a movable carriage. In some embodiments, a carriage pitch 710 on a movable carriage described herein may be from at least about 1.0 mm, at least about 2.0 mm, at least about 3.0 mm, at least about 4.0 mm, at least about 4.5 mm, at least about 5.0 mm, at least about 5.1 mm, at least about 5.2 mm, at least about 5.3 mm, at least about 5.4 mm, at least about 5.5 mm, at least about 5.6 mm, at least about 5.7 mm, at least about 5.8 mm, at least about 5.9 mm, at least about 6.0 mm, at least about 6.1 mm, at least about 6.2 mm, at least about 6.3 mm, at least about 6.4 mm, at least about 6.5 mm, at least about 6.6 mm, at least about 6.7 mm, at least about 6.8 mm, at least about 6.9 mm, at least about 7.0 mm, at least about 7.5 mm, at least about 8.0 mm, at least about 8.5 mm, at least about 9.0 mm, or at least about 10.0 mm. In some embodiments, a carriage pitch on a movable carriage described herein may be at most about 10.0 mm, at most about 9.0 mm, at most about 8.5 mm, at most about 8.0 mm, at most about 7.5 mm, at most about 7.0 mm, at most about 6.9 mm, at most about 6.8 mm, at most about 6.7 mm, at most about 6.6 mm, at most about 6.5 mm, at most about 6.4 mm, at most about 6.3 mm, at most about 6.2 mm, at most about 6.1 mm, at most about 6.0 mm, at most about 5.9 mm, at most about 5.8 mm, at most about 5.7 mm, at most about 5.6 mm, at most about 5.5 mm, at most about 5.4 mm, at most about 5.3 mm, at most about 5.2 mm, at most about 5.1 mm, at most about 5.0 mm, at most about 4.5 mm, at most about 4.0 mm, at most about 3.0 mm, at most about 2.0 mm, or at most about 1.0 mm.

[0223] In some embodiments, a carriage pitch 710 on a movable carriage described herein may be from about 0.5 mm to about 9 mm. In some embodiments, a carriage pitch on a movable carriage described herein may be from about 0.5 mm to about 1 mm, about 0.5 mm to about 2 mm, about 0.5 mm to about 3 mm, about 0.5 mm to about 4 mm, about 0.5 mm to about 5 mm, about 0.5 mm to about 5.5 mm, about 0.5 mm to about 6 mm, about 0.5 mm to about 6.5 mm, about 0.5 mm to about 7 mm, about 0.5 mm to about 8 mm, about 0.5 mm to about 9 mm, about 1 mm to about 2 mm, about 1 mm to about 3 mm, about 1 mm to about 4 mm, about 1 mm to about 5 mm, about 1 mm to about 5.5 mm, about 1 mm to about 6 mm, about 1 mm to about 6.5 mm, about 1 mm to about 7 mm, about 1 mm to about 8 mm, about 1 mm to about 9 mm, about 2mm to about 3 mm, about 2 mm to about 4 mm, about 2 mm to about 5 mm, about 2 mm to about5.5 mm, about 2 mm to about 6 mm, about 2 mm to about 6.5 mm, about 2 mm to about 7 mm, about 2 mm to about 8 mm, about 2 mm to about 9 mm, about 3 mm to about 4 mm, about 3 mm to about 5 mm, about 3 mm to about 5.5 mm, about 3 mm to about 6 mm, about 3 mm to about6.5 mm, about 3 mm to about 7 mm, about 3 mm to about 8 mm, about 3 mm to about 9 mm, about 4 mm to about 5 mm, about 4 mm to about 5.5 mm, about 4 mm to about 6 mm, about 4 mm to about 6.5 mm, about 4 mm to about 7 mm, about 4 mm to about 8 mm, about 4 mm to about 9 mm, about 5 mm to about 5.5 mm, about 5 mm to about 6 mm, about 5 mm to about 6.5 mm, about 5 mm to about 7 mm, about 5 mm to about 8 mm, about 5 mm to about 9 mm, about5.5 mm to about 6 mm, about 5.5 mm to about 6.5 mm, about 5.5 mm to about 7 mm, about 5.5 mm to about 8 mm, about 5.5 mm to about 9 mm, about 6 mm to about 6.5 mm, about 6 mm to about 7 mm, about 6 mm to about 8 mm, about 6 mm to about 9 mm, about 6.5 mm to about 7 mm, about 6.5 mm to about 8 mm, about 6.5 mm to about 9 mm, about 7 mm to about 8 mm, about 7 mm to about 9 mm, or about 8 mm to about 9 mm.

[0224] A “detection pitch” 720 as used herein, refers to the distance between an assay tube and at least one other assay tube that are both aligned with light paths and receiving excitation energy. In some embodiments, a detection pitch 720 between two assay tubes of an analytic device described herein may be at least about 5.0 mm, at least about 8.0 mm, at least about 10.0 mm, at least about 12.0 mm, at least about 15.0 mm, at least about 16.0 mm, at least about 17.0 mm, at least about 17.5 mm, at least about 17.6 mm, at least about 17.7 mm, at least about 17.8 mm, at least about 17.9 mm, at least about 18.0 mm, at least about 18.1 mm, at least about 18.2 mm, at least about 18.3 mm, at least about 18.4 mm, at least about 18.5 mm, at least about 19.0 mm, at least about 19.5 mm, at least about 20.0 mm, or at least about 25.0 mm. In some embodiments, a detection pitch between two assay tubes of an analytic device described herein may be at most about 25.0 mm, at most about 20.0 mm, at most about 19.5 mm, at most about 19.0 mm, at most about 18.5 mm, at most about 18.4 mm, at most about 18.3 mm, at most about 18.2 mm, at most about 18.1 mm, at most about 18.0 mm, at most about 17.9 mm, at most about 17.8 mm, at most about 17.7 mm, at most about 17.6 mm, at most about 17.5 mm, at most about 17.0 mm, at most about 16.0 mm, at most about 15.0 mm, at most about 12.0 mm, at most about 10.0 mm, at most about 8.0 mm, or at most about 5.0 mm.

[0225] In some embodiments, a detection pitch 720 between two assay tubes of an analytic device described herein may be from about 5 mm to about 20 mm. In some embodiments, a detection pitch 720 between two assay tubes of an analytic device described herein may be from about 5 mm to about 10 mm, about 5 mm to about 11 mm, about 5 mm to about 12 mm, about 5 mm toabout 13 mm, about 5 mm to about 14 mm, about 5 mm to about 15 mm, about 5 mm to about 16 mm, about 5 mm to about 17 mm, about 5 mm to about 18 mm, about 5 mm to about 19 mm, about 5 mm to about 20 mm, about 10 mm to about 11 mm, about 10 mm to about 12 mm, about 10 mm to about 13 mm, about 10 mm to about 14 mm, about 10 mm to about 15 mm, about 10 mm to about 16 mm, about 10 mm to about 17 mm, about 10 mm to about 18 mm, about 10 mm to about 19 mm, about 10 mm to about 20 mm, about 11 mm to about 12 mm, about 11 mm to about 13 mm, about 11 mm to about 14 mm, about 11 mm to about 15 mm, about 11 mm to about16 mm, about 11 mm to about 17 mm, about 11 mm to about 18 mm, about 11 mm to about 19 mm, about 11 mm to about 20 mm, about 12 mm to about 13 mm, about 12 mm to about 14 mm, about 12 mm to about 15 mm, about 12 mm to about 16 mm, about 12 mm to about 17 mm, about 12 mm to about 18 mm, about 12 mm to about 19 mm, about 12 mm to about 20 mm, about 13 mm to about 14 mm, about 13 mm to about 15 mm, about 13 mm to about 16 mm, about 13 mm to about 17 mm, about 13 mm to about 18 mm, about 13 mm to about 19 mm, about 13 mm to about 20 mm, about 14 mm to about 15 mm, about 14 mm to about 16 mm, about 14 mm to about17 mm, about 14 mm to about 18 mm, about 14 mm to about 19 mm, about 14 mm to about 20 mm, about 15 mm to about 16 mm, about 15 mm to about 17 mm, about 15 mm to about 18 mm, about 15 mm to about 19 mm, about 15 mm to about 20 mm, about 16 mm to about 17 mm, about 16 mm to about 18 mm, about 16 mm to about 19 mm, about 16 mm to about 20 mm, about 17 mm to about 18 mm, about 17 mm to about 19 mm, about 17 mm to about 20 mm, about 18 mm to about 19 mm, about 18 mm to about 20 mm, or about 19 mm to about 20 mm.

[0226] A “block pitch” 730 as used herein, refers to the distance between two adjacent assay tubes. In some embodiments, a block pitch 730 between two assay tubes of an analytic device described herein may be at least about 2.0 mm, at least about 3.0 mm, at least about 4.0 mm, at least about 5.0 mm, at least about 6.0 mm, at least about 7.0 mm, at least about 7.5 mm, at least about 8.0 mm, at least about 8.5 mm, at least about 8.6 mm, at least about 8.7 mm, at least about 8.8 mm, at least about 8.9 mm, at least about 9.0 mm, at least about 9.1 mm, at least about 9.2 mm, at least about 9.3 mm, at least about 9.4 mm, at least about 9.5 mm, at least about 10.0 mm, at least about 11.0 mm, at least about 12.0 mm, or at least about 15.0 mm. In some embodiments, a block pitch between two assay tubes of an analytic device described herein may be at most about 15.0 mm, at most about 12.0 mm, at most about 11.0 mm, at most about 10.0 mm, at most about 9.5 mm, at most about 9.4 mm, at most about 9.3 mm, at most about 9.2 mm, at most about 9.1 mm, at most about 9.0 mm, at most about 8.9 mm, at most about 8.8 mm, at most about 8.7 mm, at most about 8.6 mm, at most about 8.5 mm, at most about 8.0 mm, at most about 7.5 mm, atmost about 7.0 mm, at most about 6.0 mm, at most about 5.0 mm, at most about 4.0 mm, at most about 3.0 mm, or at most about 2.0 mm.

[0227] In some embodiments, a block pitch 730 between two assay tubes of an analytic device described herein may be from about 4 mm to about 12 mm. In some embodiments, a block pitch 730 between two assay tubes of an analytic device described herein may be from about 4 mm to about 5 mm, about 4 mm to about 6 mm, about 4 mm to about 7 mm, about 4 mm to about 7.5 mm, about 4 mm to about 8 mm, about 4 mm to about 8.5 mm, about 4 mm to about 9 mm, about4 mm to about 9.5 mm, about 4 mm to about 10 mm, about 4 mm to about 11 mm, about 4 mm to about 12 mm, about 5 mm to about 6 mm, about 5 mm to about 7 mm, about 5 mm to about 7.5 mm, about 5 mm to about 8 mm, about 5 mm to about 8.5 mm, about 5 mm to about 9 mm, about5 mm to about 9.5 mm, about 5 mm to about 10 mm, about 5 mm to about 11 mm, about 5 mm to about 12 mm, about 6 mm to about 7 mm, about 6 mm to about 7.5 mm, about 6 mm to about 8 mm, about 6 mm to about 8.5 mm, about 6 mm to about 9 mm, about 6 mm to about 9.5 mm, about 6 mm to about 10 mm, about 6 mm to about 11 mm, about 6 mm to about 12 mm, about 7 mm to about 7.5 mm, about 7 mm to about 8 mm, about 7 mm to about 8.5 mm, about 7 mm to about 9 mm, about 7 mm to about 9.5 mm, about 7 mm to about 10 mm, about 7 mm to about 11 mm, about 7 mm to about 12 mm, about 7.5 mm to about 8 mm, about 7.5 mm to about 8.5 mm, about 7.5 mm to about 9 mm, about 7.5 mm to about 9.5 mm, about 7.5 mm to about 10 mm, about 7.5 mm to about 11 mm, about 7.5 mm to about 12 mm, about 8 mm to about 8.5 mm, about 8 mm to about 9 mm, about 8 mm to about 9.5 mm, about 8 mm to about 10 mm, about 8 mm to about 11 mm, about 8 mm to about 12 mm, about 8.5 mm to about 9 mm, about 8.5 mm to about 9.5 mm, about 8.5 mm to about 10 mm, about 8.5 mm to about 11 mm, about 8.5 mm to about 12 mm, about 9 mm to about 9.5 mm, about 9 mm to about 10 mm, about 9 mm to about 11 mm, about 9 mm to about 12 mm, about 9.5 mm to about 10 mm, about 9.5 mm to about 11 mm, about 9.5 mm to about 12 mm, about 10 mm to about 11 mm, about 10 mm to about 12 mm, or about 11 mm to about 12 mm.

[0228] The movable carriage can comprise at least five distinct optical paths (e.g., light paths). An optical path may comprise at least one excitation LED, at least one optical bandpass filter, and / or at least one silicon photodiode. In some embodiments, a light path comprises one, two, three, four, five, or more excitation LEDs. The LEDs may be arranged in a 5-channel array with filters wherein the analytic device comprises at least five LEDs. Each LED may comprise an excitation filter. An LED comprising an integrated excitation filter may improve intensity stabilization. In some embodiments, a light path comprises one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, or more optical bandpass filters. In some embodiments, a light path comprises one, two,three, four, five, or more silicon photodiodes. The analytic device may continuously sample multiple channels (e.g., light paths). In some embodiments, the analytic device samples 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or more channels. Without wishing to be bound by theory, when an optical path is misaligned, the measurements may be reduced in magnitude. The reduction in magnitude may be used for marking the boundaries of acquisitions that are valid for a given channel. The samples from the assay tubes between the marked boundaries may be either averaged or trapezoidally integrated to improve system signal-to-noise ratio and reduce sensitivity to optical misalignment.

