Flowcell cartridge with floating seal bracket

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10357775-B2
Application number	US-201715841109-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 13, 2017
Priority date	Jan 3, 2017
Publication date	Jul 23, 2019
Grant date	Jul 23, 2019

Abstract

A cartridge for use with chemical or biological analysis systems is provided. The cartridge may include a floating microfluidic plate that is held in the cartridge using one or more floating support brackets that incorporate gaskets that may seal against fluidic ports on the microfluidic plate. The floating support brackets may include indexing features that may align the microfluidic plate with the seals.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a frame;
a microfluidic plate having one or more first fluidic ports in a first side; and
a first support bracket that is attached to the frame such that:
the microfluidic plate is interposed between the first support bracket and the frame,
the first support bracket floats relative to the microfluidic plate and the frame,
the microfluidic plate and the frame float relative to one another, and
a first side of the first support bracket faces towards the microfluidic plate, wherein:
the first support bracket includes a first indexing feature that protrudes from the first side of the first support bracket and is proximate to a first edge of the microfluidic plate,
the first support bracket includes a second indexing feature that protrudes from the first side of the first support bracket and is proximate to a second edge of the microfluidic plate,
the first support bracket includes a first gasket with at least one seal that is proud of the first side of the first support bracket and is positioned against the first side of the microfluidic plate,
the first support bracket supports the first gasket relative to the frame, and
the first indexing feature of the first support bracket and the second indexing feature of the first support bracket contact the first edge and the second edge, respectively, of the microfluidic plate when the at least one seal of the first gasket is aligned with a corresponding at least one of the one or more first fluidic ports.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the microfluidic plate has a second side opposite the first side,
the frame has a first overlapping portion that overlaps, when viewed along a direction perpendicular to a major surface of the microfluidic plate, a first portion of the microfluidic plate that includes the second edge,
the first overlapping portion is proximate to the second side of the microfluidic plate,
the first overlapping portion has a first clamp arm slot having a first slot width in a direction parallel to the second edge,
the second side of the microfluidic plate is visible through the first clamp arm slot,
the apparatus is to be interfaced with a receiver of an analysis device, the receiver having a first clamp arm that is movable from an unclamped position in which the first clamp arm does not press on the second side of the microfluidic plate and does not engage with the first clamp arm slot to a clamped position in which the first clamp arm presses on the second side of the microfluidic plate and engages with the first clamp arm slot, and
the first slot width is larger than a width of the first clamp arm in a direction parallel to the second edge and located within the first clamp arm slot when the first clamp arm is in the clamped position.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein:
the microfluidic plate has a third edge opposite the first edge and a fourth edge opposite the second edge,
the frame has a second overlapping portion that overlaps, when viewed along the direction perpendicular to the major surface of the microfluidic plate, a second portion of the microfluidic plate that includes the fourth edge,
the second overlapping portion is proximate to the second side of the microfluidic plate, and
the second overlapping portion has a second clamp arm slot having a second slot width in a direction parallel to the fourth edge,
the second side of the microfluidic plate is visible through the second clamp arm slot,
the receiver of the analysis device within which the apparatus is to be interfaced has a second clamp arm that is movable from an unclamped position in which the second clamp arm does not press on the second side of the microfluidic plate and does not engage with the second clamp arm slot to a clamped position in which the second clamp arm presses on the second side of the microfluidic plate and engages with the second clamp arm slot, and
the second slot width is larger than a width of the second clamp arm in a direction parallel to the fourth edge and located within the second clamp arm slot when the second clamp arm is in the clamped position.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
there are two first fluidic ports in the microfluidic plate, and

the first gasket includes two seals, each seal having a through-hole passing through the first support bracket and aligned with a different one of the first fluidic ports when the first indexing feature of the first support bracket and the second indexing feature of the first support bracket contact the first edge and the second edge, respectively, of the microfluidic plate.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein:
the first gasket includes a support foot that is proud of the first side of the first support bracket and is positioned against the microfluidic plate,
a first axis is defined between center points of the two seals of the first gasket,
the support foot of the first gasket is offset by a first amount from the first axis along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis and parallel to the microfluidic plate, and
the support foot of the first gasket has an upper surface that contacts the microfluidic plate and that is co-planar with upper surfaces of the two seals of the first gasket that are also in contact with the microfluidic plate.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the support foot of the first gasket does not serve as a seal.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the first gasket is co-molded into the first support bracket.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the first support bracket has a second side that faces away from the first side of the first support bracket, and
at least two first fluidic port indexing features protrude from the second side of the first support bracket, each first fluidic port indexing feature to engage with a corresponding fluidic port indexing hole on a first fluidic port block of an analysis device to receive the apparatus.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the frame includes two opposing first retaining clips with opposing surfaces that face one another,
at least a portion of the first support bracket is positioned in between the two opposing first retaining clips,
the opposing surfaces of the first retaining clips are spaced apart by a first distance, and
the portion of the first support bracket between the opposing surfaces of the first retaining clips has a first width in a direction spanning between the opposing surfaces of the first retaining clips that is less than the first distance.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein:
the first support bracket includes a third indexing feature that protrudes from the first side of the first support bracket and is proximate to a third edge of the microfluidic plate opposite the first edge of the microfluidic plate, and
the microfluidic plate is interposed between the first indexing feature of the first support bracket and the third indexing feature of the first support bracket.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein:
the microfluidic plate is rectangular and the first edge of the microfluidic plate is orthogonal to the second edge of the microfluidic plate and the second edge of the microfluidic plate is orthogonal to the third edge of the microfluidic plate.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein:
the frame has a substantially rectangular opening,
the microfluidic plate sits within the substantially rectangular opening,
the substantially rectangular opening has opposing side walls that face towards one another, and
the first indexing feature of the first support bracket is interposed between one of the opposing side walls of the substantially rec

Assignees

• Illumina Inc

Inventors

• Kaplan David Elliott
• De Ruyter Anthony John
• Kelley Richard Alan
• Kumar Ashish

Classifications

• G01N35/00

  Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor · CPC title

• F16K99/00

  Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass · CPC title

• C12Q1/68

  involving nucleic acids · CPC title

• C12Q1/00

  Measuring or testing processes involving enzymes, nucleic acids or microorganisms (measuring or testing apparatus with condition measuring or sensing means, e.g. colony counters, C12M1/34); Compositions therefor; Processes of preparing such compositions · CPC title

• B01L9/00 Primary

  Supporting devices; Holding devices · CPC title