US 11,867,707 B1
Systems and methods for performing amplicon rescue multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
Jeff Bertrand, Hazel Green, AL (US); Jian Han, Huntsville, AL (US); and Phillip Ewing, Madison, AL (US)
Assigned to iCubate, Inc., Huntsville, AL (US)
Filed by iCubate, Inc., Huntsville, AL (US)
Filed on Dec. 22, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/131,723.
Application 17/131,723 is a continuation of application No. 16/210,983, filed on Dec. 5, 2018, granted, now 10,900,981.
Application 16/210,983 is a continuation of application No. 14/552,181, filed on Nov. 24, 2014, granted, now 10,345,320, issued on Jul. 9, 2019.
Application 14/552,181 is a continuation of application No. 13/674,858, filed on Nov. 12, 2012, granted, now 8,911,949, issued on Dec. 16, 2014.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/592,372, filed on Jan. 30, 2012.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/558,791, filed on Nov. 11, 2011.
Int. Cl. G01N 35/00 (2006.01); B01L 7/00 (2006.01); C12Q 1/6848 (2018.01); B01L 3/00 (2006.01); C12Q 1/686 (2018.01); G01N 35/10 (2006.01); B01L 3/02 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 35/00029 (2013.01) [B01L 3/502 (2013.01); B01L 7/52 (2013.01); C12Q 1/686 (2013.01); C12Q 1/6848 (2013.01); G01N 35/00732 (2013.01); G01N 35/10 (2013.01); G01N 35/1011 (2013.01); G01N 35/1081 (2013.01); B01L 3/021 (2013.01); B01L 2200/10 (2013.01); B01L 2400/0487 (2013.01); B01L 2400/0644 (2013.01); G01N 2035/00158 (2013.01); G01N 2035/00366 (2013.01); G01N 2035/00801 (2013.01); G01N 2035/00851 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
 
1. A system comprising:
a reader comprising:
a flywheel, the flywheel having at e t one indicator to indicate an orientation of the flywheel;
a motor coupled to the flywheel to rotate the flywheel;
a plurality of receptacles positioned on a first surface of the flywheel, each receptacle of the plurality of receptacles configured to receive a cassette containing a microarray with a nucleic acid sample;
a sensor configured to detect the at least one indicator of the flywheel;
a processor coupled to the sensor to receive a signal indicative of detection of the at least one indicator, the processor configured to identify a receptacle of the plurality of receptacles using the received signal from the sensor, the processor further configured to associate each receptacle of the plurality of receptacles with a corresponding cassette in the receptacle;
an optics assembly coupled to the processor, the optics assembly configured to capture test data from the microarray of a cassette positioned in a receptacle of the plurality of receptacles, wherein the optics assembly comprises a laser and a light detection element, the light detection element configured to detect dots in the microarray that fluoresce in response to being exposed to the laser, wherein the test data corresponds to data on which dots fluoresced; and
the processor further configured to receive the test data from the optics assembly and to associate the received test data with a cassette based on an identification of the receptacle for the cassette using the received signal from the sensor; and
a computing device in communication with the processor of the reader to receive the test data for a microarray of a cassette, the computing device configured to analyze the test data and provide an output indicative of a comparison of the test data to predefined data.