[0229] Each light path may be modulated with a distinct sinusoid with a frequency between 2kHz and 3kHz. For example, each excitation source may be modulated with a distinct sinusoid with a frequency between 2kHz and 3kHz. An optical path may pass through an optical bandpass filter to modulate the frequency of the light path. For example, an excitatory light path originating from an excitation source may pass through an excitation filter which may modulate the frequency of the light path and / or an emission light path originating from an assay tube may pass through an emission filter which may modulate the frequency of the light path. Without wishing to be bound by theory, modulation of each excitation and emission light path across a frequency range of 2kHz to 3kHz may improve channel separation and system noise. A light path may be modulated by a frequency range from about 1.5 kHz to about 3.2 kHz. A light path may be modulated by a frequency range from about 1.5 kHz to about 1.8 kHz, about 1.5 kHz to about 2 kHz, about 1.5 kHz to about 2.2 kHz, about 1.5 kHz to about 2.3 kHz, about 1.5 kHz to about 2.4 kHz, about 1.5 kHz to about 2.5 kHz, about 1.5 kHz to about 2.6 kHz, about 1.5 kHz to about 2.7 kHz, about 1.5 kHz to about 2.8 kHz, about 1.5 kHz to about 3 kHz, about 1.5 kHz to about 3.2 kHz, about 1.8 kHz to about 2 kHz, about 1.8 kHz to about 2.2 kHz, about 1.8 kHz to about 2.3 kHz, about 1.8 kHz to about 2.4 kHz, about 1.8 kHz to about 2.5 kHz, about 1.8 kHz to about 2.6 kHz, about 1.8 kHz to about 2.7 kHz, about 1.8 kHz to about 2.8 kHz, about 1.8 kHz to about 3 kHz, about 1.8 kHz to about 3.2 kHz, about 2 kHz to about 2.2 kHz, about 2 kHz to about 2.3 kHz, about 2 kHz to about 2.4 kHz, about 2 kHz to about 2.5 kHz, about 2 kHz to about 2.6 kHz, about 2 kHz to about 2.7 kHz, about 2 kHz to about 2.8 kHz, about 2 kHz to about 3 kHz, about 2 kHz to about 3.2 kHz, about 2.2 kHz to about 2.3 kHz, about 2.2 kHz to about 2.4 kHz, about 2.2 kHz to about2.5 kHz, about 2.2 kHz to about 2.6 kHz, about 2.2 kHz to about 2.7 kHz, about 2.2 kHz to about2.8 kHz, about 2.2 kHz to about 3 kHz, about 2.2 kHz to about 3.2 kHz, about 2.3 kHz to about2.4 kHz, about 2.3 kHz to about 2.5 kHz, about 2.3 kHz to about 2.6 kHz, about 2.3 kHz to about2.7 kHz, about 2.3 kHz to about 2.8 kHz, about 2.3 kHz to about 3 kHz, about 2.3 kHz to about 3.2 kHz, about 2.4 kHz to about 2.5 kHz, about 2.4 kHz to about 2.6 kHz, about 2.4 kHz to about 2.7 kHz, about 2.4 kHz to about 2.8 kHz, about 2.4 kHz to about 3 kHz, about 2.4 kHz to about3.2 kHz, about 2.5 kHz to about 2.6 kHz, about 2.5 kHz to about 2.7 kHz, about 2.5 kHz to about 2.8 kHz, about 2.5 kHz to about 3 kHz, about 2.5 kHz to about 3.2 kHz, about 2.6 kHz to about2.7 kHz, about 2.6 kHz to about 2.8 kHz, about 2.6 kHz to about 3 kHz, about 2.6 kHz to about3.2 kHz, about 2.7 kHz to about 2.8 kHz, about 2.7 kHz to about 3 kHz, about 2.7 kHz to about3.2 kHz, about 2.8 kHz to about 3 kHz, about 2.8 kHz to about 3.2 kHz, or about 3 kHz to about3.2 kHz.

[0230] All photodetector amplifier output voltages, may be summed and converted to a differential signal that can then be sampled by a successive-approximation-register (SAR) ADC at a frequency of approximately 1 - 2 MHz. Each conversion result may then be stored in a microcontroller RAM to then be fed to a digital filter network. The digital filter network can implement 5 parallel sliding direct Fourier transforms that may demodulate and extract the magnitude of each of the separate 5 modulated signals at an output rate of 50-250 samples per second. The moveable carriage can be travelling along a track as this process occurs. As the assembly may be moving while this process occurs, each of the 5 demodulated signals may be a function of distance and can be recorded in memory as a list of 2 dimensional samples where the dimensions are relative fluorescence units and distance in millimeters. The signals may be integrated between the bounds defined by a RFU threshold and the points at which the signal crosses that threshold. This can correspond to the locations (e.g., the plurality of heating blocks containing assay tubes) at which each detection channel may be aligned with a given reaction well with the current system. For example, this may correspond to the at least 1, at least 2, at least 3, at least 4, at least 5, at least 6, at least 7, at least 8, at least 9, or more heating blocks containing assay tubes. The calculations described herein may allow the moveable carriage to be used for an arbitrary number of assay tubes at an arbitrary spacing, as each detection channel may be only aligned with a single assay tube at a given time.

[0231] The optical system may comprise different components and can be assembled in different configurations. Different configurations of the optical systems may result in different properties of the system as demonstrated by parameters such as power to vial, moving carriage baseline, signal to noise ratio (SNR), etc. As used herein, the SNR can be defined using the following equation:

[0233] where, x is the incidence angle of a light.

[0234] Typically, x may be 25 degrees on excitation and 15 degrees on emission. “Power to vial” refers to the total optical power making it into the vial that is available for excitation of fluorescentprobes. “Moving carriage baseline,” as used herein, refers to a baseline used for comparing different configurations of the optical system.

[0235] Using the parameters described herein, the properties of different configurations can be tested by excitation simulation. For example, an optical system can have a power to vial value of about 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 6%, 7%, 8%, 9%, 10% or more. The optical system can be 1 fold, 1.5 fold, 2 fold, 2.5 fold, 3 fold, 3.5 fold, 4 fold, 5 fold, 6 fold, 7 fold, 8 fold, 9 fold, 10 fold, 15 fold, 20 fold, or more efficient than the moving carriage baseline. The SNR of the optical system can be at least 1,000, 1,500, 2,000, 2,500, 3,000, 3,500, 4,000, 5,000 or more. In some case, the SNR of the optical system can be at least 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, 500 or more.

[0236] FIG. 8 shows an example process flow for the analytic device of FIGs. 2A-2B and FIG. 3. In a first operation 801, lid 101 of housing 100 is opened, and a user inserts one or more assay tubes each containing a sample into the analytic device. In a second operation 802, the user initiates the analytic device by pressing power button 103 located on housing 100. In a third operation 803, the user provides instructions for performing an amplification reaction (e.g., a thermal cycling or thermo-controlled assay). The instructions may be provided using an application on a mobile electronic device (e.g., which may be physically detached from the analytic device, integrated into the analytic device, or removably disposed in or on the analytic device, for example in a housing or groove of the analytic device). Instructions provided to the application may then be communicated to the analytic device (e.g., via a wireless connection, as described herein). In a fourth operation 804, the analytic device is initiated, and an excitation energy is delivered from excitation source, through excitation filter, through light path, to a first assay tube. In a fifth operation 805, emission energy from the sample in the first assay tube is delivered from the sample through emission filter to detector. In a sixth operation 806, a moving carriage comprising excitation source, excitation filter, and emission filter may move to a second position (e.g., aligning light path with a second assay tube). In a seventh operation 807, excitation energy from a first excitation source is blocked from reaching the sample in the first assay tube. In eight operation 808, excitation energy is delivered from a second excitation source, through a second excitation filter, through a second light path, to a second assay tube. In an ninth operation 809, emission energy from the sample in the second assay tube is delivered from the sample through a second emission filter and to detector.Electronic Architecture

[0237] An analytic device may comprise a core assembly of electronic modules to control or regulate components of the device, including but not limited to thermal communication, fluorescence detection, power, and / or sample sensing. In some embodiments, the analytic devicemay comprise a plurality of printed circuit board assemblies (e.g., PCBAs). In some embodiments, die analytic device may comprise I, 2, .3, 4, 5, or more PCBAs, In some embodiments, the analytic device comprises multiple power domains. The analytic device may comprise 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or more power domains. The analytic device may also comprise a microcontroller. In some embodiments, the analy tic device does not comprise a microcontroller.

[0238] As shown in FIGs. 9A-9C, In some embodiments, the analytic device comprises a control and power module 900, a thermal control module 910, and a fluorimetry module 920. As shown in FIG. 9A, a UBlox BLE Radio unit 901 of the control and power module may be in communication with a smart device 902. In some embodiments, the control and power module may comprise a processing unit 903 and a plurality of converter units 904. .A battery management unit 905 may be in communication with a battery (not shown) to provide power to the analytical device described herein.

[0239] As shown in FIG, 9B, a thermal control module 910 may contain a memory unit 911 and the memory unit may be an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (e.g., EEPROM). The EEPROM 911 be in communication with a processing unit 903 of the control and power module. The thermal control module can comprise a plurality of anal og-to-digi tai converters (ADC) 912. In some embodiments, the thermal control module can comprise at least about 5, at least about 6 at least about 7, at least about 8 at least about 9 at least about 10 at least about 11 at least about 12 at least about 13 at least about 14 or at least about 15 ADC units. In some embodiments, the thermal control module can comprise at least one temperature-feedback unit 913 that is coupled to a heater unit 914. In some embodiments, the thermal control module can comprise a plurality of temperature-feedback units and a plurality of heater units.

[0240] In some embodiments, the thermal control module does not comprise battery charging circuitry'. In some embodiments, the thermal control module comprises battery charging circuitry. Without wishing to be bound by theory’, inclusion of voltage feedback may allow for constant power control of heaters with various voltage. In some embodiments, the thermal control module does not have direct control of blowers.

[0241] As showm in FIG. 9C, a fluorimetry module 920 comprises a 5-channel LED array 921, wherein the LED can be an excitation source. In some embodiments, the fluorimetry module can be a Rigid-Flex PCBA. In some embodiments, the LED array can comprise excitation filters. The LED array may have reciprocal connections with at least one laser driver 922 which may, in turn, have a connection to a converter 923. An excitation source may be modulated per channel from a frequency range of 2 to 3 kHz. In some embodiments, a frequency of a channel may be at least about 1 kHz, at least about 1.25 kHz, at least about 1.5 kHz, at least, about 1.75 kHz, at least about2 kHz, at least about 2.25 kHz, at least about 2.5 kHz, at least about 2.75 kHz, at least about 3 kHz, at least about 3.25 kHz, at least about 3.5 kHz, at least about 3.75 kHz, at least about 4 kHz, at least about 4.5 kHz, or at least about 5 kHz. In some embodiments, a frequency of a channel may be at most about 5 kHz, at most about 4.5 kHz, at most about 4 kHz, at most about 3.75 kHz, at most about 3.5 kHz, at most about 3.25 kHz, at most about 3 kHz, at most about 2.75 kHz, at most about 2.5 kHz, at most about 2.25 kHz, at most about 2 kHz, at most about 1.75 kHz, at most about 1.5 kHz, at most about 1.25 kHz, or at most about 1 kHz. In some embodiments, a frequency of a channel may be from about 1 kHz to about 1.5 kHz, about 1 kHz to about 2 kHz, about I kHz to about 2.25 kHz, about 1 kHz to about 2.5 kHz, about 1 kHz to about 2.75 kHz, about 1 kHz to about 3 kHz, about I kHz to about 3.25 kHz, about I kHz to about 3.5 kHz, about 1 kHz to about 3.75 kHz, about 1 kHz to about 4 kHz, about 1 kHz to about 5 kHz, about 1.5 kHz to about 2 kHz, about 1.5 kHz to about 2.25 kHz, about 1.5 kHz to about 2.5 kHz, about 1.5 kHz to about 2.75 kHz, about 1.5 kHz to about 3 kHz, about 1.5 kHz to about 3.25 kHz, about 1.5 kHz to about 3.5 kHz, about 1.5 kHz to about 3.75 kHz, about 1.5 kHz to about 4 kHz, about 1.5 kHz to about 5 kHz, about 2 kHz to about 2.25 kHz, about 2 kHz to about 2.5 kHz, about 2 kHz to about 2.75 kHz, about 2 kHz to about 3 kHz, about 2 kHz to about 3.25 kHz, about 2 kHz to about 3.5 kHz, about 2 kHz to about 3.75 kHz, about 2 kHz to about 4 kHz, about 2 kHz to about 5 kHz, about 2.25 kHz to about 2.5 kHz, about 2.25 kHz to about 2.75 kHz, about 2.25 kHz to about 3 kHz, about 2.25 kHz to about 3.25 kHz, about 2.25 kHz to about 3.5 kHz, about 2.25 kHz to about 3.75 kHz, about 2.25 kHz to about 4 kHz, about 2.25 kHz to about 5 kHz, about 2.5 kHz to about 2.75 kHz, about 2.5 kHz to about 3 kHz, about 2.5 kHz to about 3.25 kHz, about 2.5 kHz to about 3.5 kHz, about 2.5 kHz to about 3.75 kHz, about 2.5 kHz to about 4 kHz, about 2.5 kHz to about 5 kHz, about 2.75 kHz to about 3 kHz, about 2.75 kHz to about 3.25 kHz, about 2.75 kHz to about 3.5 kHz, about 2.75 kHz to about 3.75 kHz, about 2.75 kHz to about 4 kHz, about 2.75 kHz to about 5 kHz, about 3 kHz to about 3.25 kHz, about 3 kHz to about 3.5 kHz, about 3 kHz to about 3.75 kHz, about 3 kHz to about 4 kHz, about 3 kHz to about 5 kHz, about 3.25 kHz to about 3.5 kHz, about 3.25 kHz to about 3.75 kHz, about 3.25 kHz to about 4 kHz, about 3.25 kHz to about 5 kHz, about 3.5 kHz to about 3.75 kHz, about 3.5 kHz to about 4 kHz, about 3.5 kHz to about 5 kHz, about 3.75 kHz to about 4 kHz, about 3.75 kHz to about 5 kHz, or about 4 kHz to about 5 kHz.

