US 12,275,007 B2
Handheld impedance-based diagnostic test system for detecting analytes
Kyle William Montgomery, Concord, CA (US); Daniel J. Wade, Bay Point, CA (US); Shad Pierson, Sacramento, CA (US); Yuh-Min Chiang, Sunnyvale, CA (US); and Ronald Phillip Chiarello, Orinda, CA (US)
Assigned to ALVEO Technologies, Inc., Alameda, CA (US)
Appl. No. 17/416,095
Filed by Alveo Technologies, Inc., Alameda, CA (US)
PCT Filed Dec. 18, 2019, PCT No. PCT/US2019/067080
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jun. 18, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/132008, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 25, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/931,079, filed on Nov. 5, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/831,387, filed on Apr. 9, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/783,104, filed on Dec. 20, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0072539 A1, Mar. 10, 2022
Int. Cl. B01L 3/00 (2006.01); G01N 27/14 (2006.01)
CPC B01L 3/502715 (2013.01) [B01L 3/502707 (2013.01); B01L 3/502723 (2013.01); G01N 27/14 (2013.01); B01L 2200/04 (2013.01); B01L 2200/0684 (2013.01); B01L 2200/12 (2013.01); B01L 2200/16 (2013.01); B01L 2300/042 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0645 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0681 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0867 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0887 (2013.01); B01L 2400/0478 (2013.01); B01L 2400/06 (2013.01)] 3 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An assay cartridge for containing a sample comprising a target agent for detection by a reader device, the assay cartridge comprising:
a cartridge body configured to be received by the reader device, the cartridge body including:
a test well containing an excitation electrode and a sensing electrode, wherein the test well is configured to contain at least a portion of the sample comprising the target agent undergoing an amplification process;
a capillary tube receiving well configured to receive a capillary tube containing the sample; and
a plunger receiving well; and
a fluid path fluidically coupling the capillary tube receiving well to the test well; and
a cap comprising:
a retaining well having an interior diameter larger than an exterior diameter of the capillary tube;
a retaining structure disposed within the retaining well and configured to retain the capillary tube at a position spaced from a side interior wall and a rear interior wall of the retaining well to form at least one air channel fluidically coupled to an inner end of the capillary tube; and
a plunger disposed about a portion of the retaining well, wherein
the cap is configured to hold the capillary tube containing the sample, and the cap is further configured to mechanically couple to the cartridge body, wherein mechanically coupling the cap to the cartridge body causes compression of a trapped volume of a fluid to drive at least a portion of the sample through the fluid path into the test well,
wherein the capillary tube receiving well is configured to sealingly receive an outer end of the capillary tube to fluidically couple an inner lumen of the capillary tube to the fluid path when the cap is mechanically coupled to the cartridge body,
wherein the plunger receiving well is configured to sealingly receive the plunger when the cap is mechanically coupled to the cartridge body, and
wherein, as the cap is mechanically coupled to the cartridge body, the plunger compresses a volume of air within the plunger receiving well, such that the air flows through the air channel and forces the sample to travel into the fluid path of the cartridge body.