초록 ▼

A fluid processing device is provided that enables the controlled flow of a liquid sample along a fluid processing pathway through various sample-containment regions and is free of fluid flow blockages or valves along the processing pathway. A system is also provided for processing the device and in

A fluid processing device is provided that enables the controlled flow of a liquid sample along a fluid processing pathway through various sample-containment regions and is free of fluid flow blockages or valves along the processing pathway. A system is also provided for processing the device and includes a rotatable platen and alignment features that can hold the fluid processing device in two or more different orientations on the rotatable platen. A method is also provided for processing a sample, in the device, with the system.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A system for processing a fluid, comprising a device, a rotatable platen, and a holder capable of holding the device on the rotatable platen in two or more different orientations, the holder being pivotably mounted to the platen so as to pivot with respect to the platen betwe

What is claimed is: 1. A system for processing a fluid, comprising a device, a rotatable platen, and a holder capable of holding the device on the rotatable platen in two or more different orientations, the holder being pivotably mounted to the platen so as to pivot with respect to the platen between at least a first orientation and a second orientation, the device comprising: a substrate, the substrate including a first surface and a second surface; and one or more sample processing pathways at least partially defined by the substrate, each sample processing pathway comprising an inlet, a first sample-containment region, a second sample-containment region, and a third sample-containment region, the first sample-containment region including an input opening and an output opening, the second sample-containment region including an input opening and an output opening, and the third sample-containment region including at least an input opening, a first fluid communication capable of directing a material in a first direction from the inlet to the input opening of the first sample-containment region, a second fluid communication capable of directing a material in a second direction front the output opening of the first sample-containment region to the input opening of the second sample-containment region, and a third fluid communication capable of directing a material in a third direction from the output opening of the second sample-containment region to the input opening of the third sample-containment region, wherein (1) the first and third directions are substantially parallel to one another, (2) the second direction is transverse to the first direction, (3) upon rotation of the platen while the device is held by the holder in the first orientation, the fluid moves through the first fluid communication, (4) upon rotation of the platen while the device is held by the holder in the second orientation, the fluid moves through the second fluid communication, and (5) the different orientations of the holder on the rotatable platen provide different orientations of the one or more sample processing pathways relative to the rotatable platen. 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first direction and the second direction are angled with respect to one another at an angle of from about 30�� to about 90��. 3. The device of claim 1, wherein the first direction and the second direction are angled with respect to one another at an angle of from about 40�� to about 55��. 4. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the first, second, and third fluid communications has a center and the centers are arranged on a common plane, and the common plane is parallel to at least one of the first surface and the second surface. 5. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more sample processing pathways further comprises a dried-down reagent disposed therein. 6. The device of claim 5, wherein the one or more sample processing pathways further comprises a sidewall and the dried-down reagent is incorporated in or on the sidewall. 7. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more sample processing pathways further comprises at least one size-exclusion retaining member disposed therein. 8. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more sample processing pathways further comprises a particulate material disposed therein. 9. The device of claim 8, wherein the particulate material comprises at least one of a sample purification material, and a size-exclusion material. 10. The device of claim 8, wherein the one or more sample processing pathways farther comprises at least one size-exclusion retaining member disposed therein and the particulate material is retained in the one or more sample processing pathways by the at least one size-exclusion retaining member. 11. The device of claim 1, wherein the third sample-containment region includes an output opening and each of the one or more sample processing pathways further comprises a fourth sample-containment region including an input opening, and a fourth fluid communication capable of directing a material in a fourth direction from the output opening of die third sample-containment region to the input opening of the fourth sample-containment region, wherein the second and fourth directions are parallel to one another. 12. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more sample processing pathways are formed in the substrate. 13. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one cover that at least partially defines the one or more sample processing pathways. 14. The device of claim 1, wherein the substrate is shaped as a rectangular card. 15. The device of claim 1, wherein the substrate is shaped as a circular disc. 16. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first sample-containment region, the second sample-containment region, and the third sample-containment region, has a volume of from about 0.5 μl to about 500 μl. 17. The device of claim 1, wherein a maximum cross-sectional area of at least one of the first sample-containment region, the second sample-containment region, and the third sample-containment region, is larger than a maximum cross-sectional area of at least one of the first fluid communication, the second fluid communication, and the third fluid communication. 18. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first, second, and third sample-containment regions has one or more maximum dimension that is from about 100 microns to about two centimeters. 19. The device of claim 1, wherein the fluid processing pathway is free of valves. 