[0242] In some embodiments, the fluorimetry module comprises a 5-channel photodiode (PD) array 924, wherein the photodiode may be a detector. The 5-channel PD array may comprise emission filters and receive emission energy from an assay tube comprising a sample.Cooling

[0243] The analytic device described herein can comprise a cooling unit. The cooling unit may be configured to permit removal of thermal energy from an assay tube through a heating block of the analytic device. A cooling unit may be configured to remove thermal energy from a number of assay tubes of a heating block. A cooling unit may be disposed adjacent to a heating block (e.g., on a surface of a block). In some embodiments, a cooling unit may be disposed within a recess along a surface of a heating block. In some embodiments, the cooling unit may be disposed beneath (e.g., below) a surface of a heating block. A cooling unit may comprise a fan disposed away (e.g., not in direct contact with) a heating block. A fan may be used to apply a positive pressure to a volume adjacent to a block, thereby evacuating the area surrounding the heating block. A fan may be used to apply a negative pressure to a volume adjacent to a block, thereby evacuating the area surrounding the heating block.

[0244] FIG. 10 shows a cooling system of an analytic device described herein. The analytic device 1000 can comprise a vent (e.g., an internal plenum) 1010 to assist with forced convection of the area surrounding the heating block. A fan 207 may be used to generate positive pressure to exhaust or force radiant heat surrounding the heating block (e.g., a fluid comprising heat from the block) out of the analytic device. In some embodiments, a plurality of fans may be used to generate positive pressure to exhaust or force radiant heat surrounding the heating block. An analytic device may comprise any number of fans. For example, an analytic device may comprise 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or more fans. An analytic device may comprise one fan for each heating block. In some embodiments, the fans may not be in direct contact with the heating block. In some embodiments, the cooling unit uses a positive pressure system. In some embodiments, the cooling unit uses a negative pressure system. The cooling unit may be configured to generate positive pressure to exhaust radiant heat surrounding a heating block out of the analytic device. In some cases, the cooling unit may be configured to generate positive pressure to force radiant heat surrounding the heating block out of the analytic device. The cooling unit may use a positive pressure to force heat surrounding an assay tube out of the analytic device. A fan 207 may blow high velocity air 1020 through the plenum 1010. The air may be forced through the high surface area heating block to cool the heating block.

[0245] A positive pressure arrangement of the cooling unit of the analytic device described herein may allow for the use of a vent (e.g., a plenum) which can be used to isolate the optical components of the movable carriage from the airflow path. The addition of the internal vent can improve an Ingress Protection (IP) rating of an analytic device and provide for more direct cooling of a heating block. An “Ingress Protection rating,” as used herein, refers to a grade of an enclosure to resist intrusion of liquids, dusts, or other particulates. The vent can be used to isolate the opticalcomponents of the movable carriage from the airflow path such that less liquids, dusts or other particulates will be accumulated on the optical components. The addition of the vent can improve an Ingress Protection (IP) rating of an analytic device compared to an analytic device that does not comprise such vent (e.g., an internal plenum). In some cases, the plenum of the analytic device described herein may shield internal electronics from dust and debris and achieve a greater IP rating compared to an analytic device with a plenum (e.g., vent) positioned in a manner that may expose internal electronics to dust and debris. Exhaust locations on the back and sides of the analytic device may lower variability of cooling and improve an IP rating compared to an analytic device with exhaust in one location. A vent can be positioned adjacent to a heating block of the analytic device. The vent (e.g., plenum) may be configured to allow air to pass through to exhaust or force radiant heat out of the analytic device. The radiant heat may be surrounding a heating block and / or an assay tube of the analytic device. The vent may be configured to separate a flow path of air from a component of the analytic device. The vent may be configured to separate the flow path of air from the movable carriage of the analytic device, where the moveable carriage and components of the moveable carriage are not exposed to the flow path. This arrangement of the vent and / or cooling unit may prevent particulates from interfering with performance of the movable carriage.

[0246] As another example, an analytic device for processing a sample (e.g., a biological sample) can comprise: (i) a housing; (ii) at least one heating block within the housing, the at least one heating block comprising a sample holder configured to receive an assay tube comprising the biological sample; (iii) at least one heating unit in thermal communication with the at least one heating block, which at least one heating unit provides thermal energy to the assay tube through the at least one heating block; (iv) at least one cooling unit configured to permit removal of thermal energy from the assay tube through the at least one heating block; and (v) a vent adjacent to the at least one heating block, and wherein the vent is configured to allow air to pass through to exhaust or force radiant heat surrounding the at least one heating block out of the analytic device.

[0247] Positive pressure may allow for more turbulent flow and higher static pressures to increase the rate of cooling. The positive pressure cooling system may reduce temperature uniformity of the analytic device. The positive pressure cooling system may not reduce temperature uniformity of the analytic device. The analytic device may comprise a uniformity controller to provide temperature uniformity to the heating blocks. A uniformity cooler may be implemented in the thermal control loop design of an analytic device to achieve a faster cooling rate. Without wishing to be bound by theory, increasing the cooling rate of the heating block may achieve shorter test durations during a thermocycling protocol. In some embodiments, the analytic device comprisesat least three fans (e.g., DC blowers) to provide a fast rate of cooling of the heating block. Air from the fans can be forced through the internal plenum and through the heating block. In some embodiments, the analytic device comprises a particulate filter 1030 on the primary air intake. In some embodiments, the particulate filter 1030 can be replaceable. In some embodiments, the particulate filter may be disposed below or adjacent to the fan 207. The particulate filter may also improve an Ingress Protection (IP) rating of an analytic device. Without wishing to be bound by theory, the analytic device may use a positive pressure duct that intakes air in through the bottom of the device and exhausts it through the top. The air pathway (e.g., plenum) may be sealed off from the rest of the device and a particulate filter can be placed at the intake to prevent dust or other particulates from affecting performance.

[0248] Cooling of the area surrounding the heating block may occur as the fan 207 blows high velocity air through the plenum 1010. The air 1020 may be forced through the high surface area heating block. The heating block may comprise increased surface area due to the use of fins wherein the fins may help increase the rate of cooling. In some embodiments, a finned heating block may be tuned through computational fluid dynamics (CFD) optimization to improve the thermal uniformity with a positive pressure system. Exhaust of the analytic device described herein may be on the back and sides of the device. Exhaust of the analytic device described herein may be on front side of the device.Mixing

[0249] The analytic device described herein can comprise a magnetic source. The magnetic source may be disposed on the movable carriage. The magnetic source may be any source capable of generating a magnetic field. For example, the magnetic source can be a permanent magnet, a conductor, or an electromagnet. In some cases, the magnetic source can be a magnet. The moveable carriage may comprise one, two, three, four, five, or more magnetic sources. The moveable carriage can comprise a magnetic source configured to oscillate along an axis that is parallel or perpendicular to an axis of a heating block of the analytic device. A magnetic source on the moveable carriage may move a magnetized bead in a sample of an assay tube. The magnetic source may be configured to move with the movable carriage relative to the housing of the analytic device. For example, a moveable carriage may travel along an axis parallel to an axis of a heating block with a plurality of sample holders where the magnetic source may oscillate, thereby moving the magnetized bead and mixing a sample within a sample holder.

[0250] An analytic device may be configured to mix a sample within an assay tube. In some cases, reagents may not dissolve well when aqueous analyte liquid fills assay tubes (or assay cuvettes) containing lyophilized reagents. The reagents may dissolve rapidly in the incoming solution;however, they may not mix as the tube fills. After filling the assay tube, the solution can be divided into a dense concentrated solution near the bottom and less concentrated or diluted solution near the top of the tube. Poorly mixed reagents can yield poor reaction efficiency and solid precipitates which can interfere with optical signals. Diffusion alone may not achieve homogeneity or take long to achieve homogeneity. Provided herein are devices or methods comprising a mechanical mixing. For example, a bead (e.g., a stainless ferrous or steel bead of various diameter such as ~lmm diameter) can be added to the tube with dry reagents during assembly and packaging. During operation, the bead can be subjected to motion through the unmixed solution by magnetic fields generated by moving magnets exterior to the tube. These magnets can be fastened to an optical carriage which moves in linear fashion cycling from side to side during optical sampling. The mixing motion can be accomplished by using a linear array of magnets (e.g., rare earth magnets) of predetermined size, spacing and orientation. Magnets can be spaced with identical pitch of tubes and in an array in parallel to the tube array. Magnetic axes can be normal to the axes of the tubes and move in a plane across the upper portion of fluid level. Magnetic polarities can be aligned, yielding a zero field in the vertical plane dividing neighboring magnets. When magnets are moved along the linear array the pull force on each bead can increase as one magnet approaches and decrease as another recedes. When passing through the zero field zone between magnets, the bead can drop under force of gravity. The cycle can repeat in this manner in one direction of carriage movement and again when the direction of the optical carriage reverses. The bead path may be linear or arcing. In some cases, the bead path may be arcing.

[0251] The methods provided herein can use mechanical motion of a bead (e.g., a steel bead or various other materials) to mix a solution of solubilized reagent with a lower density analyte solution. The mixing operation can occur during the fill stage of the assay tube to mitigate density or chemical gradients. In some cases, mixing can occur throughout the duration of the test or assay since actuating magnets are fixed to the optical carriage. The mixing methods can be used to mix the analyte graded by temperature. Since heating occurs at the external heating block, a temperature gradient can be generated during thermal cycling, which can lead to inefficient PCR. In some cases, mixing of the assay mixture can occur during the thermal cycling. For example, mixing can occur during heating, during cooling or during optical sampling. Mixing of the assay mixture during the thermal cycling (e.g., during heat and cool ramping on either side of optical sampling or even during optical sampling) can homogenize the temperature throughout the assay tube, which can lead to increased PCR efficiency.

[0252] An analytic device may comprise a bar within its moveable carriage. A bar can be of any appropriate material and size for inclusion within the device. The device may be constructed ofmetal. Alternatively, the device may be constructed of plastic. A bar may comprise one or more magnets for the purposes of mixing a sample within an assay tube contained in a recess in a heating block. For example, a bar may comprise 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, or more magnets. The magnets may be permanent magnets. The magnets may be electromagnets. The magnets may be constructed of any appropriate ferromagnetic or paramagnetic material. For example, the magnets may be constructed from iron, cobalt, nickel, or an alloy thereof. Alternatively, the magnets may be constructed from rare-earth elements. For example, the magnets may be constructed from cerium, dysprosium, erbium, europium, gadolinium, holmium, lanthanum, lutetium, neodymium, praseodymium, promethium, samarium, scandium, terbium, thulium, ytterbium, yttrium, or an alloy thereof. The magnets may be of any size and shape appropriate to provide mixing to a sample contained within an assay tube. For example, the magnets may be circular. Alternatively, the magnets may be rectangular.

[0253] An assay tube may comprise a biological sample and a magnetic bead. A magnetic bead may be constructed of any appropriate magnetic material. For example, a magnetic bead may be constructed from any ferromagnetic or paramagnetic material. For example, a magnetic bead may be constructed from iron, cobalt, nickel, or an alloy thereof. Alternatively, the magnetic beads may be constructed from rare-earth elements. For example, the magnetic beads may be constructed from cerium, dysprosium, erbium, europium, gadolinium, holmium, lanthanum, lutetium, neodymium, praseodymium, promethium, samarium, scandium, terbium, thulium, ytterbium, yttrium, or an alloy thereof. A magnetic bead may be constructed of more than one material. A magnetic bead may be of any appropriate size and shape to be contained within an assay tube. For example, a magnetic bead may be spherical. The magnetic bead can be at least about 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2.0, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9, 3.0 or more millimeters (mm) in size (e.g., diameter).

[0254] A bar and a heating block contained within an analytic device may be configured to undergo motion such that a magnet on the bar and an assay tube contained within the heating block move relative to one another. The device may be configured such that the bar undergoes motion. The device may be configured such that the bar undergoes motion while the heating block is stationary. The device may be configured such that the bar undergoes linear motion. For example, the bar can undergo linear motion from side to side during optical sampling. The device may be configured such that the bar undergoes circular motion. The heating block may be configured to undergo motion. The heating block may be configured to undergo motion while the bar is stationary. The heating block may be configured to undergo linear motion. The bar and the heating block may both be configured to undergo motion. The bar and / or the heating block maybe configured to undergo motion in more than one direction. The bar and / or the heating block may be configured to undergo motion in more than one dimension at once. For example, the bar may be configured to simultaneously undergo horizontal and vertical motion. The bar and the heating block may both be configured to undergo linear motion. The bar and the heating block may both be configured to undergo circular motion. The bar may be unattached to other mobile components of the device, with the exception of the component intended to provide motion to the bar. Alternatively, the bar may be coupled to other components of the device configured to move. A bar of the analytic device may be mounted to a movable carriage 201 that also comprises an optical system.

