Fluid manipulation cartridge and controller mechanism

Abstract

There is provided a sample processing cartridge comprising a. a sample entry location; b. a closed sample processing chamber; c. a sample analysis location comprising a sample analysis well; d. a first channel fluidly connecting the sample entry location and the sample processing chamber; e. a second channel connecting the sample analysis location and the sample processing chamber, the second channel comprising a closed or closable second channel valve; wherein the sample processing chamber comprises a second channel port providing fluid connection between the second channel and the sample processing chamber, the second channel port being positioned in a sample accumulating region of the sample processing chamber. There is also provided a sample processing system comprising the cartridge, and methods of use of the cartridge and processing system in a sample processing assay.

1 . A sample receiving container suitable for engagement with a sample entry location of a sample processing cartridge, comprising a container having an interior, an entrance aperture and an exit aperture, and a lid comprising a protruding distal portion which is formed to have mating dimensions with at least a portion of the interior of the container;
 wherein the lid is sealingly connectable to the container via an interface configured to provide a progressive transition between open and closed configurations, further wherein, in the closed configuration, the protruding distal portion of the lid is in sealing contact with the interior of the container.   
     
     
         2 . The sample receiving container according to  claim 1  wherein the lid comprises one or more first interlocking features, the container comprises one or more second interlocking features, the first and second interlocking features being engageable to provide the interface between the lid and the container. 
     
     
         3 . The sample receiving container according to  claim 2  wherein the first and second interlocking features, when engaged, provide a screw connection or a bayonet connection. 
     
     
         4 . An assembly comprising the sample receiving container according to  claim 1  and a sample processing cartridge comprising:
 a. a sample entry location; 
 b. a sample processing chamber; and 
 c. a first channel fluidly connecting the sample entry location and the sample processing chamber; 
 wherein the sample receiving container is engaged with the cartridge at the sample entry location so as to place the exit aperture of the container in fluid connection with the first channel of the cartridge. 
 
     
     
         5 . The sample receiving container according to  claim 1  wherein the sample receiving container and the lid are mutually formed so that, when the lid is in the closed configuration, the lid and the container between them form a subcontainer comprising compressed air. 
     
     
         6 . A sample swab device suitable for engagement with a sample receiving container of a sample processing cartridge, the device comprising a container lid sealingly connectable to the sample receiving container, the lid comprising a first surface and an opposing second surface from which a protruding distal portion extends, the distal portion comprising a liquid reservoir having an open and a closed reservoir configuration;
 the device further comprising a rod having a first end and a second end;   the rod being encircled by the protruding distal portion of the lid which extends towards the first end of the rod, the lid being moveable along rod between the first and second ends such that, when the protruding distal portion of the lid is positioned at the first end, the reservoir is in the open reservoir configuration and when the protruding distal portion of the lid is positioned away from the first end, the reservoir is in the closed reservoir configuration;   wherein the lid is sealingly connectable to the sample receiving container via an interface configured to provide a progressive transition between open and closed container configurations, further wherein, in the closed container configuration, the protruding distal portion of the lid is in sealing contact with the interior of the container.   
     
     
         7 . The sample swab device according to  claim 6  wherein the liquid reservoir is formed within the distal lid portion as a compressible chamber having a reservoir base adjacent the lid second surface and a reservoir nose, the reservoir base and reservoir nose each comprising an annular opening in sealing engagement with the rod when the protruding distal portion of the lid is positioned away from the first end;
 wherein the reservoir nose is capable of engagement with the sample receiving container of the cartridge such that, in use, when the lid is connected to the sample receiving container in the closed configuration, the compressible chamber is compressed. 
 
     
     
         8 . The sample swab device according to  claim 6  wherein the first end of the rod comprises a collection tool or material. 
     
     
         9 . An assembly of a sample processing cartridge and the sample swab device according to  claim 6 , the sample processing cartridge comprising:
 a. a sample entry location;   b. a sample processing chamber; and   c. a first channel fluidly connecting the sample entry location and the sample processing chamber,   
       wherein the sample entry location comprises a sample receiving container in fluid connection with the first channel, the container having an interior and an entrance aperture, and 
       wherein the sample swab device is suitable for engagement with the sample receiving container. 
     
     
         10 . A sample processing system comprising a sample processing cartridge and a carriage unit, the sample processing cartridge comprising:
 a. a sample entry location;   b. a sample processing chamber;   c. a sample analysis location comprising a sample analysis well;   d. a first channel fluidly connecting the sample entry location and the sample processing chamber; and   e. a second channel connecting the sample processing chamber and the sample analysis location, the second channel comprising a closed or closable second channel valve,   
       wherein the carriage unit is engageable with the cartridge and is reversibly moveable from a cartridge receiving position to a cartridge processing position, the carriage unit comprising:
 a sample processing chamber receiving position and/or a sample analysis well receiving position, each receiving position being independently optionally temperature controlled; 
 a second channel valve actuator; and 
 a cartridge engagement feature to facilitate engagement between the cartridge and the carriage unit. 
 
