US 11,806,718 B2
Fluorescence detector for microfluidic diagnostic system
Kalyan Handique, Ypsilanti, MI (US); and Sundaresh N. Brahmasandra, Ann Arbor, MI (US)
Assigned to HANDYLAB, INC., Franklin Lakes, NJ (US)
Filed by HANDYLAB, INC., Franklin Lakes, NJ (US)
Filed on Oct. 7, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/496,182.
Application 17/496,182 is a continuation of application No. 17/085,320, filed on Oct. 30, 2020, granted, now 11,141,734.
Application 17/085,320 is a continuation of application No. 16/910,850, filed on Jun. 24, 2020, granted, now 10,821,446, issued on Nov. 3, 2020.
Application 16/910,850 is a continuation of application No. 15/795,842, filed on Oct. 27, 2017, granted, now 10,695,764, issued on Jun. 30, 2020.
Application 15/795,842 is a continuation of application No. 14/537,517, filed on Nov. 10, 2014, granted, now 9,802,199, issued on Oct. 31, 2017.
Application 14/537,517 is a continuation of application No. 11/940,321, filed on Nov. 14, 2007, granted, now 8,883,490, issued on Nov. 11, 2014.
Application 11/940,321 is a continuation in part of application No. 11/728,964, filed on Mar. 26, 2007, granted, now 9,040,288, issued on May 26, 2015.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/959,437, filed on Jul. 13, 2007.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/859,284, filed on Nov. 14, 2006.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/786,007, filed on Mar. 24, 2006.
Prior Publication US 2022/0203371 A1, Jun. 30, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B01L 3/00 (2006.01); G01N 21/00 (2006.01); B01L 7/00 (2006.01); B01L 9/00 (2006.01); C12Q 1/686 (2018.01); G01N 21/64 (2006.01)
CPC B01L 7/52 (2013.01) [B01L 3/502715 (2013.01); B01L 3/502723 (2013.01); B01L 9/527 (2013.01); C12Q 1/686 (2013.01); G01N 21/6428 (2013.01); B01L 3/502738 (2013.01); B01L 2200/025 (2013.01); B01L 2200/027 (2013.01); B01L 2200/0684 (2013.01); B01L 2300/021 (2013.01); B01L 2300/022 (2013.01); B01L 2300/045 (2013.01); B01L 2300/046 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0861 (2013.01); B01L 2300/1805 (2013.01); B01L 2300/1822 (2013.01); B01L 2300/1827 (2013.01); B01L 2300/1838 (2013.01); B01L 2300/1861 (2013.01); G01N 2021/6419 (2013.01); Y10S 435/808 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system comprising:
a platform configured to receive a consumable microfluidic cartridge;
a plurality of amplification heaters arranged along an amplification heater axis and configured to direct heat toward the consumable microfluidic cartridge when the consumable microfluidic cartridge is positioned above the plurality of amplification heaters, the plurality of amplification heaters comprising at least a first amplification heater and a second amplification heater;
the consumable microfluidic cartridge comprising a first portion comprising a plurality of detection regions within which amplification and detection of target nucleic acid sequences is carried out, the plurality of detection regions comprising at least a first detection region and a second detection region, the plurality of detection regions arranged along a first cartridge axis, wherein the amplification heater axis and the first cartridge axis are substantially parallel when the consumable microfluidic cartridge is positioned above the plurality of heaters, the consumable microfluidic cartridge comprising a second portion comprising a plurality of inlets comprising at least a first inlet and a second inlet, the plurality of inlets arranged along a second cartridge axis, wherein the second cartridge axis is substantially parallel to the first cartridge axis, the first inlet configured to be loaded with a first polynucleotides-containing sample, the second inlet configured to be loaded with a second polynucleotides-containing sample that is different than the first polynucleotides-containing sample,
wherein the first amplification heater is configured to direct heat toward the first detection region in order to amplify one or more polynucleotides in the first detection region when the consumable microfluidic cartridge is positioned above the plurality of amplification heaters and the first polynucleotides-containing sample is received in the consumable microfluidic cartridge, and wherein the second amplification heater is configured to direct heat toward the second detection region in order to amplify one or more polynucleotides in the second detection region when the consumable microfluidic cartridge is positioned above the plurality of heaters and the second polynucleotides-containing sample is received in the consumable microfluidic cartridge,
a liquid handling robot;
a fluorescence detector configured to detect the presence of one or more polynucleotides in the plurality of detection regions of the consumable microfluidic cartridge when the consumable microfluidic cartridge is positioned above the plurality of amplification heaters,
the fluorescence detector comprising a plurality of detectors arranged along a first detection axis, wherein the first cartridge axis and the first detection axis are substantially parallel when the fluorescence detector is positioned above the consumable microfluidic cartridge, the plurality of detectors comprising a first detector and a second detector,
the first detector of the fluorescence detector configured to transmit light onto the first detection region and receive light emitted from the first detection region to detect the presence of one or more polynucleotides in the first detection region of the consumable microfluidic cartridge,
the second detector of the fluorescence detector configured to transmit light onto the second detection region and receive light emitted from the second detection region to detect the presence of one or more polynucleotides in the second detection region of the consumable microfluidic cartridge.