[0255] The motion undergone by the bar and / or the heating block may subject the magnetic bead to motion within the assay tube, thereby mixing the sample contained within the assay tube. The movement of the magnetic bead within the assay tube may be at any speed and in any pattern appropriate to mix the sample. For example, the magnetic bead may move in a linear, circular, or elliptical pattern within the assay tube to subject the sample to mixing. The magnetic bead may move in one or both directions. A magnetic bead can be made to undergo motion due to the effect of any number of magnets mounted to the bar. For example, a single magnetic bead in a single assay tube may be made to undergo motion by 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, or more magnets mounted to the bar.

[0256] The mixing methods provided herein can provide advantages or benefits to the mixed samples over the unmixed samples. For example, the mixing methods can maintain the reaction mixture to be homogenous to prevent signal drift (e.g., decreasing of signal). In some cases, the signal generated in the mixed samples can remain close to the background level signal before the amplification begins. In some cases, no signal drift may be observed in the mixed samples. The beginning of the amplification can be easily identified when the reaction mixture is mixed. For another example, the reaction can proceed more efficiently in the mixed sample than the reaction in the unmixed sample. In some cases, sensitivity can be increased when the reaction mixture or the sample is mixed.Samples

[0257] A variety of samples (e.g., biological samples) may be analyzed. A sample may be obtained invasively (e.g., tissue biopsy) or non-invasively (e.g., venipuncture). The sample may be an environmental sample. The sample may be a water sample (e.g., a water sample obtained from a lake, stream, river, estuary, bay, or ocean). The sample may be a soil sample. The sample may be a tissue or fluid sample from a subject, such as saliva, semen, blood (e.g., whole blood), serum, synovial fluid, tear, urine, or plasma. The sample may be a tissue sample, such as a skinsample or tumor sample. The sample may be obtained from a portion of an organ of a subj ect. The sample may be a cellular sample. The sample may be a cell-free sample (e.g., a plasma sample comprising cell-free analytes or nucleic acids). A sample may be a solid sample or a liquid sample. A sample may be a biological sample or a non-biological sample. A sample may comprise an in- vitro sample or an ex-vivo sample. Non-limiting examples of a sample include an amniotic fluid, bile, bacterial sample, breast milk, buffy coat, cells, cerebrospinal fluid, chromatin DNA, ejaculate, nucleic acids, plant-derived materials, RNA, saliva, semen, blood, serum, soil, synovial fluid, tears, tissue, urine, water, whole blood or plasma, and / or any combination and / or any fraction thereof. In one example, the sample may be a plasma sample that may comprise DNA. In another example, the sample may comprise a cell sample that may comprise cell-free DNA.

[0258] A sample may be a mammalian sample. For example, a sample may be a human sample. Alternatively, a sample may be a non-human animal sample. Non-limiting examples of a nonhuman sample include a cat sample, a dog sample, a goat sample, a guinea pig sample, a hamster sample, a mouse sample, a pig sample, a non-human primate sample (e.g., a gorilla sample, an ape sample, an orangutan sample, a lemur sample, or a baboon sample), a rat sample, a sheep sample, a cow sample, and a zebrafish sample.

[0259] The portable analytic devices and methods disclosed herein may be useful for analyzing nucleic acids (e.g., circulating and / or cell-free DNA fragments). Nucleic acids may be derived from eukaryotic cells, prokaryotic cells, or non-cellular sources (e.g., viral particles). A nucleic acid may refer to a substance whose molecules consist of many nucleotides linked in a long chain. Non-limiting examples of the nucleic acid include an artificial nucleic acid analog (e.g., a peptide nucleic acid, a morpholino oligomer, a locked nucleic acid, a glycol nucleic acid, or a threose nucleic acid), chromatin, miRNA, cDNA, DNA, single stranded DNA, double stranded DNA, genomic DNA, plasmid DNA, or RNA. A nucleic acid may be double stranded or single stranded. A sample may comprise a nucleic acid that may be intracellular. Alternatively, a sample may comprise a nucleic acid that may be extracellular (e.g., cell-free). A sample may comprise a nucleic acid (e.g., chromatin) that may be fragmented.Methods for Analyzing a Sample

[0260] An analytic device described herein may be used in methods for analyzing a sample. A method for analyzing sample may comprise activating the analytic device. The sample may be a nucleic acid molecule. The analytic device may comprise a housing. A shape of a housing of an analytic device may also contribute to the portability of the analytic device. At least one dimension of a housing (e.g., length, width or height), may be sufficiently small such that the housing may be easily grasped by the human hand. An analytic device may have an ergonomically shapedhousing of a size that enables a user to hold the analytic device with one or two hands. For analyzing a sample, the analytic device may be portable or the analytic device may be a table-top device. The analytic device may further comprise at least one heating block disposed within the housing. The at least one heating block may comprise a sample holder that can hold an assay tube comprising a sample. The analytic device can further comprise at least one heating unit in thermal communication with a heating block. The heating unit may provide thermal energy to an assay tube through a heating block. The thermal energy may be capable of heating a sample within the assay tube. The analytic device used for analyzing a sample can further comprise a movable carriage configured to move relative to the housing. The movable carriage can comprise at least five different light paths, where each of the at least five different light paths can provide a different excitation energy from an excitation source to the assay tube. The analytic device may further comprise a processing unit with a circuit. The processing unit may communicate with a mobile electronic device that is external to the housing of the analytic device (e.g., not disposed in the housing).

[0261] The methods for analyzing a sample may further comprise the processing unit receiving instructions from the mobile device for processing a sample in an assay tube. The instructions may be received wirelessly. The methods for analyzing a sample may further comprise, in response to the instructions, the analytic device directing a heating unit to provide thermal energy to the heating block. Thermal energy to the heating block may provide heat (e.g., radiant heat) to the sample within the assay tube. The methods for analyzing a sample may further comprise, in response to the instructions, moving the movable carriage of the analytic device to a first reading position corresponding to the assay tube. At the first reading position, the moveable carriage may provide excitation energy from an excitation source to the assay tube. The methods for analyzing a sample may further comprise directing the excitation source to expose the sample within the assay tube to excitation energy. The excitation source may expose the sample within the assay tube to excitation energy in response to instructions from the mobile electronic device. The methods for analyzing a sample may further comprise, following exposing the sample within the assay tube to excitation energy, detecting emission from the sample within the assay tube. The emission may be indicative of a presence or absence or a relative amount of a target molecule within the sample. The emission may be detected by a detector disposed on the movable carriage of the analytic device.

[0262] Provided herein are methods of processing or analyzing a sample using an analytic device as described herein.

[0263] As an example, a method for analyzing a sample can comprise: (a) activating an analytic device comprising: (i) a housing; (ii) at least one heating block within the housing, the at least one heating block comprising a sample holder holding an assay tube comprising the sample; (iii) at least one heating unit in thermal communication with the at least one heating block, which at least one heating unit provides thermal energy to the assay tube through the at least one heating block; (iv) a movable carriage that moves relative to the housing, comprising at least five different light paths, wherein each of the at least five different light paths provides a different excitation energy from an excitation source to the assay tube; and (v) a processing unit comprising a circuit within the housing, wherein the processing unit communicates with a mobile electronic device external to the housing; (b) receiving by the processing unit instructions from the mobile electronic device external to the housing for processing the sample in the assay tube; (c) in response to the instructions, directing the at least one heating unit to provide thermal energy to the at least one heating block to provide heat to the sample within the assay tube; and (d) in response to the instructions, moving the movable carriage to a first reading position corresponding to the assay tube.

[0264] The methods may further comprise in (d) directing an excitation source to expose a sample (e.g., a biological sample) to energy. The sample may reside with an assay tube. The sample may be exposed to excitation energy from the excitation source. The methods may further comprise detecting emission (e.g., emission energy) from a sample. The detecting can occur subsequent to moving the movable carriage to a first reading position corresponding to the assay tube. The emission (e.g., emission energy) can be indicative of a target molecule in a sample. In some embodiments, the emission (e.g., emission energy) can be indicative of a presence of a target molecule in a sample. In some embodiments, the emission (e.g., emission energy) can be indicative of an absence of a target molecule in a sample. In some embodiments, the emission (e.g., emission energy) can be indicative of an amount (e.g., a relative amount) of a target molecule in a sample. In some embodiments, a greater detected emission from the sample can be indicative of a greater amount (e.g., a relative amount) of the target molecule in the sample.

[0265] In some embodiments, the methods may further comprise directing the cooling unit of the analytic device described herein to permit removal of energy (e.g., thermal energy) from the assay tube. The cooling unit may be configured to remove thermal energy from a number of assay tubes of a heating block (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or more assay tubes of the heating block). The cooling unit may be disposed adjacent to a heating block (e.g., on a surface of a block). In some embodiments, the cooling unit may be disposed within a recess along a surface of a heating block. In some embodiments, the cooling unit may be disposed beneath (e.g., below) a surface of a heating block.The cooling unit may comprise a fan disposed away (e.g., not in direct contact with) a heating block. In some embodiments, the cooling unit can comprise one or more fans (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, or more fans).Systems

[0266] In some aspects, provided herein are systems for processing a sample (e.g., a biological sample). The system can comprise a housing, a block heated by a heating unit (e.g., heating block) that is configured to provide thermal energy to a sample container (e.g., assay tube) including a sample, and a light path to provide excitation energy from an excitation source to the sample. The system may also comprise a movable carriage that comprises an optical filter, an excitation source, a detector, or any combination thereof, and the movable carriage may be configured to translate to bring the optical filter in alignment with the light path. The inclusion of a movable carriage may facilitate the production of a smaller and / or less expensive analytic device as one or more excitation sources, optical filters, detectors, and / or light paths of the movable carriage may be used to process and / or analyze multiple sample containers including multiple samples. A system may comprise a plurality of light paths that may allow for detection of additional targets from a sample or reference dyes. The light paths can be detection channels for signal detection. The detection channels can be fluorescence detection channels. A system may have greater than three detection channels, each having a different detector to detect a different signal. A greater number of detection channels may improve signal acquisition and signal-to-noise ratio of a system described herein.

[0267] As an example, a system for processing a sample (e.g., a biological sample) may comprise: (i) a housing; (ii) at least one heating block within the housing, the at least one heating block comprising a sample holder configured to receive an assay tube comprising the sample; (iii) at least one heating unit in thermal communication with the at least one heating block, which at least one heating unit provides thermal energy to the assay tube through the at least one heating block; (iv) a movable carriage configured to move relative to the housing, comprising at least five different light paths, wherein each of the at least five different light paths is configured to provide a different excitation energy from an excitation source to the assay tube; and (v) one or more computer processors operatively coupled to the at least one heating unit and the movable carriage, wherein the one or more computer processors are individually or collectively programmed to: (i) direct the at least one heating unit to provide thermal energy to the assay tube, and (ii) continuously move the movable carriage relative to the housing.

[0268] The movable carriage can comprise one or more excitation sources. An excitation source of the one or more excitation sources can be configured to provide an excitation energy. In someembodiments, the excitation source provides excitation energy to a sample (e.g., a sample within an assay tube). Each of the light paths of the system may be aligned with an excitation source (e.g., a designated excitation source). For example, a first light path may be aligned with a first excitation source, a second light path may be aligned with a second excitation source, a third light path may be aligned with a third excitation source, a fourth light path may be aligned with a fourth excitation source, and a fifth light path may be aligned with a fifth excitation source. In some embodiments, the system may comprise at least about 5 excitation sources. For example, the system may comprise at least about 5 excitation sources, at least about 6 excitation sources, at least about 7 excitation sources, at least about 8 excitation sources, at least about 9 excitation sources, at least about 10 excitation sources, or greater than about 10 excitation sources. The excitation sources may be different excitation sources. The one or more excitation sources of the system may be disposed on the movable carriage. The one or more excitation sources of the system may be disposed on the housing. In some embodiments, the system comprises a detector. The system can comprise one or more detectors (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or more detectors. The one or more detectors of the system may be disposed on the movable carriage. The one or more detectors of the system may be disposed on the housing. A detector can be configured to receive emission (e.g., emission energy) from a sample.

[0269] In some embodiments, the one or more computer processors can be operatively coupled to the excitation source, the detector, or any combination thereof. The one or more computer processors can be individually or collectively programmed to provide energy (e.g., excitation energy) from an excitation source to an assay tube. The one or more computer processors can be individually or collectively programmed to receive energy (e.g., emission energy) from a sample in an assay tube. The one or more computer processers may receive emission energy during translation of the moveable carriage. In some cases, the one or more computer processers may receive emission energy while the movable carriage is not in translation. The at least one heating block of the system can comprise a plurality of sample holders. In some embodiments, the plurality of sample holders can comprise 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, or greater than about 20 sample holders.

[0270] A sample holder of the plurality of sample holders may receive an assay tube of a plurality of assay tubes. In some embodiments, one or more computer processer can be individually or collectively programmed to receive emission (e.g., emission energy) from at least about two assay tubes of the plurality of assay tubes. The emission energy from at least about two assay tubes of the plurality of assay tubes may be received simultaneously. In some cases, the emission energy from at least about two assay tubes of the plurality of assay tubes may not bereceived simultaneously (e.g., may be received consecutively). For example, the one or more computer processors can be individually or collectively programmed to receive emission energy from at least two of the plurality of assay tubes simultaneously.

[0271] In some embodiments, the plurality of sample holders can be in an array. The plurality of sample holders can be arrayed along a first axis. In some embodiments, the moveable carriage can be configured to move along a second axis. The second axis can be parallel to the first axis. The movable carriage may move in a parallel direction to the assay of the plurality of sample holders. The moveable carriage may move continuously along the second axis. While moving along the axis (e.g., the second axis), the movable carriage may provide excitation energy from one or more excitation sources to one or more assay tubes of a plurality of assay tubes. While moving along the axis (e.g., the second axis), the movable carriage may receive emission energy from one or more assay tubes of a plurality of assay tubes.

