US 11,717,829 B2
System and method for processing and detecting nucleic acids
Jeffrey Williams, Ann Arbor, MI (US); Sundaresh Brahmasandra, Ann Arbor, MI (US); and Michelle Mastronardi, Ann Arbor, MI (US)
Assigned to NeuMoDx Molecular, Inc., Ann Arbor, MI (US)
Filed by NeuMoDx Molecular, Inc., Ann Arbor, MI (US)
Filed on May 7, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/868,719.
Application 16/868,719 is a continuation of application No. 16/795,003, filed on Feb. 19, 2020.
Application 16/795,003 is a continuation of application No. 16/794,928, filed on Feb. 19, 2020.
Application 16/794,928 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/996,949, filed on Jun. 4, 2018, abandoned.
Application 15/996,949 is a continuation of application No. 15/413,735, filed on Jan. 24, 2017, granted, now 10,010,888, issued on Jul. 3, 2018.
Application 15/413,735 is a continuation of application No. 14/613,616, filed on Feb. 4, 2015, granted, now 9,604,213, issued on Mar. 28, 2017.
Application 14/613,616 is a continuation in part of application No. 13/766,359, filed on Feb. 13, 2013, granted, now 9,050,594, issued on Jun. 9, 2015.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/065,500, filed on Oct. 17, 2014.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/667,606, filed on Jul. 3, 2012.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/598,240, filed on Feb. 13, 2012.
Prior Publication US 2020/0261913 A1, Aug. 20, 2020
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B01L 3/00 (2006.01); B01L 7/00 (2006.01); B01L 99/00 (2010.01); G01N 33/00 (2006.01); G01N 35/00 (2006.01); C12Q 1/686 (2018.01)
CPC B01L 3/502761 (2013.01) [B01L 3/50851 (2013.01); B01L 3/502738 (2013.01); B01L 7/52 (2013.01); B01L 7/525 (2013.01); C12Q 1/686 (2013.01); G01N 35/0098 (2013.01); B01L 3/50855 (2013.01); B01L 2200/0668 (2013.01); B01L 2200/0684 (2013.01); B01L 2200/0689 (2013.01); B01L 2200/10 (2013.01); B01L 2300/044 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0627 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0681 (2013.01); B01L 2300/087 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0816 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0867 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0887 (2013.01); B01L 2300/168 (2013.01); B01L 2300/1822 (2013.01); B01L 2300/1827 (2013.01); B01L 2400/043 (2013.01); B01L 2400/0406 (2013.01); B01L 2400/0481 (2013.01); B01L 2400/0487 (2013.01); B01L 2400/0622 (2013.01); B01L 2400/0633 (2013.01); B01L 2400/0655 (2013.01); B01L 2400/0694 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for automatically processing nucleic acid content of one or more samples in cooperation with a cartridge comprising a set of microfluidic pathways for performing amplification and detection of said nucleic acid content, the system comprising:
one or more process containers for capturing nucleic acid content from the one or more samples at a set of beads coupled with chemical entities for capturing said nucleic acid content;
a molecular diagnostic module comprising:
a cartridge location for positioning the cartridge within the molecular diagnostic module,
one or more heaters at the cartridge location for amplifying said nucleic acid content, and
an optical subsystem for detecting said nucleic acid content;
one or more storage containers for one or more reagents, the one or more reagents comprising a release solution for releasing at least a portion of the nucleic acid content from the set of beads, and reagents for amplifying one or more nucleic acids;
a fluid handling subsystem comprising an actuator and an aspiration and delivery component coupled to the actuator; and
a processor and a controller, the processor comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon, that when executed, cause the processor and controller to:
instruct the molecular diagnostic module to position the cartridge at the cartridge location,
instruct the fluid handling subsystem to execute a delivery mode with movement of the aspiration and delivery component of the fluid handling system between the one or more storage containers, and one or more inlets of the cartridge, thereby delivering said nucleic acid content into the cartridge,
instruct the one or more heaters to heat one or more of the set of microfluidic pathways of the cartridge, thereby performing amplification and detection of one or more nucleic acids, and
instruct the molecular diagnostic module to deliver the cartridge from the cartridge location.