Systems and methods for point of use evacuation of an array

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12162005-B2
Application number	US-202217694020-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 14, 2022
Priority date	May 24, 2017
Publication date	Dec 10, 2024
Grant date	Dec 10, 2024

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatus are provided for evacuating and for filling an array at the point of use.

First claim

We claim:

1. An array assembly, comprising:
a first film layer and a second film layer having disposed therebetween:
an array layer comprising a plurality of wells arranged in an array;
the first film layer bonded to a first side of the array layer, wherein the first film layer seals a first end of each of the plurality of wells;
the second film layer bonded to a second side of the array layer;
a vacuum channel in fluid communication with the plurality of wells and with a vacuum port, wherein the vacuum port comprises an opening in one or more of the first film layer and the second film layer, and wherein the vacuum channel is selectively sealable to seal access of the vacuum port to the vacuum channel; and
an array fill channel in fluid communication with the plurality of wells and with a fluid source, wherein the array fill channel comprises a closed, selectively openable seal between the plurality of wells and the fluid source.

2. The array assembly of claim 1 , wherein the array layer further comprises a card material having the plurality of wells formed therein, the array assembly further comprising:
a fluid opening in a first side of the card removed from the vacuum port, wherein the fluid opening is in fluid communication with the array fill channel and the plurality of wells;
a channel system, comprising the vacuum channel, in fluid communication with the access opening and with the plurality of wells; and
a vacuum port in fluid communication with the channel system.

3. The array assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of one or more of the vacuum channel and the array fill channel is formed (i) in the card layer, (ii) in the second film layer, or (iii) between the card layer and the second film layer.

4. The array assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of one or more of the vacuum channel and the array fill channel is formed between the first film layer and the second film layer.

5. The array assembly of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the array fill channel is formed between the first film layer and the second film layer and is disposed about at least a portion of a perimeter of the card layer.

6. The array assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a recessed conduit in the card layer, wherein the recessed conduit in the card layer has a manifold configuration wherein each well in the array is fluidly connected to the vacuum port by at least two paths and each well is also connected to the fluid source by at least two paths.

7. The array assembly of claim 6 , wherein the second film layer has a recessed conduit formed therein, further comprising a third film layer disposed between the second film layer and the card layer, wherein the third film layer has a plurality of piercings extending therethrough, and wherein the plurality of piercings are in fluid communication with the recessed conduit in the second film layer.

8. The array assembly of claim 7 , wherein at least a portion of the array fill channel is disposed between the recessed conduit in the second film layer and the bond between the third film layer and the second film layer between two or more portions of the recessed conduit in the second film layer.

9. The array assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the vacuum channel is provided as a portion of the array fill channel and is configured to maintain the array fill channel in an open position.

10. The array assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an openable seal in the array fill channel between the plurality of wells and the fluid source.

11. The array assembly of claim 1 , further comprising one or more reagents disposed in each of the plurality of wells.

12. A reaction container, comprising:
the array assembly of claim 1 , and
a plurality of fluidly connected reaction chambers, in fluid communication with the array assembly.

13. The reaction container of claim 12 , wherein the array assembly further comprises:
an access opening in fluid communication with at least one of the fluidly connected reaction chambers;
a plurality of reaction wells;
a vacuum port; and
a channel system in fluid communication with the access opening, with the plurality of wells and with the vacuum port, the channel system providing paths such that each reaction well in the array is fluidly connected to the vacuum port by at least two paths and each reaction well is also connected to the fluid source by at least two paths.

Assignees

• Biofire Defense Llc
• Bio Merieux Inc

Inventors

• Wernerehl Aaron
• Jones David E
• Zimmerman Taylor
• Ririe Kirk M

Classifications

• C12Q1/686

  Polymerase chain reaction [PCR] · CPC title

• B01L2400/049

  vacuum · CPC title

• B01L2300/0829

  Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates · CPC title

• B01L2200/16

  Reagents, handling or storing thereof · CPC title

• B01L2200/0689

  Sealing · CPC title