[0272] The system may provide excitation energy to an assay tube of the plurality of assay tubes via a light path. The system may receive emission energy from an assay tube of the plurality of assay tubes via a light path. The light path providing excitation energy to an assay tube and receiving emission energy from an assay tube may be the same light path. The light path providing excitation energy to an assay tube and receiving emission energy from an assay tube may be a different light path. For example, a first light path of at least five different light paths may be aligned with a first assay tube to provide excitation energy and receive emission energy from the first assay tube. In some embodiments, a second light path of at least five different light paths may be misaligned with a second assay tube such that the second light path can be blocked. A blocked light path may not (i) provide excitation energy to an assay tube, (ii) receive emission energy from an assay tube, or (iii) any combination thereof.

[0273] In some embodiments, when the movable carriage is at a first reading position along an axis (e.g., a second axis), at least two light paths (e.g., at least two different light paths) may be capable of providing excitation energy to at least two different assay tubes of the plurality of assay tubes. In some cases, at least two light paths of at least five different light paths may be capable of providing excitation energy to at least two different assay tubes of the plurality of assay tubes arrayed along the first axis. The excitation energy from the at least two light paths (e.g., at least two different light paths) may be provided simultaneously to the at least two different assay tubes. In some embodiments, the excitation energy from the at least two light paths (e.g., at least two different light paths) may not be provided simultaneously to the at least two different assay tubes.

[0274] In some embodiments, when the movable carriage is at a first reading position along an axis (e.g., a second axis), at least one light path may be capable of providing excitation energy toan assay tube, and four or more light paths may be blocked. In some embodiments, when the movable carriage is at a first reading position along an axis (e.g., a second axis), at least two light paths may be capable of providing excitation energy to at least two different assay tubes, and three or more light paths may be blocked. In some embodiments, when the movable carriage is at a first reading position along an axis (e.g., a second axis), at least three light paths may be capable of providing excitation energy to at least three different assay tubes, and two or more light paths may be blocked. In some embodiments, when the movable carriage is at a first reading position along an axis (e.g., a second axis), at least four light paths may be capable of providing excitation energy to at least four different assay tubes, and one or more light paths may be blocked. In some embodiments, when the movable carriage is at a first reading position along an axis (e.g., a second axis), at least five light paths may be capable of providing excitation energy to at least five different assay tubes, and zero light paths may be blocked.

[0275] In some embodiments, when the movable carriage is at a first reading position along an axis (e.g., a second axis), at least about 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or more light paths may not be capable of providing excitation energy to an assay tube of a plurality of assay tubes arrayed along the first axis. For example, wherein when the movable carriage is at a first reading position along the second axis, at least three light paths of at least five different light paths may not be capable of providing excitation energy to an assay tube of a plurality of assay tubes arrayed along the first axis.

[0276] The system may comprise a magnetic source. The magnetic source may be disposed on the movable carriage. The magnetic source may be any source capable of generating a magnetic field. For example, the magnetic source can be a permanent magnet, a conductor, or an electromagnet. In some cases, the magnetic source can be a magnet. The moveable carriage may comprise one, two, three, four, five, or more magnetic sources. The moveable carriage can comprise a magnetic source configured to oscillate along an axis that is parallel or perpendicular to an axis of a heating block of the system described herein. A magnetic source on the moveable carriage may move a magnetized bead in a sample of an assay tube. The magnetic source may be configured to move with the movable carriage relative to the housing of the system.

[0277] A system described herein can comprise a cooling unit. The cooling unit may be configured to permit removal of thermal energy from an assay tube through a heating block of the system. A cooling unit may be configured to remove thermal energy from a number of assay tubes of a heating block. A cooling unit may be disposed adjacent to a heating block (e.g., on a surface of a block). In some embodiments, a cooling unit may be disposed within a recess along a surface of a heating block. In some embodiments, the cooling unit may be disposed beneath (e.g., below)a surface of a heating block. A cooling unit may comprise a fan disposed away (e.g., not in direct contact with) a heating block. A fan may be used to apply a positive pressure to a volume adjacent to a block, thereby evacuating the area surrounding the heating block. A fan may be used to apply a negative pressure to a volume adjacent to a block, thereby evacuating the area surrounding the heating block.

[0278] The system can comprise a vent (e.g., an internal plenum) to assist with forced convection of the area surrounding the heating block. A fan may be used to generate positive pressure to exhaust or force radiant heat surrounding the heating block (e.g., a fluid comprising heat from the block) out of the system. In some embodiments, a plurality of fans may be used to generate positive pressure to exhaust or force radiant heat surrounding the heating block. In some embodiments, the cooling unit uses a positive pressure system. In some embodiments, the cooling unit uses a negative pressure system. The cooling unit may be configured to generate positive pressure to exhaust radiant heat surrounding a heating block out of the system. In some cases, the cooling unit may be configured to generate positive pressure to force radiant heat surrounding the heating block out of the system. The cooling unit may use a positive pressure to force heat surrounding an assay tube out of the system. A fan may blow high velocity air through the plenum. The air may be forced through the high surface area heating block to cool the heating block.

[0279] In some embodiments, a positive pressure arrangement of the cooling unit of the system described herein may allow for the use of a vent (e.g., a plenum) which can be used to isolate the optical components of the movable carriage from the airflow path. The addition of the internal vent can improve an Ingress Protection (IP) rating of a system and provide for more direct cooling of a heating block.Assays

[0280] An assay may comprise nucleic acid amplification. For example, any type of nucleic acid amplification reaction may be used to amplify a target nucleic acid and generate an amplified product. Moreover, amplification of a nucleic acid may linear, exponential, or a combination thereof. Amplification may be emulsion based or may be non-emulsion based. Non-limiting examples of nucleic acid amplification methods include reverse transcription, primer extension, polymerase chain reaction, ligase chain reaction, asymmetric amplification, rolling circle amplification, and multiple displacement amplification (MDA). The amplified product may be DNA. In cases where a target RNA is amplified, DNA may be obtained by reverse transcription of the RNA and subsequent amplification of the DNA may be used to generate an amplified DNA product. The amplified DNA product may be indicative of the presence of the target RNA in the biological sample. In cases where DNA is amplified, various DNA amplification methods may beemployed. Non-limiting examples of DNA amplification methods include polymerase chain reaction (PCR), variants of PCR (e.g., real-time PCR, allele-specific PCR, assembly PCR, asymmetric PCR, digital PCR, emulsion PCR, dial-out PCR, helicase-dependent PCR, nested PCR, hot start PCR, inverse PCR, methylation-specific PCR, miniprimer PCR, multiplex PCR, nested PCR, overlap-extension PCR, thermal asymmetric interlaced PCR, touchdown PCR), and ligase chain reaction (LCR). DNA amplification may be linear. Alternatively, DNA amplification may be exponential. DNA amplification may be achieved with nested PCR, which may improve sensitivity of detecting amplified DNA products.

[0281] Nucleic acid amplification may be isothermal. Isothermal amplification can rapidly and efficiently copy nucleic acids without temperature changing cycles. Instead, isothermal amplification can use specific DNA polymerases, and specially designed primer sets to exponentially amplify a target sequence. Different isothermal amplification methods can utilize different DNA polymerases. Helicase-dependent amplification (HD A) can use helicase to unwind DNA, allowing primers to bind. Two accessory proteins, MutL and single-stranded DNA-binding protein (SSB), can be used to prevent complimentary strands from associating. Isothermal multiple displacement amplification (IMDA) can use strand-displacing DNA polymerase and multiple primer sets. Particular advantages of IMDA may include increased sensitivity and specificity. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) can use 4-6 primers and a stranddisplacing DNA polymerase. LAMP is a highly efficient amplification method that can synthesize a large quantity of DNA in a short period of time. Recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) can use recombinase, primers, SSB, and a strand-displacing DNA polymerase to amplify DNA. Recombinase may be complexed with the primer and the complex then can use strand exchange to bind to double-stranded DNA. After the strand exchange an SSB T4 gp32 can stabilize the displaced strand. Rolling circle amplification (RCA) can synthesize long single-stranded DNA using a short, circular single-stranded DNA template and a single primer. RCA can use a stranddisplacing DNA polymerase called phi 29. Single primer isothermal amplification (SPIA) may use only one DNA-RNA chimeric primer along with RNAase H and a strand-displacing DNA polymerase. Strand displacement amplification may rely on a restriction enzyme (Hindi) and an exonuclease-deficient DNA polymerase. HinCII can nick the target DNA, and the DNA polymerase can then extend the 3’ end.

[0282] Non-limiting examples of isothermal nucleic acid amplification methods include helicasedependent amplification, nicking enzyme amplification, recombinase polymerase amplification, loop-mediated isothermal amplification, and nucleic acid sequence based amplification.

[0283] Nucleic acid amplification reactions may be conducted in assay tubes in parallel. Nucleic acid amplification reactions may be conducted, for example, by including reagents necessary for each nucleic acid amplification reaction in a reaction vessel to obtain a reaction mixture and subjecting the reaction mixture to conditions necessary for each nucleic amplification reaction. Reverse transcription amplification and DNA amplification may be performed sequentially, such as, for example, performing reverse transcription amplification on RNA to generate complementary DNA (cDNA), and subsequently subjecting the cDNA to DNA amplification (e.g., PCR) to amplify the cDNA.

[0284] A nucleic acid sample may be amplified using reagents directed to a given target, such as, for example, a primer having sequence complementarity with a target sequence. After multiple heating and cooling cycles, any amplification products may be detected optically, such as using fluorophores. Fluorophore-labeled primers or hybridization probes and / or fluorescent dyes that bind to DNA maybe excited, and an emitted fluorescence detected. Detection may comprise analyzing fluorescence emission from a dye and calculating the ratio of fluorophore emission to dye emission. A primer may comprise a fluorophore and a quencher. In some cases, a tertiary structure of an unbound primer may be such that a quencher may be in close enough proximity to a fluorophore to prevent excitation of the fluorophore and / or the detection of an emission signal from the fluorophore.

[0285] In one example, a fluorescent DNA dye, such as SYBR Green I, may be added to a mixture containing a target nucleic acid and at least one amplification primer. In other examples, an amplification primer may be a linear single-stranded oligonucleotide that is extendable by a DNA polymerase and that is labeled with an excitable fluorophore. Upon performing an amplification reaction, such as, e.g., PCR, that includes annealing and extending the labeled primer, the fluorophore may be excited and a resultant emission detected during the amplification reaction (e.g., real-time detection) or following completion of the amplification reaction (e.g., an end-point detection at the conclusion of the amplification reaction or during a subsequent thermal analysis (melting curve)). Unincorporated primers may not fluoresce.

[0286] A wide range of fluorophores and / or dyes may be used in primers according to the present disclosure. Available fluorophores include coumarin; fluorescein; tetrachlorofluorescein; hexachlorofluorescein; Lucifer yellow; rhodamine; BODIPY; tetramethylrhodamine; Cy3; Cy5; Cy7; eosine; Texas red; SYBR Green I; SYBR Gold; 5-FAM (also called 5-carboxyfluorescein; also called Spiro(isobenzofuran-1(3H), 9'-(9H)xanthene)-5-carboxylic acid, 3',6'-dihydroxy-3- oxo-6-carboxyfluorescein); 5 -Hexachloro-Fluorescein ([4,7,2',4',5',7'-hexachloro-(3',6'- dipivaloyl-fluoresceinyl)-6-carboxylic acid]); 6-Hexachloro-Fluorescein ([4, 7, 2', 4', 5', 7'-hexachloro-(3',6'-dipivaloylfluoresceinyl)-5-carboxylic acid]); 5-Tetrachloro-Fluorescein([4,7,2',7'-tetra-chloro-(3 ',6'-dipivaloylfluoresceinyl)-5-carboxylic acid]); 6-Tetrachloro-Fluorescein ([4,7,2',7'-tetrachloro-(3',6'-dipivaloylfluoresceinyl)-6-carboxylic acid]); 5-TAMRA (5-carboxytetramethylrhodamine; Xanthylium, 9-(2,4-dicarboxyphenyl)-3,6-bis(dimethyl- amino); 6-TAMRA (6-carboxytetramethylrhodamine; Xanthylium, 9-(2,5-dicarboxyphenyl)-3,6- bis(dimethylamino); EDANS (5-((2-aminoethyl)amino)naphthalene-l-sulfonic acid); 1,5- IAEDANS (5-((((2-iodoacetyl)amino)ethyl)amino)naphthalene-l -sulfonic acid); DABCYL (4- ((4-(dimethylamino)phenyl) azo)benzoic acid) Cy5 (Indodicarbocyanine-5) Cy3 (Indo- dicarbocyanine-3); BODIPY FL (2,6-dibromo-4,4-difluoro-5,7-dimethyl-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s- indacene-3-proprionic acid); Quasar-670 (Bioreseach Technologies); CalOrange (Bioresearch Technologies); and Rox as well as suitable derivatives thereof. Combination fluorophores such as fluorescein-rhodamine dimers may also be suitable. Fluorophores may be chosen to absorb and emit in the visible spectrum or outside the visible spectrum, such as in the ultraviolet or infrared ranges. Suitable quenchers may also include DABCYL and variants thereof, such as DABSYL, DABMI and Methyl Red. Fluorophores may also be used as quenchers, because they tend to quench fluorescence when touching certain other fluorophores. Preferred quenchers may be chromophores such as DABCYL or malachite green, or fluorophores that may not fluoresce in the detection range when the probe is in the open conformation.

