Multi-channel optical detection system and method for multi-chamber assays

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11975321-B2
Application number	US-201916367125-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 27, 2019
Priority date	Mar 27, 2018
Publication date	May 7, 2024
Grant date	May 7, 2024

Abstract

A multi-channel optical detection system includes a base unit adapted to receive a multi-chamber assay cartridge having a plurality of reaction chambers loaded with a sample and an optical detection reagent, and an optical detection unit having a multi-channel optical block having a plurality of detection channels each with an associated light source, and an optic sensor. The optical detection unit is connectable to the base unit so that interrogation ports of the detection channels are optically aligned with optically transparent windows of the reaction chambers of a loaded cartridge, so that upon initialization, light sources are activated to interrogate reaction products in the reaction chambers and detect the optical responses therefrom.

First claim

We claim:

1. An optical detection system, comprising:
a multi-chamber assay cartridge having:
a cartridge body having a plurality of reaction chambers and a sample loading chamber fluidically connected to the reaction chambers via corresponding entry ports,

wherein the reaction chambers are radially arranged around the sample loading chamber in a hub-and-spoke configuration, and each reaction chamber contains an optical detection reagent and having an optically transparent window for viewing reaction products produced therein;
a flexible diaphragm arranged to gate access to the entry ports from the sample loading chamber and moveable between a closed position occluding the entry ports and an open position allowing access to the entry ports;
a resiliently biasing member positioned to urge the flexible diaphragm to the closed position;
a tubular column extending from a center of the cartridge body in an orthogonal direction to the hub-and-spoke configuration of the reaction chambers to an open end for receiving a sample; and
a tubular plunger positioned in the tubular column and having a fluidic conduit enabling fluidic communication between the open end of the tubular column and the sample loading chamber, and adapted to reciprocate in the tubular column between a first position which does not resiliently bias the flexible diaphragm from the closed position, and a second position which resiliently biases the resiliently biasing member and actuates the flexible diaphragm to the open position,
wherein the tubular column is adapted to connect a Luer-Locke syringe to the open end, and the tubular plunger is configured to be actuated by the syringe to the second position when the syringe is connected to the open end, whereby

connecting the syringe to the open end simultaneously enables fluidic access and
sample loading from the open end of the tubular column into the reaction chambers;
a base unit having a cartridge-loading section with a plurality of heating wells each adapted to receive a corresponding one of the plurality of reaction chambers of the cartridge in a parallel direction to a longitudinal axis of the tubular column of the cartridge; and
an optical detection unit including: a multi-channel optical block having a plurality of detection channels each with an interrogation port on a cartridge-interface side of the multi-channel optical block and a center cavity for receiving the tubular column; a plurality of light sources each optically connected to a corresponding one of the detection channels to transmit an interrogating light beam out through the corresponding interrogation port; a plurality of optic sensors each optically connected to a corresponding one of the detection channels to detect an optical response entering from the corresponding interrogation port; and a detection controller operably connected to control the light sources and the optic sensors,
wherein the optical detection unit is adapted to connect to the base unit in a parallel direction to the longitudinal axis of the tubular column of the multi-chamber assay cartridge so that the cartridge-interface side of the multi-channel optical block is juxtaposed with the loaded cartridge, and for each detection channel the interrogation port is optically aligned with the optically transparent window of a corresponding one of the reaction chambers of the loaded cartridge and, upon activation of the light source, the interrogating light beam is directed into the reaction chamber to interrogate reaction products found therein and the optical response from the reaction products is detected by the optic sensor, and
wherein the detection channels are radially arranged in the multi-channel optical block in a hub-and spoke configuration around the center cavity corresponding to the radially arranged hub-and-spoke configuration of the reaction chambers in the cartridge.

2. The optical detection system of claim 1 ,
wherein the multi-channel optical block has a cylindrical configuration with a cylindrical sidewall between a first end that is the cartridge-interface side and an opposite second end.

3. The optical detection system of claim 2 ,
wherein the optical detection unit includes a plurality of dichroic mirrors each arranged in a corresponding one of the detection channels to reflect the interrogating light beam from the light source out through the interrogation port, and to transmit the optical response entering from the interrogation port to the optic sensor, and
wherein the light sources are arranged to direct the interrogating light beam in a radially inward direction toward the plurality of dichroic mirrors, and the optic sensors are arranged to receive the optical response in an orthogonal direction to the interrogating light beam.

4. The optical detection system of claim 1 ,
wherein the detection controller is adapted to initialize a detection operation of the optical detection unit, including activating the light sources, upon detecting a trigger event.

5. The optical detection system of claim 4 ,
wherein the trigger event includes detecting that the cartridge is loaded on the cartridge-loading section and the optical detection unit is connected to the base unit.

6. The optical detection system of claim 4 ,
wherein the base unit has a heating controller adapted, upon detecting the trigger event, to activate the heating wells and heat the reaction chambers prior to the detection controller initializing the detection operation of the optical detection unit.

7. The optical detection system of claim 6 ,
wherein the trigger event includes detecting that the cartridge is loaded on the cartridge-loading section and the optical detection unit is connected to the base unit.

8. The optical detection system of claim 1 ,
wherein the optical detection unit includes a plurality of excitation filters each optically connected to a corresponding one of the detection channels downstream of the corresponding light source to transmit excitation light of a predetermined fluorescence-inducing wavelength range out through the corresponding interrogation port, and a plurality of emission filters each optically connected to a corresponding one of the detection channels upstream of the corresponding optic sensor to detect fluorescent light of a predetermined fluorescence wavelength range entering from the corresponding interrogation port.

9. The optical detection system of claim 1 ,
wherein the cartridge body has a disc-shaped configuration with the reaction chambers arranged in a circular arrangement in the cartridge body surrounding the sample loading chamber in the hub-and-spoke configuration, and
wherein the multi-channel optical block has a cylindrical configuration with a cylindrical sidewall between a first end that is the cartridge-interface side and an opposite second end, and the detection channels are arranged in a circular arrangement in the cylindrical sidewall corresponding to the circular arrangement of the reaction chambers.

10. A multi-chamber assay cartridge comprising:
a cartridge body having a plurality of reaction chambers and a sample loading chamber fluidically connected to the reaction chambers via corresponding entry ports, wherein the reaction chambers are radially arranged around the sample loading chamber in a hub-and-spoke configuration, and each reaction chamber contains an optical detection reagent and having an optically transparent window for viewing reaction products produced therein;
a flexible diaphragm arranged to gate access to the entry ports from the sample loading chamber and moveable between a closed position occluding the entry ports and an open position allowing access to the entry ports;
a resilient

Assignees

• Dugan Lawrence C
• Benett William J
• Wheeler Elizabeth K
• L Livermore Nat Security Llc

Inventors

• Dugan Lawrence C
• Benett William J
• Wheeler Elizabeth K

Classifications

• B01L3/502715 Primary

  characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces · CPC title

• G01N21/76

  Chemiluminescence; Bioluminescence · CPC title

• B01L2200/10

  Integrating sample preparation and analysis in single entity, e.g. lab-on-a-chip concept · CPC title

• B01L2300/0864

  comprising only one inlet and multiple receiving wells, e.g. for separation, splitting · CPC title

• B01L2200/027

  for microfluidic devices · CPC title