Cartridge for conducting a chemical reaction

Abstract

A cartridge for conducting a chemical reaction includes a body having at least one flow path formed therein. The cartridge also includes a reaction vessel extending from the body for holding a reaction mixture for chemical reaction and optical detection. The vessel comprises a rigid frame defining the side walls of a reaction chamber. The frame includes at least one channel connecting the flow path to the chamber. The vessel also includes flexible films or sheets attached to opposite sides of the rigid frame to form opposing major walls of the chamber. In addition, at least two of the side walls are optically transmissive and angularly offset from each to permit real-time optical detection of analyte in the reaction chamber.

1 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A device for conducting a chemical reaction, the device comprising a reaction vessel, the vessel comprising:
 i) a rigid frame defining side walls of a reaction chamber;   ii) at least one flexible sheet attached to the rigid frame to form a major wall of the reaction chamber; and   iii) an inlet port for fluid to flow into the reaction chamber.   
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 22 , wherein the vessel comprises first and second flexible sheets attached to opposite sides of the rigid frame to form two opposing major walls of the reaction chamber. 
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 22 , wherein at least two of the side walls are optically transmissive and angularly offset from each other by about 90°. 
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 24 , wherein at least two additional side walls have retro-reflective faces. 
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 22 , wherein the ratio of the width of the chamber to the thickness of the chamber is at least 4:1, and wherein the chamber has a thickness in the range of 0.5 to 2 mm. 
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 22 , wherein the vessel further comprises an outlet for fluid to flow out of the reaction chamber. 
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 22 , further comprising at least one thermal surface near the major wall such that the major wall contacts and conforms to the thermal surface when the reaction chamber is pressurized. 
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 a) means for increasing the pressure in the reaction chamber, wherein the pressure increase in the chamber is sufficient to force the major wall to conform to the thermal surface; and   b) at least one thermal element for heating or cooling the thermal surface to induce a temperature change within the reaction chamber.   
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 24 , further comprising an optics system having at least one light source for transmitting light to the reaction chamber through a first one of the optically transmissive side walls and having at least one detector for detecting light emitted from the chamber through a second one of the optically transmissive side walls. 
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 22 , further comprising a body having at least one flow path formed therein for adding fluid into the reaction chamber via the inlet port. 
     
     
         32 . The device of  claim 31 , wherein the vessel comprises at least an inlet for fluid to flow into the reaction chamber and an outlet for fluid to flow out of the reaction chamber, and wherein the body comprises two separate flow paths connected to the inlet and outlet. 
     
     
         33 . The device of  claim 31 , wherein the body has formed therein: (1) a sample flow path; (2) a separation region in the sample flow path for separating a desired analyte from a fluid sample; and (3) an analyte flow path extending from the separation region, wherein the inlet connects the analyte flow path to the reaction chamber. 
     
     
         34 . The device of  claim 33 , wherein the separation region in the body comprises: (A) a lysing chamber in the sample flow path for lysing cells or viruses in the sample to release material therefrom; and (B) at least one solid support positioned in the lysing chamber for capturing the cells or viruses to be lysed. 
     
     
         35 . The device of  claim 29 , wherein the vessel comprises first and second flexible sheets attached to opposite sides of the rigid frame to form opposing major walls of the chamber, wherein the device comprises first and second thermal surfaces formed by opposing plates positioned to receive the reaction chamber between them, and wherein the pressure increase in the reaction chamber forces the major walls to contact and conform to the inner surfaces of the plates. 
     
     
         36 . The device of  claim 22 , wherein at least two of the side walls of the reaction chamber are optically transmissive and angularly offset from each other, and wherein the device further comprises an optics system having at least one light source for exciting a reaction mixture in the chamber through a first one of the optically transmissive side walls and having at least one detector for detecting light emitted from the chamber through a second one of the optically transmissive side walls. 
     
     
         37 . A method for conducting a chemical reaction, comprising the steps of:
 (a) obtaining a reaction vessel, the vessel comprising:
 i) a rigid frame defining side walls of a reaction chamber; 
 ii) at least one flexible sheet attached to the rigid frame to form a major wall of the reaction chamber; and 
 iii) an inlet port for fluid to flow into the reaction chamber. 
   (b) introducing a fluid sample into the reaction chamber via the inlet, and   (c) performing the chemical reaction within the chamber.