[0287] Allele-discriminating probes useful according to the invention also include probes that bind less effectively to a target-like sequence, as compared to a target sequence. The change in the level of fluorescence in the presence or absence of a target sequence compared to the change in the level of fluorescence in the presence or absence of a target-like sequence may provide a measure of the effectiveness of binding of a probe to a target or target-like sequence.

[0288] DNA generated from reverse transcription of the RNA may be amplified to generate an amplified DNA product. Any suitable number of nucleic acid amplification reactions may be conducted. In some cases, at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, or more nucleic acid amplification reactions are conducted.

[0289] For example, a target nucleic acid (e.g., target RNA, target DNA) may be extracted or released from a biological sample during heating phases of nucleic acid amplification. In the case of a target RNA, for example, the biological sample comprising the target RNA may be heated and the target RNA released from the biological sample. The released target RNA may begin reverse transcription (via reverse transcription amplification) to produce complementary DNA. The complementary DNA may then be amplified.

[0290] Primer sets directed to a target nucleic acid may be utilized to conduct nucleic acid amplification reaction. Primer sets may comprise one or more primers. For example, a primer set may comprise at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or more primers. A primer set may comprise primers directed to different amplified products or different nucleic acid amplification reactions. For example, a primer set may comprise a first primer necessary to generate a first strand of nucleic acid product that is complementary to at least a portion of the target nucleic acid and a second primer complementary to the nucleic acid strand product necessary to generate a second strand of nucleic acid product that is complementary to at least a portion of the first strand of nucleic acid product.

[0291] In cases in which a plurality of assay tubes is used, the plurality of assay tube may include the same primers or primer sets, or different primers or primer sets. Each assay tube may be directed to a different target, or at least a subset of the assay tubes may be directed to the same target.

[0292] For example, a primer set may be directed to a target RNA. The primer set may comprise a first primer that may be used to generate a first strand of nucleic acid product that is complementary to at least a portion the target RNA. In the case of a reverse transcription reaction, the first strand of nucleic acid product may be DNA. The primer set may also comprise a second primer that may be used to generate a second strand of nucleic acid product that is complementary to at least a portion of the first strand of nucleic acid product. In the case of a reverse transcription reaction conducted with DNA amplification, the second strand of nucleic acid product may be a strand of nucleic acid (e.g., DNA) product that is complementary to a strand of DNA generated from an RNA template.

[0293] Any suitable number of primer sets may be used. For example, at least about 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or more primer sets may be used. Where multiple primer sets are used, one or more primer sets may each correspond to a particular nucleic acid amplification reaction or amplified product.

[0294] A DNA polymerase may also be used. Any suitable DNA polymerase may be used, including commercially available DNA polymerases. A DNA polymerase may refer to an enzyme that is capable of incorporating nucleotides to a strand of DNA in a template bound fashion. Nonlimiting examples of DNA polymerases include Taq polymerase, Tth polymerase, Tli polymerase, Pfu polymerase, VENT polymerase, DEEP VENT polymerase, EX-Taq polymerase, LA-Taq polymerase, Expand polymerases, Sso polymerase, Poc polymerase, Pab polymerase, Mth polymerase, Pho polymerase, ES4 polymerase, Tru polymerase, Tac polymerase, Tne polymerase, Tma polymerase, Tih polymerase, Tfi polymerase, Platinum Taq polymerases, Hi-Fi polymerase,Tbr polymerase, Tfl polymerase, Pfutubo polymerase, Pyrobest polymerase, Pwo polymerase, KOD polymerase, Bst polymerase, Sac polymerase, Klenow fragment, and variants, modified products, and derivatives thereof. A “hot start” polymerase may be used, e.g., in an amplification reaction. For certain “hot start” polymerases, a denaturation step at about 94°C - 95°C for about 2 minutes to 10 minutes may be required, which may change the thermal profile based on different polymerases.

[0295] The reagents used for assays (e.g., thermocycling reactions or nucleic acid amplifications) can be provided in a reagent cartridge. The reagent cartridge can be premixed or prepacked. The reagent cartridge can be prepacked and ready for use. The reagent cartridge can be designed for different targets, for example, by containing primers specific for a given target or given targets. For example, the reagent cartridge can be designed for targeting microorganisms that cause a disease. In some embodiments, the reagent cartridge is designed for targeting nucleic acids from one or more microorganisms that cause fever or flu. In some embodiments, the reagent cartridge is designed for targeting nucleic acids from one or more viruses that cause fever or flu. In some embodiments, the reagent cartridge is designed for targeting nucleic acids from one or more microorganisms that cause an infectious disease. In some embodiments, the reagent cartridge is designed for targeting one or more microorganisms present in a sample. In some embodiments, the reagent cartridge is designed for targeting one or more microorganisms present in an environmental sample. The reagent cartridge can comprise a chamber for sample loading.

[0296] The reagent cartridge can be stable and have a long shelf life. For example, the reagent cartridge can be stable at ambient condition or have a shelf life of at least about 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 4 days, 5 days, 6 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 1 month, 2 months, 3 months, 4 months, 5 months, 6 months, 7 months, 8 months, 9 months, 10 months, 11 months, 12 months, 13 months, 14 months, 15 months, 16 months, 17 months, 18 months, 19 months, 20 months, 21 months, 22 months, 23 months, 24 months, 25 months, 26 months, 27 months, 28 months, 29 months, or 30 months. For another example, the reagent cartridge can be stable at ambient condition or have a shelf life of at least 1 year, 1.5 years, 2 years, 2.5 years, 3 years, 4 years, 5 years, or longer.

[0297] In some cases, the reagent used for assays can be divided into two parts, a dry part and a wet (e.g., liquid) part. The dry part can be provided in a reagent cartridge as described herein. The wet part can be provided in the portable analytic device during an assay. The dry part and the wet part can be mixed in the portable analytic device when performing an assay.

[0298] In some embodiments, the wet part can be provided in a reagent cartridge as described herein. The dry part can be provided in the portable analytic device during an assay. The dry part and the wet part can be mixed in the portable analytic device when performing an assay.

[0299] In some embodiments, both the dry part and the wet part can be provided in a reagent cartridge without contacting or mixing with each other. In some embodiments, both the dry part and the part can be provided in separate reagent cartridges.

[0300] In some embodiments, the dry part and the wet part can be premixed before inserting into the portable analytic device. In some embodiments, the dry part and the wet part can be inserted into the portable analytic device and then mixed in the portable analytic device.

[0301] When a wet reagent is provided in a reagent cartridge, the reagent cartridge can be sealed. In some embodiments, the reagent cartridge containing the wet reagent can be sealed by laser welding. Other methods to seal the reagent cartridge include, but are not limited to, using foil, membrane, film, or valve.

[0302] Using the portable analytic device and reagent described in the present disclosure, the assay can be performed in various conditions. For example, the assay can be performed in various vibration conditions, dust levels, humidity levels, or altitudes. In some embodiments, the assay can be performed at normal ambient condition. For example, the normal ambient condition may have a temperature of about 25 °C and a pressure of about 100 kilopascal (kPa). In some other embodiments, the assay can be performed in a condition deviated from a normal ambient condition. In some cases, the assay can be performed at a pressure of at least 10 kPa, 20 kPa, 30 kPa, 40 kPa, 50 kPa, 60 kPa, 70 kPa, 80 kPa, 90 kPa, 100 kPa, 105 kPa, 110 kPa, 120 kPa, 130 kPa, or more. In some cases, the assay can be performed at a pressure of at most 70 kPa, 60 kPa, 50 kPa, 40 kPa, 30 kPa, 20 kPa, or 10 kPa. In some cases, the assay can be performed at an altitude above sea level. The altitude above sea level can be at least 500 feet, 1000 feet, 1500 feet, 2000 feet, 2500 feet, 3000 feet, 3500 feet, 4000 feet, 4500 feet, 5000 feet, 6000 feet, 7000 feet, 8000 feet, 9000 feet, 10000 feet, 15000 feet, 20000 feet, 30000 feet, 40000 feet, 50000 feet, or more. The assay described herein may be performed in space.

[0303] The assay described herein can be performed at various humidity levels. As used herein, absolute humidity (units are grams of water vapor per cubic meter volume of air) is a measure of the actual amount of water vapor in the air, regardless of the air's temperature. The higher the amount of water vapor, the higher the absolute humidity. For example, a maximum of about 30 grams of water vapor can exist in a cubic meter volume of air with a temperature of about 85 °F. As used herein, relative humidity, expressed as a percent, is a measure of the amount of water vapor that air is holding compared to the amount it can hold at a specific temperature. Warm air can possess more water vapor (moisture) than cold air. For example, a relative humidity of 50% means that the air holds on that day (at a specific temperature) about 50% of the water needed for the air to be saturated. Saturated air has a relative humidity of 100%. In some embodiments, theassay can be performed at a humidity level with a relative humidity of at least 10%, 20 %, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 80%, 70%, 90%, 95%, 98%, or more.Computer Systems

[0304] The present disclosure provides computer systems that are programmed to implement methods of the disclosure. FIG. 11 shows a computer system 1101 that is programmed or otherwise configured to analyze a sample. The computer system 1101 may regulate some aspects of the analytic device of the present disclosure, such as, for example, movement of a moving carriage, heating or cooling of a block, and / or activation / deactivation of an excitation source or detector. The computer system may control of the temperature of a heating block (e.g., through activation of a resistive heater or fan). The computer system 1101 may be integrated into the analytic device of the present disclosure and / or include an electronic device of a user or a computer system that is remotely located with respect to the electronic device. The electronic device may be a mobile electronic device.

[0305] The computer system 1101 includes a central processing unit (CPU, also “processor” and “computer processor” herein) 1105, which may be a single core or multi core processor, or a plurality of processors for parallel processing. The computer system 1101 also includes memory or memory location 1110 (e.g., random-access memory, read-only memory, flash memory), electronic storage unit 1115 (e.g., hard disk), communication interface 1120 (e.g., network adapter) for communicating with one or more other systems, and peripheral devices 1125, such as cache, other memory, data storage and / or electronic display adapters. The memory 1110, storage unit 1115, interface 1120 and peripheral devices 1125 are in communication with the CPU 1105 through a communication bus (solid lines), such as a motherboard. The storage unit 1115 may be a data storage unit (or data repository) for storing data. The computer system 1101 may be operatively coupled to a computer network (“network”) 1130 with the aid of the communication interface 1120. The network 1130 may be the Internet, an internet and / or extranet, or an intranet and / or extranet that is in communication with the Internet. The network 1130 in some cases is a telecommunication and / or data network. The network 1130 may include one or more computer servers, which may enable distributed computing, such as cloud computing. The network 1130, in some cases with the aid of the computer system 1101, may implement a peer-to-peer network, which may enable devices coupled to the computer system 1101 to behave as a client or a server.

[0306] The CPU 1105 may execute a sequence of machine-readable instructions, which may be embodied in a program or software. The instructions may be stored in a memory location, such as the memory 1110. The instructions may be directed to the CPU 1105, which may subsequently program or otherwise configure the CPU 1105 to implement methods of the present disclosure.Examples of operations performed by the CPU 1105 may include fetch, decode, execute, and writeback.

[0307] The CPU 1105 may be part of a circuit, such as an integrated circuit. One or more other components of the system 1101 may be included in the circuit. In some cases, the circuit is an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

[0308] The storage unit 1115 may store files, such as drivers, libraries and saved programs. The storage unit 1115 may store user data, e.g., user preferences and user programs. The computer system 1101 in some cases may include one or more additional data storage units that are external to the computer system 1101, such as located on a remote server that is in communication with the computer system 1101 through an intranet or the Internet.

[0309] The computer system 1101 may communicate with one or more remote computer systems through the network 1130. For instance, the computer system 1101 may communicate with a remote computer system of a user. Examples of remote computer systems include personal computers (e.g., portable PC), slate or tablet PC’s (e.g., Apple® iPad, Samsung® Galaxy Tab), telephones, Smart phones (e.g., Apple® iPhone, Android-enabled device, Blackberry®), or personal digital assistants. The user may access the computer system 1101 via the network 1130.

[0310] Methods as described herein may be implemented by way of machine (e.g., computer processor) executable code stored on an electronic storage location of the computer system 1101, such as, for example, on the memory 1110 or electronic storage unit 1115. The machine executable or machine readable code may be provided in the form of software. During use, the code may be executed by the processor 1105. In some cases, the code may be retrieved from the storage unit 1115 and stored on the memory 1110 for ready access by the processor 1105. In some situations, the electronic storage unit 1115 may be precluded, and machine-executable instructions are stored on memory 1110.

[0311] The code may be pre-compiled and configured for use with a machine having a processer adapted to execute the code, or may be compiled during runtime. The code may be supplied in a programming language that may be selected to enable the code to execute in a pre-compiled or as-compiled fashion.

[0312] Aspects of the systems and methods provided herein, such as the computer system 1101, may be embodied in programming. Various aspects of the technology may be thought of as “products” or “articles of manufacture” typically in the form of machine (or processor) executable code and / or associated data that is carried on or embodied in a type of machine readable medium. Machine-executable code may be stored on an electronic storage unit, such as memory (e.g., readonly memory, random-access memory, flash memory) or a hard disk. “Storage” type media may-n-include any or all of the tangible memory of the computers, processors or the like, or associated modules thereof, such as various semiconductor memories, tape drives, disk drives and the like, which may provide non-transitory storage at any time for the software programming. All or portions of the software may at times be communicated through the Internet or various other telecommunication networks. Such communications, for example, may enable loading of the software from one computer or processor into another, for example, from a management server or host computer into the computer platform of an application server. Thus, another type of media that may bear the software elements includes optical, electrical and electromagnetic waves, such as used across physical interfaces between local devices, through wired and optical landline networks and over various air-links. The physical elements that carry such waves, such as wired or wireless links, optical links or the like, also may be considered as media bearing the software. As used herein, unless restricted to non-transitory, tangible “storage” media, terms such as computer or machine “readable medium” refer to any medium that participates in providing instructions to a processor for execution.

