Flowcell cartridge with floating seal bracket

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019291115-A1
Application number	US-201916436485-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 10, 2019
Priority date	Jan 3, 2017
Publication date	Sep 26, 2019
Grant date	—

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

1 . An apparatus comprising:
a microfluidic plate comprising a first fluidic ports and having a plate width; and a first support bracket comprising a first gasket assembly, a first indexing feature, and a second indexing feature, the first indexing feature abutting the microfluidic plate at a first edge and the second indexing feature abutting the microfluidic assembly at a second edge when a gasket fluidic port of the first gasket assembly aligns with the first fluidic port of the microfluidic plate, the first edge being non-parallel to the second edge; and a frame comprising opposing sidewalls defining an opening, a retaining clip, and an overlapping region,
the opposing sidewalls defining an opening width, the opening width greater than the plate width,
the retaining clip retaining the first support bracket laterally relative to the frame, the retaining clip defining a predetermined gap for the first support bracket to float laterally relative to the retaining clip of the frame, and
at least a portion of the microfluidic plate disposed between, when viewed along a direction perpendicular to the microfluidic plate, the overlapping portion of the frame and the first support bracket, wherein the microfluidic plate floats laterally relative to the frame within the opening.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the gasket assembly comprises a seal surrounding the gasket fluidic port of the first gasket assembly.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the gasket assembly comprises a support foot offset from the gasket fluidic port.

4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the support foot is offset longitudinally relative to the gasket fluidic port.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the retaining clip comprises a first retaining clip on a first side of the opposing sides of the frame and a second retaining clip on a second side of the opposing sides of the frame.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the microfluidic plate is moveable longitudinally relative to the frame.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first gasket assembly is co-molded into the first support bracket.

8 . An apparatus comprising:
a chuck to receive a microfluidic plate thereon; a fluidic port block comprising a fluidic port, the fluidic port block moveable at least one of longitudinally or laterally relative to the chuck, the fluidic port block comprising an alignment hole to receive a fluidic port indexing feature of a flow cell cartridge; a rotatable clamp arm rotatable about an axis in a plane parallel to a plane of a surface of the chuck; a lateral indexing pin offset laterally from the chuck and extending upwardly relative to the plane of the surface of the chuck; and a longitudinal indexing pin offset longitudinally from the chuck and extending upwardly relative to the plane of the surface of the chuck, the longitudinal indexing pin longitudinally moveable relative to the chuck.

9 . The apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising a second longitudinal indexing pin, the second longitudinal indexing pin fixed relative to the chuck.

10 . The apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising a second fluidic port block comprising a second fluidic port, the second fluidic port block positioned on an opposite side of the chuck relative to the fluidic port block, the second fluidic port block moveable at least one of longitudinally or laterally relative to the chuck, the second fluidic port block comprising a second alignment hole to receive a second fluidic port indexing feature of the flow cell cartridge.

11 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the fluidic port block floats longitudinally and laterally relative to the chuck.

12 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the longitudinal indexing pin is spring-biased towards the chuck.

13 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the rotatable clamp arm laterally translates along the axis in the plane parallel to the plane of the surface of the chuck as the rotatable clamp arm rotates.

14 . The apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising a second lateral indexing pin offset laterally from the chuck and extending upwardly relative to the plane of the surface of the chuck, the lateral indexing pin and the second lateral indexing pin defining a lateral plane, wherein the rotatable clamp arm laterally translates in a direction towards the lateral plane as the rotatable clamp arm rotates in a first direction.

15 . A method comprising:
rotating a clamp arm about an axis in a plane parallel to a plane of a surface of a chuck of a receiver, the rotating clamp arm contacting a surface of a microfluidic plate of a flow cell cartridge disposed on the chuck of the receiver, the microfluidic plate comprising a fluidic port aligned with a gasket fluidic port of a gasket assembly of the flow cell cartridge, the microfluidic plate moveable longitudinally and laterally within a predetermined range of movement relative to a frame of the flow cell cartridge; translating a longitudinal indexing pin offset longitudinally from the chuck to contact a second edge of the microfluidic plate, the translating longitudinal indexing pin translating the microfluidic plate to contact an opposing edge of the microfluidic plate with a second longitudinal indexing pin; and engaging a fluidic port indexing feature of the flow cell cartridge with an alignment hole of a fluidic port block of the receiver, the fluidic port block moveable at least one of longitudinally or laterally relative to the chuck of the receiver, the fluidic port block comprising a receiver fluidic port, the receiver fluidic port aligned with the gasket fluidic port of the gasket assembly of the flow cell cartridge responsive to the fluidic port indexing feature of the flow cell cartridge being inserted into the alignment hole of the fluidic port block.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the rotatable clamp arm laterally translates along the axis in the plane parallel to the plane of the surface of the chuck as the rotatable clamp arm rotates.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the rotatable clamp arm laterally translates the microfluidic plate relative to the chuck of the receiver.

18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the gasket assembly comprises a support foot offset from the gasket fluidic port.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the support foot is offset longitudinally relative to the gasket fluidic port.

20 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the flow cell cartridge assembly comprises a first support bracket comprising the first gasket assembly, a first indexing feature, and a second indexing feature, the first indexing feature abutting the microfluidic plate at a first edge and the second indexing feature abutting the microfluidic assembly at the second edge when the gasket fluidic port of the first gasket assembly aligns with the fluidic port of the microfluidic plate, wherein the first support bracket floats relative to the microfluidic plate and the frame of the flow cell cartridge.

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

• B01L9/00 Primary

  Supporting devices; Holding devices · CPC title

• B01L2300/0822

  Slides · 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