20. The system of claim 1, wherein the device and at least one of the rotatable platen and the holder comprises one or more alignment features capable of holding the device in or on the rotatable platen in the at least two different orientations. 21. The system of claim 1, further comprising a drive unit capable of rotating the rotatable platen, and a control unit capable of controlling the drive unit. 22. A system for processing a fluid, comprising a device, a rotatable platen, and a holder capable of holding the device on the rotatable platen in two or more different orientations, the holder being pivotably mounted to the platen so as to pivot with respect to the platen between at least a first orientation and a second orientation, the device comprising: a substrate, the substrate including a first surface and a second surface; and one or more sample processing pathways at least partially defined by the substrate, each sample processing pathway comprising an inlet, a first sample-containment region, a second sample-containment region, and a third sample-containment region, the first sample-containment region including an input opening and an output opening, the second sample-containment region including an input opening and an output opening, and the third sample-containment region including at least an input opening, a first fluid communication capable of directing a material in a first direction from the inlet to the input opening of the first sample-containment region, a second fluid communication capable of directing a material in a second direction from the output opening of the first sample-containment region to the input opening of the second sample-containment region, and a third fluid communication capable of directing a material in a third direction from the output opening of the second sample-containment region to the input opening of the third sample-containment region, wherein (1) the first direction is transverse to the second direction, (2) the second direction is transverse to the third direction, (3) upon rotation of the platen while the device is held by the holder in the first orientation, the fluid moves through the first fluid communication, (4) upon rotation of the platen while the device is held by the holder in the second orientation, the fluid moves through the second fluid communication, and (5) the different orientations of the holder on the rotatable platen provide different orientations of the one or more sample processing pathways relative to the rotatable platen. 23. The device of claim 22, wherein the first direction and the second direction are angled with respect to one another at an angle of from about 30�� to about 90��. 24. The device of claim 22, wherein the one or more sample processing pathways further comprises a particulate material disposed therein. 25. The device of claim 22, wherein the third sample-containment region includes an output opening and each of the one or more sample processing pathways further comprises a fourth sample-containment region including an input opening, and a fourth fluid communication capable of directing a material in a fourth direction from the output opening of the third sample-containment region to the input opening of the fourth sample-containment region, wherein the second and fourth directions are parallel to one another. 26. The device of claim 22, further comprising at least one cover that at least partially defines the one or more sample processing pathways. 27. The device of claim 22, wherein the fluid processing pathway is free of valves. 28. A system for processing a liquid, comprising a device, a rotatable platen, and a holder capable of holding the device in or on the rotatable platen in two or more different orientations, the holder being pivotably mounted to the platen so as to pivot with respect to the platen between at least a first orientation and a second orientation, the device comprising: a substrate, the substrate including a first surface and a second surface; and one or more sample processing pathways at least partially defined by the substrate, each sample processing pathway comprising an inlet, a first sample-containment region, a second sample-containment region, and a third sample-containment region, the first sample-containment region including an input opening and an output opening, the second sample-containment region including an input opening and an output opening, and the third sample-containment region including at least an input opening, a first fluid communication between the inlet and the input opening of the first sample-containment region, a second fluid communication between the output opening of the first sample-containment region and the input opening of the second sample-containment region, and a third fluid communication between the output opening of the second sample-containment region and the input opening of the third sample-containment region, wherein the first, second, and third fluid communications are arranged such that upon spinning the device about an axis of rotation while the holder holds the device in the first orientation, the device is capable of moving a liquid through the first and third fluid communications while preventing the liquid from moving through the second fluid communication, upon spinning the device about an axis of rotation while the holder holds the device in the second orientation that differs from the first orientation, the device is capable of moving the liquid through the second fluid communication while preventing the liquid from moving through the first and third fluid communications, and the different orientations of the holder on the rotatable platen provide different orientations of the one or more sample processing pathways relative to the rotatable platen. 29. The device of claim 28, wherein the third sample-containment region includes an output opening and each of the one or more sample processing pathways further comprises a fourth sample-containment region including an input opening, and a fourth fluid communication capable of directing a material from the output opening of the third sample-containment region to the input opening of the fourth sample-containment region. 30. The device of claim 28, wherein the one or more sample processing pathways are formed in the substrate. 31. The device of claim 28, further comprising at least one cover that at least partially defines the one or more sample processing pathways. 32. The device of claim 28, wherein the substrate is shaped as a rectangular card. 33. The device of claim 28, wherein the substrate is shaped as a circular disc. 34. The device of claim 28, wherein at least one of the first sample containment region, the second sample-containment region, and the third sample-containment region, has a volume of from about 0.5 μl to about 500 μl. 35. The device of claim 28, wherein the fluid processing pathway is free of valves.