[0313] Hence, a machine readable medium, such as computer-executable code, may take many forms, including but not limited to, a tangible storage medium, a carrier wave medium or physical transmission medium. Non-volatile storage media include, for example, optical or magnetic disks, such as any of the storage devices in any computer(s) or the like, such as may be used to implement the databases, etc. shown in the drawings. Volatile storage media include dynamic memory, such as main memory of such a computer platform. Tangible transmission media include coaxial cables; copper wire and fiber optics, including the wires that comprise a bus within a computer system. Carrier-wave transmission media may take the form of electric or electromagnetic signals, or acoustic or light waves such as those generated during radio frequency (RF) and infrared (IR) data communications. Common forms of computer-readable media therefore include for example: a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, DVD or DVD-ROM, any other optical medium, punch cards paper tape, any other physical storage medium with patterns of holes, a RAM, a ROM, a PROM and EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, a carrier wave transporting data or instructions, cables or links transporting such a carrier wave, or any other medium from which a computer may read programming code and / or data. Many of these forms of computer readable media may be involved in carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions to a processor for execution.

[0314] The computer system 1101 may include or be in communication with an electronic display 1135 (UI) 1140 for providing, for example, a current stage of processing of a sample (e.g., aparticular step, such as a lysis step, that is being performed). Examples of UI’s include, without limitation, a graphical user interface (GUI) and web-based user interface.

[0315] Methods and systems of the present disclosure may be implemented by way of one or more algorithms. An algorithm may be implemented by way of software upon execution by the central processing unit 1105.

[0316] Methods and systems of the present disclosure may be combined with or modified by other methods or systems, such as, for example, those described in U.S. Patent No. 9,579,655, which is entirely incorporated herein by reference.

[0317] Certain inventive embodiments herein contemplate numerical ranges. When ranges are present, the ranges include the range endpoints. Additionally, every sub range and value within the range is present as if explicitly written out. The term “about” or “approximately” may mean within an acceptable error range for the particular value, which will depend in part on how the value is measured or determined, e.g., the limitations of the measurement system. For example, “about” may mean within 1 or more than 1 standard deviation, per the practice in the art. Alternatively, “about” may mean a range of up to 20%, up to 10%, up to 5%, or up to 1% of a given value. Alternatively, particularly with respect to biological systems or processes, the term may mean within an order of magnitude, within 5-fold, or within 2-fold, of a value. Where particular values are described in the application and claims, unless otherwise stated the term “about” meaning within an acceptable error range for the particular value may be assumed.

[0318] Whenever the term “at least,” “greater than,” or “greater than or equal to” precedes the first numerical value in a series of two or more numerical values, the term “at least,” “greater than” or “greater than or equal to” applies to each of the numerical values in that series of numerical values. For example, greater than or equal to 1, 2, or 3 is equivalent to greater than or equal to 1, greater than or equal to 2, or greater than or equal to 3.

[0319] Whenever the term “no more than,” “less than,” or “less than or equal to” precedes the first numerical value in a series of two or more numerical values, the term “no more than,” “less than,” or “less than or equal to” applies to each of the numerical values in that series of numerical values. For example, less than or equal to 3, 2, or 1 is equivalent to less than or equal to 3, less than or equal to 2, or less than or equal to 1.EXAMPLES

[0320] The following examples are provided to further illustrate some embodiments of the present disclosure, but are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure; it will be understood by theirexemplary nature that other procedures, methodologies, or techniques known to those skilled in the art may alternatively be used.Example 1: Analysis of Fluorescence Detection of Analytic Device

[0321] Sensitivity of the analytic device was tested by a quantum dot fluorescent standard. Optical normalization, position calibration, and optical QC relied on a 9-well strip of buffered triplex fluorophore solution. The strips were prepared in a pH buffered solution of water, and three fluorophores (e.g., Texas Red X, Atto 647N, and FAM) at a 128 nM concentration at a volume of 40uL with a 20uL cap of mineral oil on top of the solution to act as a vapor barrier. They were then capped with standard flat PCR tube caps. Excitation and emission spectra were be analyzed to evaluate system calibration. FIG. 12 shows experimental results of a fluorescence detection experiment. The simplified test case was detected at DC and was used to inform data processing. This experiment was performed with one photodiode in the movable carriage. The photodiode was mounted on a linear motor and cycled along the track. Each peak of FIG. 12 corresponds to the moveable carriage passing an aperture and the photodiode of the movable carriage captured an emitted signal from the excited fluorophore of the sample.Example 2: Characterization of Signal Acquisition of Movable Carriage

[0322] This experiment used the linear motion system of the movable carriage and detection circuitry to measure millivolt peak-to-peak (mVpp) signal (e.g., brightness). The experiment used a single well for analysis. A DSOX1102G digital oscilloscope measured wavelength of light emitted from a polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The movable carriage cycled along the track to detect the signal of the response. A simulated fluorophore was used for final selection of an aperture size and signal processing components. The curve of FIG. 13 shows a 2.5 kHz envelope amplitude as a moveable carriage scans along a track across the heating block with the sample.

[0323] While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described herein, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that such embodiments are provided by way of example only. It is not intended that the invention be limited by the specific examples provided within the specification. While the invention has been described with reference to the aforementioned specification, the descriptions and illustrations of the embodiments herein are not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. Numerous variations, changes, and substitutions will now occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. Furthermore, it shall be understood that all aspects of the invention are not limited to the specific depictions,configurations or relative proportions set forth herein which depend upon a variety of conditions and variables. It should be understood that various alternatives to the embodiments of the invention described herein may be employed in practicing the invention. It is therefore contemplated that the invention shall also cover any such alternatives, modifications, variations or equivalents. It is intended that the following claims define the scope of the invention and that methods and structures within the scope of these claims and their equivalents be covered thereby.

Claims

CLAIMSWHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An analytic device for processing a biological sample, comprising: a housing; at least one heating block within said housing, said at least one heating block comprising a sample holder configured to receive an assay tube comprising said biological sample; at least one heating unit in thermal communication with said at least one heating block, which at least one heating unit is configured to provide thermal energy to said assay tube through said at least one heating block; and a movable carriage configured to move relative to said housing, wherein said movable carriage comprises at least five different light paths, wherein each of said at least five different light paths is configured to provide a different excitation energy from an excitation source to said assay tube.

2. The analytic device of claim 1, wherein said movable carriage has a volume that is less than or equal to about 500 cubic centimeters.

3. The analytic device of claim 1 or 2, wherein said at least one heating block comprises a plurality of sample holders configured to receive a plurality of assay tubes, and wherein said at least five different light paths are configured such that when one light path is aligned with an assay tube, an adjacent light path is misaligned with an assay tube.

4. The analytic device of claim 1 or 2, wherein said movable carriage further comprises an excitation source.

5. The analytic device of claim 4, wherein said excitation source is configured to move with said movable carriage relative to said housing.

6. The analytic device of any one of claims 1-5, wherein each of said at least five different light paths is aligned with a designated excitation source, and wherein said movable carriage comprises at least five different excitation sources.

7. The analytic device of any one of claims 1-6, wherein said housing has a volume that is less than or equal to about 3,000 cubic centimeters.

8. The analytic device of any one of claims 1-7, wherein said analytic device has a mass of at most about 20 kilograms.

9. The analytic device of any one of claims 1-7, wherein each of said at least five different light paths further comprises an emission filter and an excitation filter.

10. The analytic device of claim 9, wherein each of said at least five different light paths comprises a distinct excitation filter configured to filter a different wavelength of energy from said excitation source.

11. The analytic device of claim 9 or 10, wherein said at least five different light paths comprise distinct excitation filters configured to filter different wavelengths of energy from an excitation source.

12. The analytic device of any one of claims 9-11, wherein each of said at least five different light paths comprises a distinct emission filter configured to filter a different wavelength of energy emitted from said assay tube.

13. The analytic device of claim 12, wherein said at least five different light paths comprise distinct emission filters configured to filter different wavelengths emitted from an assay tube.

14. The analytic device of any one of claims 1-13, wherein said at least five different light paths comprise at least five distinct light paths.

15. The analytic device of any one of claims 9-14, further comprising an excitation light path between said excitation source and said assay tube and an emission light path between said assay tube and said emission filter, wherein said excitation light path and said emission light path do not overlap.

16. The analytic device of claim 15, wherein an angle between said excitation light path and said emission light path is from about 20 degrees to 90 degrees.

17. The analytic device of any one of claims 9-14, further comprising an excitation light path between said excitation source and said assay tube and an emission light path between said assay tube and said emission filter, wherein said excitation light path and said emission light path at least partially overlap.

18. The analytic device of any one of claims 1-17, further comprising a detector configured to receive emission energy from said assay tube.

19. The analytic device of claim 18, further comprising at least five detectors, wherein each detector is in optical communication with one of said at least five different light paths.

20. The analytic device of claim 18 or 19, wherein said emission light path further extends from said emission filter to said detector.

21. The analytic device of any one of claims 18-20, wherein said detector is a silicon photodiode.

22. The analytic device of any one of claims 18-21, wherein said detector is part of said movable carriage and is configured to move with said movable carriage relative to said housing.

23. The analytic device of any one of claims 1-22, wherein said at least one heating block comprises a plurality of sample holders configured to receive a plurality of assay tubes, and wherein said plurality of sample holders is arrayed along a first axis.

24. The analytic device of claim 23, further comprising a plurality of assay tubes arrayed in said plurality of sample holders along said first axis, and wherein said movable carriage is configured to move linearly along a second axis that is parallel to said first axis.

25. The analytic device of claim 24, wherein said movable carriage is configured to move continuously along said second axis while providing excitation energy and receiving emission energy from said plurality of assay tubes.

26. The analytic device of claim 25, wherein said movable carriage cycles in a linear motion within at least 100 millimeters (mm).

27. The analytic device of claim 24-26, wherein a first light path of said at least five different light paths is aligned with a first assay tube to provide excitation energy and receive emission energy from said first assay tube, and a second light path of said at least five different light paths is misaligned with a second assay tube such that said second light path is blocked.

28. The analytic device of any one of claims 24-27, wherein when said movable carriage is at a first reading position along said second axis, at least two of said at least five different light paths are capable of providing excitation energy to at least two different assay tubes of said plurality of assay tubes arrayed along said first axis simultaneously.

29. The analytic device of any one of claims 24-28, wherein when said movable carriage is at a first reading position along said second axis, at least three of said at least five different light paths are not capable of providing excitation energy to an assay tube of said plurality of assay tubes arrayed along said first axis.

30. The analytic device of any one of claims 23-29, further comprising a magnetic source on said movable carriage configured to oscillate along an axis parallel or perpendicular to said first axis.

31. The analytic device of any one of claims 1-30, wherein said movable carriage further comprises a magnetic source configured to move with said movable carriage relative to said housing.

32. The analytic device of claim 30 or 31, wherein said magnetic source is a magnet.

33. The analytic device of any one of claims 1-32, wherein said at least one heating block comprises a first opening disposed on a first side of said at least one heating block coincident with said movable carriage configured to permit said excitation energy to pass to said biological sample within said assay tube.

34. The analytic device of claim 33, wherein said at least one heating block further comprises a second opening separate from said first opening, and wherein said second opening is configured to permit an emission energy from said biological sample within said assay tube to pass to a detector.

35. The analytic device of any one of claims 1-34, wherein said at least one heating block comprises a material having a specific heat capacity at 25 degrees Celsius of less than about 0.5 Joule / (gram x degrees Celsius).

36. The analytic device of any one of claims 1-35, further comprising a cooling unit configured to permit removal of thermal energy from said assay tube through said at least one heating block.

37. The analytic device of claim 36, wherein said cooling unit is configured to generate a positive pressure to exhaust or force radiant heat surrounding said at least one heating block out of said analytic device.

38. The analytic device of claim 37, further comprising a vent adjacent to said at least one heating block, and wherein said vent is configured to allow air to pass through to exhaust or force radiant heat surrounding said at least one heating block out of said analytic device.

39. The analytic device of claim 38, wherein said vent is configured to separate flow path of said air from said movable carriage such that components of said movable carriage are not exposed to said flow path.

40. The analytic device of claim 38 or 39, wherein said vent is an internal plenum.

41. The analytic device of any one of claims 38-40, wherein said vent improves an IngressProtection (IP) rating of said analytic device.

42. The analytic device of any one of claims 36-41, wherein said cooling unit comprises at least three fans not in direct contact with said heating block.

43. The analytic device of any one of claims 1-36, further comprising one or more fins on said heating block.

44. The analytic device of any one of claims 1-43, further comprising a processing unit comprising a circuit within said housing, wherein said processing unit is configured to communicate with a mobile electronic device external to said housing.

45. The analytic device of any one of claims 1-44, further comprising a power supply disposed within said housing, said power supply being configured to provide power to said at least one heating unit and said excitation source.

46. An analytic device for processing a biological sample, comprising: a housing; at least one heating block within said housing, said at least one heating block comprising a sample holder configured to receive an assay tube comprising said biological sample; at least one heating unit in thermal communication with said at least one heating block, which at least one heating unit is configured to provide thermal energy to said assay tube through said at least one heating block; and a movable carriage configured to move relative to said housing, wherein said movable carriage comprises at least five different light paths, wherein said movable carriage is configured to (i) provide excitation energy to said assay tube along a first light path of said at least five different light paths and (ii) receive emission energy from said assay tube along a second light path of said at least five different light paths during continuous movement of said movable carriage.