     
     
         11 . The sample processing system according to  claim 10  wherein, in the cartridge processing position, the second channel valve actuator places the second channel valve in a closed configuration. 
     
     
         12 . The sample processing system according to  claim 10 , the carriage unit comprising a sample analysis well receiving position which is temperature controlled, wherein, in the cartridge processing position, the sample analysis well position is in heating contact with the sample analysis well. 
     
     
         13 . The sample processing system according  claim 10 , wherein in the sample processing cartridge the first channel comprises a primary first channel portion, a secondary first channel portion and a sample receiving well positioned therebetween, and the secondary first channel portion comprises a first channel valve, and wherein the carriage unit comprises a sample receiving well receiving position which is temperature controlled and also comprises a first channel valve actuator;
 wherein, in the cartridge processing position, the sample receiving well position is in heating contact with the sample receiving well and the first channel valve actuator places the first channel valve in a closed configuration.   
     
     
         14 . The sample processing system according to  claim 10  wherein the cartridge comprises a layer of flexible material positioned across a surface of the first cartridge body, wherein the first or second cartridge body comprises a pin positioned at the second junction and moveable from a first position to a second film-piercing position, and wherein in the cartridge processing position, the pin is in the second film-piercing position. 
     
     
         15 . The sample processing system according to  claim 10  wherein the carriage unit, in use, is moveable in a progressive transition from the cartridge receiving position to the cartridge processing position, by the action of a user urging the cartridge into engagement with the carriage unit. 
     
     
         16 . The sample processing system according to  claim 10  wherein the carriage unit comprises a source of compressed gas which is in fluid connection with one or more channels of the cartridge when the carriage unit is in the cartridge processing position. 
     
     
         17 . A method for processing a sample comprising the use of a system according to  claim 10 , the method comprising the steps of:
 a. obtaining the sample processing cartridge, wherein: the sample entry location comprises a sample receiving container in fluid connection with the first channel, the container having an interior and an entrance aperture; the container comprises a lid comprising a protruding distal portion which is formed to have mating dimensions with at least a portion of the interior of the container; and the lid is sealingly connectable to the container via an interface configured to provide a progressive transition between open and closed configurations, further wherein, in the closed configuration, the protruding distal portion of the lid is in sealing contact with the interior of the container;   b. introducing the sample into the sample receiving container;   c. engaging the cartridge with the carriage unit and urging it into the cartridge processing position;   d. connecting the lid with the sample receiving container and urging the lid into the closed configuration.   
     
     
         18 . A method for processing a sample comprising the use of a system according to  claim 10 , the method comprising the steps of:
 a. obtaining the sample processing cartridge, wherein the sample entry location comprises a sample receiving container in fluid connection with the first channel, the container having an interior and an entrance aperture;   b. obtaining a sample swab device, the sample swab device comprising: a container lid sealingly connectable to the sample receiving container, the lid comprising a first surface and an opposing second surface from which a protruding distal portion extends, the distal portion comprising a liquid reservoir having an open and a closed reservoir configuration; a rod having a first end and a second end, the rod being encircled by the protruding distal portion of the lid which extends towards the first end of the rod, the lid being moveable along rod between the first and second ends such that, when the protruding distal portion of the lid is positioned at the first end, the reservoir is in the open reservoir configuration and when the protruding distal portion of the lid is positioned away from the first end, the reservoir is in the closed reservoir configuration, wherein the lid is sealingly connectable to the sample receiving container via an interface configured to provide a progressive transition between open and closed container configurations, further wherein, in the closed container configuration, the protruding distal portion of the lid is in sealing contact with the interior of the container, and wherein the first end of the rod comprises a sample collection tool or material;   c. obtaining a sample using the sample collection tool or material;   d. introducing the first end of the rod of the sample swab device into the sample receiving container;   e. engaging the cartridge with the carriage unit and urging it into the cartridge processing position; and   f. connecting the sample swab device container lid with the sample receiving container and urging the lid into the closed configuration.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 17  wherein the cartridge comprises a seventh channel valve and the carriage unit comprises a seventh channel valve actuator, and/or wherein the cartridge comprises an eighth channel valve and the carriage unit comprises an eighth channel valve actuator, and wherein the completion of step (c) causes the seventh channel valve actuator to place the seventh channel valve in a closed position and/or the completion of step (c) causes the eighth channel valve actuator to place the eighth channel valve in a closed position 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 17  wherein the cartridge comprises a first cartridge body and a second cartridge body and at least one channel formed by a primary channel portion formed in the second cartridge body and a secondary channel portion formed in the first cartridge body, the first and second cartridge bodies being arranged to enable fluid connection between the primary and secondary channel portions at a channel junction, the cartridge comprising a layer of flexible material positioned across a surface of the first cartridge body and separating the primary channel portion from the secondary portion, the first or second cartridge body comprising a pin positioned at the channel junction and moveable from a first position to a second film-piercing position;
 wherein the method comprises the moving of the pin from the first position to the second film-piercing position by the completion of step (c).