US 12,083,521 B2
Sample cartridge for incubating and/or analyzing a dispersion of particles, cells or droplets
Torsten Schulz, Jena (DE); Eugen Ermantraut, Jena (DE); Katrin Steinmetzer, Jena (DE); and Alrik Wolff, Weimar (DE)
Assigned to BLINK AG, Jena (DE)
Appl. No. 16/626,647
Filed by BLINK AG, Jena (DE)
PCT Filed Jul. 2, 2018, PCT No. PCT/EP2018/067819
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Dec. 26, 2019,
PCT Pub. No. WO2019/002622, PCT Pub. Date Jan. 3, 2019.
Claims priority of application No. 17179194 (EP), filed on Jun. 30, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2020/0156077 A1, May 21, 2020
Int. Cl. B01F 35/513 (2022.01); B01F 23/411 (2022.01); B01F 31/20 (2022.01); B01L 3/00 (2006.01); B01L 7/00 (2006.01); B01L 99/00 (2010.01); C12M 1/00 (2006.01); C12M 1/34 (2006.01); G01N 15/00 (2024.01); G01N 15/1433 (2024.01); G01N 15/14 (2006.01)
CPC B01L 7/52 (2013.01) [B01F 23/4111 (2022.01); B01F 31/20 (2022.01); B01F 35/513 (2022.01); B01L 3/502776 (2013.01); B01L 3/505 (2013.01); C12M 41/14 (2013.01); G01N 15/1433 (2024.01); B01L 2200/0636 (2013.01); B01L 2200/0684 (2013.01); B01L 2300/042 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0681 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0832 (2013.01); B01L 2300/1822 (2013.01); B01L 2400/0409 (2013.01); B01L 2400/0457 (2013.01); B01L 2400/0481 (2013.01); B01L 2400/049 (2013.01); B01L 2400/0655 (2013.01); G01N 2015/1493 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A sample cartridge for incubating and/or analyzing a dispersion of particles, cells or droplets, and/or for performing biochemical reactions with or in such dispersion, said cartridge comprising:
a deformable transparent unbranched tube having a single interior space, a longitudinal axis and two oppositely located open ends serving as an inlet and an outlet, respectively, wherein said oppositely located open ends of said tube are arranged such that they are aligned with each other and along said longitudinal axis;
said tube being adapted to receive a dispersion of particles, cells or droplets, in said single interior space of said tube, said single interior space being lined by one or several walls of said tube, wherein the tube is configured such that the single interior space of said tube, when having received said dispersion, has a circular or oval cross-section, such that the single interior space, when the tube is pressed against a surface, has a flat, noncircular cross-section;
said cartridge further comprising:
means to withhold said particles, cells or droplets in said deformable transparent tube, said means to withhold said particles, cells or droplets being located at one or both ends of said tube, said means to withhold being a filter, a membrane, a grid, a mesh or a sieve, allowing the passage of liquid through it whilst retaining said particles, cells or droplets; and
a mounting frame connected to and holding said tube at said oppositely located ends of said tube and configured to allow addition of material to said single interior space of said tube via one of said ends serving as inlet, and/or removal of material from said single interior space of said tube via one of said ends serving as an outlet;
wherein said mounting frame has a longitudinal axis that is aligned with said longitudinal axis of said tube, and wherein said mounting frame comprises two oppositely located longitudinal ends, each of such oppositely located longitudinal ends having an orifice, respectively, that is in fluid connection with said oppositely located ends of said tube serving as inlet and outlet of said tube, respectively, wherein each of said orifices is sealable, and comprises means to reversibly close and seal such orifice.