47. The analytic device of claim 46, wherein said first light path and said second light path are a same light path.

48. The analytic device of claim 46 or 47, wherein said movable carriage cycles in a linear motion within at least 100 millimeters (mm).

49. The analytic device of any one of claims 46-48, wherein said at least one heating block comprises a plurality of sample holders configured to receive a plurality of assay tubes.

50. The analytic device of claim 49, wherein said at least five different light paths are configured such that when one light path is aligned with an assay tube, an adjacent light path is misaligned with an assay tube.

51. The analytic device of 49 or 50, wherein said plurality of sample holders is arrayed along a first axis.

52. The analytic device of claim 51, comprising a plurality of assay tubes arrayed in said plurality of sample holders along said first axis, and wherein said movable carriage is configured to move linearly along a second axis that is parallel to said first axis.

53. The analytic device of claim 52, wherein when said movable carriage is at a first reading position, at least one of said at least five different light paths is capable of providing excitation energy to at least one assay tube of said plurality of assay tubes, and at least one ofsaid at least five different light paths is not capable of providing excitation energy to an assay tube of said plurality of assay tubes.

54. The analytic device of claim 52 or 53, wherein when said movable carriage is at a first reading position, at least two of said at least five different light paths are capable of providing excitation energy to at least two different assay tubes of said plurality of assay tubes simultaneously, and at least three of said at least five different light paths are not capable of providing excitation energy to an assay tube of said plurality of assay tubes.

55. An analytic device for processing a biological sample, comprising: a housing; at least one heating block within said housing, said at least one heating block comprising a plurality of sample holders configured to receive a plurality of assay tubes comprising said biological sample; at least one heating unit in thermal communication with said at least one heating block, which at least one heating unit provides thermal energy to said plurality of assay tubes through said at least one heating block; and a movable carriage configured to move relative to said housing, comprising at least five different light paths, wherein when said movable carriage is at a first reading position, at least two of said at least five different light paths are capable of providing excitation energy to at least two different assay tubes of said plurality of assay tubes simultaneously, and at least three of said at least five different light paths are not capable of providing excitation energy to an assay tube of said plurality of assay tubes.

56. The analytic device of claim 55, wherein said plurality of sample holders is arrayed along a first axis.

57. The analytic device of claim 56, comprising a plurality of assay tubes arrayed in said plurality of sample holders along said first axis, and wherein said movable carriage is configured to move linearly along a second axis that is parallel to said first axis.

58. The analytic device of any one of claims 55-57, wherein said movable carriage is configured to move continuously while providing excitation energy and receiving emission energy from said assay tube.

59. The analytic device of any one of claims 46-58, wherein each of said at least five different light paths further comprises an emission filter and an excitation filter.

60. The analytic device of any one of claims 46-59, wherein said at least five different light paths comprise at least five distinct light paths.

61. The analytic device of any one of claims 46-60, wherein said movable carriage further comprises a magnetic source configured to move with said movable carriage relative to said housing.

62. The analytic device of claim 61, wherein said magnetic source is a magnet.

63. The analytic device of any one of claims 46-62, wherein said at least one heating block comprises a first opening disposed on a first side of said at least one heating block coincident with said movable carriage configured to permit said excitation energy to pass to said biological sample.

64. The analytic device of claim 63, wherein said at least one heating block further comprises a second opening separate from said first opening, and wherein said second opening is configured to permit an emission energy from said biological sample to pass to a detector.

65. The analytic device of any one of claims 46-64, wherein said at least one heating block comprises a material having a specific heat capacity at 25 degrees Celsius of less than about 0.5 Joule / (gram x degrees Celsius).

66. The analytic device of any one of claims 46-54 and 59-65, further comprising a cooling unit configured to permit removal of thermal energy from said assay tube through said at least one heating block.

67. The analytic device of any one of claims 55-65, further comprising a cooling unit configured to permit removal of thermal energy from said plurality of assay tubes through said at least one heating block.

68. The analytic device of claim 66 or 67, wherein said cooling unit is configured to generate a positive pressure to exhaust or force radiant heat surrounding said at least one heating block out of said analytic device.

69. The analytic device of claim 68, further comprising a vent adjacent to said at least one heating block, and wherein said vent is configured to allow air to pass through to exhaust or force radiant heat surrounding said at least one heating block out of said analytic device.

70. The analytic device of claim 69, wherein said vent is configured to separate flow path of said air from said movable carriage such that components of said movable carriage are not exposed to said flow path.

71. The analytic device of claim 69 or 70, wherein said vent is an internal plenum.

72. The analytic device of any one of claims 66-71, wherein said cooling unit comprises at least three fans not in direct contact with said heating block.

73. The analytic device of any one of claims 46-72, further comprising one or more fins on said heating block.

74. The analytic device of any one of claims 46-73, further comprising a processing unit comprising a circuit within said housing, wherein said processing unit is configured to communicate with a mobile electronic device external to said housing.

75. An analytic device for processing a biological sample, comprising: a housing; at least one heating block within said housing, said at least one heating block comprising a sample holder configured to receive an assay tube comprising said biological sample; at least one heating unit in thermal communication with said at least one heating block, which at least one heating unit provides thermal energy to said assay tube through said at least one heating block; at least one cooling unit configured to permit removal of thermal energy from said assay tube through said at least one heating block; and a vent adjacent to said at least one heating block, and wherein said vent is configured to allow air to pass through to exhaust or force radiant heat surrounding said at least one heating block out of said analytic device.

76. The analytic device of claim 75, further comprising a movable carriage configured to move relative to said housing, comprising at least five different light paths, wherein each of said at least five different light paths is configured to provide a different excitation energy from an excitation source to said assay tube.

77. A method for analyzing a sample, the method comprising:(a) activating an analytic device comprising:(i) a housing;(ii) at least one heating block within said housing, said at least one heating block comprising a sample holder holding an assay tube comprising said sample;(iii) at least one heating unit in thermal communication with said at least one heating block, which at least one heating unit provides thermal energy to said assay tube through said at least one heating block;(iv) a movable carriage that moves relative to said housing, comprising at least five different light paths, wherein each of said at least fivedifferent light paths provides a different excitation energy from an excitation source to said assay tube; and(v) a processing unit comprising a circuit within said housing, wherein said processing unit communicates with a mobile electronic device external to said housing;(b) receiving by said processing unit instructions from said mobile electronic device external to said housing for processing said sample in said assay tube;(c) in response to said instructions, directing said at least one heating unit to provide thermal energy to said at least one heating block to provide heat to said sample within said assay tube; and(d) in response to said instructions, moving said movable carriage to a first reading position corresponding to said assay tube.

78. The method of claim 77, wherein said movable carriage further comprises an excitation source configured to provide excitation energy.

79. The method of claim 77 or 78, wherein said excitation source is part of said movable carriage and movable relative to said housing.

80. The method of claim 78 or 79, further comprising in (d), directing said excitation source to expose said sample within said assay tube to excitation energy.

81. The method of any one of claims 77-80, further comprising, subsequent to (d), detecting emission from said sample within said assay tube, which emission is indicative of a presence or absence, or a relative amount, of a target molecule within said sample.

82. The method of any one of claims 77-81, wherein said analytic device further comprises a cooling unit configured to permit removal of thermal energy from said assay tube through said at least one heating block.

83. The method of claim 82, wherein said cooling unit is configured to generate a positive pressure to exhaust or force radiant heat surrounding said at least one heating block out of said analytic device.

84. The method of claim 82 or 83, further comprising directing said cooling unit to permit removal of thermal energy from said assay tube.

85. The method of any one of claims 77-84, wherein said analytic device further comprises a vent adjacent to said at least one heating block, and wherein said vent is configured to allow air to pass through to exhaust or force radiant heat surrounding said at least one heating block out of said method.

86. The method of claim 85, wherein said vent is configured to separate flow path of said air from said movable carriage such that components of said movable carriage are not exposed to said flow path.

87. The method of claim 85 or 86, wherein said vent is an internal plenum.

88. The method of any one of claims 85-87, wherein said vent improves an Ingress Protection (IP) rating of said analytic device.

89. The method of any one of claims 82-88, wherein said cooling unit comprises at least three fans not in direct contact with said heating block.

90. The method of any one of claims 77-89, wherein said at least one heating block comprises a plurality of sample holders configured to receive a plurality of assay tubes, and wherein said plurality of sample holders is arrayed along a first axis.

91. The method of claim 90, wherein said plurality of assay tubes is arrayed in said plurality of sample holders along said first axis, and wherein said movable carriage is configured to move linearly along a second axis that is parallel to said first axis.

92. The method of claim 91, wherein said movable carriage is configured to move continuously along said second axis while providing excitation energy and receiving emission energy from said plurality of assay tubes.

93. The method of claim 91 or 92, wherein a first light path of said at least five different light paths is aligned with a first assay tube to provide excitation energy and receive emission energy from said first assay tube, and a second light path of said at least five different light paths is misaligned with a second assay tube such that said second light path is blocked.

94. The method of any one of claims 91-93, wherein when said movable carriage is at a first reading position along said second axis, at least two of said at least five different light paths are capable of providing excitation energy to at least two different assay tubes of said plurality of assay tubes arrayed along said first axis simultaneously.

95. The method of any one of claims 91-94, wherein when said movable carriage is at a first reading position along said second axis, at least three of said at least five different light paths are not capable of providing excitation energy to an assay tube of said plurality of assay tubes arrayed along said first axis.

96. The method of any one of claims 90-95, wherein said analytic device further comprises a magnetic source on said movable carriage configured to oscillate along an axis parallel or perpendicular to said first axis.

97. The method of any one of claims 77-96, wherein said movable carriage further comprises a magnetic source configured to move with said movable carriage relative to said housing.

98. The method of any one of claims 77-97, wherein said analytic device further comprises a power supply disposed within said housing, said power supply configured to provide power to said at least one heating unit, said movable carriage, and / or said excitation source.

99. A system for processing a sample, comprising: a housing; at least one heating block within said housing, said at least one heating block comprising a sample holder configured to receive an assay tube comprising said sample; at least one heating unit in thermal communication with said at least one heating block, which at least one heating unit provides thermal energy to said assay tube through said at least one heating block; a movable carriage configured to move relative to said housing, comprising at least five different light paths, wherein each of said at least five different light paths is configured to provide a different excitation energy from an excitation source to said assay tube; and one or more computer processors operatively coupled to said at least one heating unit and said movable carriage, wherein said one or more computer processors are individually or collectively programmed to: (i) direct said at least one heating unit to provide thermal energy to said assay tube, and (ii) continuously move said movable carriage relative to said housing.

100. The system of claim 99, wherein said movable carriage further comprises an excitation source configured to provide excitation energy.

101. The system of claim 100, wherein each of said at least five different light paths is aligned with a designated excitation source, and wherein said movable carriage comprises at least five different excitation sources.

102. The system of any one of claims 99-101, wherein said movable carriage further comprises a detector configured to receive emission energy from said sample in said assay tube.

103. The system of claim 102, wherein said one or more computer processors are further operatively coupled to said excitation course and said detector, and said one or more computer processors are individually or collectively programmed to provide excitation energy from said excitation source to said assay tube; and receive said emission energy from said sample in said assay tube.

104. The system of claim 103, wherein said one or more computer processors are individually or collectively programmed to receive said emission energy from said sample in said assay tube during said translation of said movable carriage.

105. The system of any one of claims 99-104, wherein said at least one heating block comprises a plurality of sample holders configured to receive a plurality of assay tubes, and wherein said one or more computer processors are individually or collectively programmed to receive emission energy from at least two of said plurality of assay tubes simultaneously.

106. The system of claim 105, wherein said plurality of sample holders is arrayed along a first axis.

107. The system of claim 106, wherein said movable carriage is configured to move linearly along a second axis that is parallel to said first axis.

108. The system of claim 107, wherein said movable carriage is configured to move continuously along said second axis while providing excitation energy and receiving emission energy from said plurality of assay tubes.

109. The system of claim 107 or 108, wherein a first light path of said at least five different light paths is aligned with a first assay tube to provide excitation energy and receive emission energy from said first assay tube, and a second light path of said at least five different light paths is misaligned with a second assay tube such that said second light path is blocked.

110. The system of any one of claims 106-109, wherein when said movable carriage is at a first reading position along said second axis, at least two of said at least five different light paths are capable of providing excitation energy to at least two different assay tubes of said plurality of assay tubes arrayed along said first axis simultaneously.

111. The system of any one of claims 106-110, wherein when said movable carriage is at a first reading position along said second axis, at least three of said at least five different light paths are not capable of providing excitation energy to an assay tube of said plurality of assay tubes arrayed along said first axis.

112. The system of any one of claims 99-111, further comprising a magnetic source on said movable carriage configured to oscillate along an axis parallel or perpendicular to said first axis.

113. The system of any one of claims 99-112, further comprising a cooling unit configured to permit removal of thermal energy from said assay tube through said at least one heating block.

114. The system of claim 113, wherein said cooling unit is configured to generate a positive pressure to exhaust or force radiant heat surrounding said at least one heating block out of said housing.

115. The system of claim 114, further comprising a vent adjacent to said at least one heating block, and wherein said vent is configured to allow air to pass through to exhaust or force radiant heat surrounding said at least one heating block out of said housing.

116. The system of claim 115, wherein said vent is configured to separate flow path of said air from said movable carriage such that components of said movable carriage are not exposed to said flow path.

117. The system of claim 115 or 116, wherein said vent is an internal plenum.

118. The system of any one of claims 115-117, wherein said vent improves an Ingress Protection (IP) rating of said system.

119. The system of any one of claims 113-118, wherein said cooling unit comprises at least three fans not in direct contact with said heating block.

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