Microfluidic system for amplifying and detecting polynucleotides in parallel

Abstract

The present technology provides for an apparatus for detecting polynucleotides in samples, particularly from biological samples. The technology more particularly relates to microfluidic systems that carry out PCR on nucleotides of interest within microfluidic channels, and detect those nucleotides. The apparatus includes a microfluidic cartridge that is configured to accept a plurality of samples, and which can carry out PCR on each sample individually, or a group of, or all of the plurality of samples simultaneously.

1 . A method of carrying out amplification on a plurality of samples, the method comprising:
 introducing each of the plurality of samples into an amplification zone of a multi-lane microfluidic cartridge;   isolating each of the plurality of samples within the multi-lane microfluidic cartridge;   independently thermally cycling each amplification zone; and   amplifying polynucleotides contained within each of the plurality of samples.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising detecting the presence of a polynucleotide or a polynucleotide probe in the plurality of samples. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein independently thermally cycling each amplification zone comprises heating each amplification zone with a plurality of heaters. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein independently thermally cycling each amplification zone comprises heating each amplification zone with four heaters. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein independently thermally cycling each amplification zone comprises heating each amplification zone with two long heaters and two short heaters. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein isolating each of the plurality of samples comprises closing at least one valve. 
     
     
         7 . A method of carrying out amplification on a plurality of samples, the method comprising:
 introducing a sample of a plurality of samples into an amplification zone in a lane of a multi-lane microfluidic cartridge;   isolating the sample from the plurality of samples within the multi-lane microfluidic cartridge;   thermally controlling the amplification zone independently from another amplification zone in another lane of the multi-lane microfluidic cartridge; and   amplifying polynucleotides contained within the sample within the amplification zone while thermal cycling the amplification zone.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising detecting the presence of a polynucleotide or a polynucleotide probe in the sample. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein thermally controlling the amplification zone comprises heating the amplification zone with a plurality of heaters. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein thermally controlling the amplification zone comprises heating the amplification zone with four heaters. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein thermally controlling the amplification zone comprises heating the amplification zone with two long heaters and two short heaters. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein isolating the sample from the plurality of samples comprises closing at least one valve. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 introducing a second sample of a plurality of samples into a second amplification zone in a second lane of a multi-lane microfluidic cartridge;   isolating the second sample from the plurality of samples within the multi-lane microfluidic cartridge;   thermally controlling the second amplification zone independently from another amplification zone in another lane of the multi-lane microfluidic cartridge; and   amplifying polynucleotides contained within the second sample within the second amplification zone while thermal cycling the second amplification zone.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , isolating the second sample from the plurality of samples comprises closing at least one valve. 
     
     
         15 . A method of carrying out nucleic acid amplification on a plurality of samples, the method comprising:
 introducing the plurality of samples into a plurality of amplification zones of a multi-lane microfluidic cartridge;   isolating the plurality of samples within the plurality of amplification zones; and   independently heating each amplification zone in order to amplify polynucleotides contained within the sample within the amplification zone.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising detecting the presence of a polynucleotide or a polynucleotide probe in the plurality of samples. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein independently heating each amplification zone comprises heating each amplification zone with a plurality of heaters. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein independently heating each amplification zone comprises heating each amplification zone with four heaters. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein independently heating each amplification zone comprises heating each amplification zone with two long heaters and two short heaters. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein isolating the plurality of samples comprises closing at least one valve.