Stand alone microfluidic analytical chip device

Abstract

Provided is an analytical device including: a self-flowing microfluidic system, having a sample extraction location, at least one sample preparation location, and at least one sample analytical chamber; wherein the sample extraction location, the sample preparation location, and the at least one sample analytical chamber are interconnected by at least one microfluidic channel on a first substrate; and a signal readout system, having at least one sample analysis elements, and a data gathering and processing element.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An analytical device comprising:
 a self-flowing microfluidic system, having
 a sample extraction location, 
 at least one sample preparation location, and 
 at least one sample analytical chamber; wherein 
 the sample extraction location, the sample preparation location, and the at least one sample analytical chamber are interconnected by at least one microfluidic channel on a first substrate; and 
   a signal readout system, having
 at least one sample analysis elements, and 
 a data gathering and processing element. 
   
     
     
         2 . The analytical device of  claim 1 , further comprising a data transmission element, wherein plurality of sample analysis detection elements, the data processing element and the data transmission element are communicatively connected by a communication element. 
     
     
         3 . The analytical device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sample analytical chamber further comprises at least one of
 an electrochemical analysis chamber;   an optical analysis chamber; and   a biomaterial analysis chamber.   
     
     
         4 . The analytical device of  claim 3 , wherein the electrochemical analysis chamber is configured to perform an electrophoresis process. 
     
     
         5 . The analytical device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sample preparation chamber is configured to perform a column chromatography process on a volume of fluid. 
     
     
         6 . The analytical device of  claim 1 , wherein the signal readout system further comprises at least one of:
 a light source;   an optical detector; and   an electrochemical detector.   
     
     
         7 . The analytical device of  claim 6 , wherein the optical detector and the electrochemical detector are in a same sample analysis chamber of the self-flowing microfluidic system. 
     
     
         8 . The analytical device of  claim 6 , wherein the data processing element further comprises a data processing chip configured to manipulate an electrical signal from at least one of the optical detector or the electrochemical detector. 
     
     
         9 . The analytical device of  claim 1 , further comprising an electrical power source and a power distribution network interconnecting the electrical power source, the plurality of sample analysis detection elements, the data processing element, and the data transmission element. 
     
     
         10 . The analytical device of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one optical detector is configured to perform a fluorimetry process. 
     
     
         11 . The analytical device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sample preparation location is further configured to perform at least one of:
 filtering a fluidic sample;   mixing a chemical reagent with the fluidic sample;   heating the fluidic sample.   
     
     
         12 . The analytical device of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one sample preparation is configured to filter the fluidic sample with at least one of a membrane or a filter element. 
     
     
         13 . The analytical device of  claim 1 , wherein the sample extraction location further comprises at least one of an array of micro-needles to receive a fluidic sample into the analytical device and an orifice to receive a deposited sample. 
     
     
         14 . The analytical device of  claim 1 , further comprising a visual display communicatively connected to a visual display regulating element, wherein the visual display regulating element is configured to receive, via a communicative connection, information regarding a fluidic sample from a data processing element or a data transmission element, and to transmit the information to the visual display. 
     
     
         15 . The analytical device of  claim 1 , wherein the pump-free microfluidic system and the signal readout system are integrated into a single system substrate. 
     
     
         16 . An analytical device comprising:
 a signal readout system, having
 a card reader slot, 
 at least one sample analysis element, and 
 a data gathering and processing element, wherein plurality of sample analysis detection elements, the data processing element and the data transmission element are communicatively connected by a communication element, and wherein the card reader slot is configured to accept a test card comprising 
   a pump-free microfluidic system, having
 a sample extraction location, 
 at least one sample preparation location, and 
 at least one sample analytical chamber; wherein the sample extraction location, the sample preparation location, and the at least one sample analytical chamber are interconnected by at least one microfluidic channel on a first substrate. 
   
     
     
         17 . The analytical device of  claim 16 , further comprising a test card interface configured to electrically connect the communication element to an electrochemical sensor of the test card. 
     
     
         18 . The analytical device of  claim 16 , further comprising a data transmission element. 
     
     
         19 . An arrangement comprising:
 a signal readout system, having
 a card reader slot, 
 at least one sample analysis element, and 
 a data gathering and processing element, wherein plurality of sample analysis detection elements, the data processing element and the data transmission element are communicatively connected by a communication element, and wherein the card reader slot is configured to accept a test card comprising 
   a pump-free microfluidic system, having
 a sample extraction location, 
 at least one sample preparation location, and 
 at least one sample analytical chamber; wherein the sample extraction location, the sample preparation location, and the at least one sample analytical chamber are interconnected by at least one microfluidic channel on a first substrate.