System, device and methods of sample processing using semiconductor detection chips

Abstract

Systems for processing a fluid sample to facilitate analysis with a semiconductor detection chip are provided herein. Such systems can include a sample processing cartridge coupleable with a chip carrier device configured for transport of the processed fluid sample from the sample cartridge. The chip carrier device can include one or more fluid channels extending between fluid-tight couplings attachable to transfer ports of the sample processing cartridge. The chip carrier device can include multiple portions or adapters, including a fluid sample portion, a flowcell portion and a chip carrier. Also provided are methods of preparing and transporting a fluid sample from a sample cartridge into a chip carrier device for analysis with a semiconductor detection chip carried within the chip carrier device.

1 - 42 . (canceled) 
     
     
         43 . A chip carrier comprising:
 a planar frame coupleable with a flowcell portion of a fluid adapter;   an open carrier portion configured to receive and support a chip; and   an electrical interface having a plurality of electrical contacts electrically connected to the open carrier portion so as to electrically couple with electrical contacts of the chip when carried within the carrier portion.   
     
     
         44 . The chip carrier of  claim 43 , wherein the open carrier portion is configured for receiving a chip. 
     
     
         45 . The chip carrier of  claim 43 , wherein the open carrier portion is configured to support the chip in a vertical orientation. 
     
     
         46 . The chip carrier of  claim 43 , wherein the open carrier portion is configured for receiving any of the following types of chips: CMOS, ISFET, bulk acoustic, non-bulk acoustic, piezo-acoustic and pore array sensor chips. 
     
     
         47 . The chip carrier of  claim 43 , further comprising:
 a coupling and/or alignment feature to securely couple the first major side of the planar frame to a planar surface of a flowcell adapter at least partly defining a flowcell chamber defined therein such that when the chip carrier carries an active element and is coupled to the flowcell adapter, the flowcell chamber is defined between the flowcell adapter and the active element.   
     
     
         48 . The chip carrier of  claim 43 , wherein the open carrier portion is disposed on a first major side of the planar frame. 
     
     
         49 . The chip carrier of  claim 48 , wherein the plurality of electrical contacts are disposed along a second major side of the planar frame opposing the first major side. 
     
     
         50 . The chip carrier of  claim 48 , wherein the plurality of electrical contacts are arranged so as to interface with corresponding contacts of a chip control board of a module when the chip carrier is coupled within a chip carrier device and fluidically coupled with a sample processing cartridge operably coupled within the module. 
     
     
         51 . The chip carrier of  claim 43 , wherein the electrical interface includes one or more active components configured for signal integrity, amplification, multiplexing or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         52 . A module for performing sample processing, the module comprising:
 a cartridge receiver adapted to receive and removably couple with a sample cartridge configured to hold an unprepared sample, the sample cartridge comprising a plurality of processing chambers fluidically interconnected by one or more mechanisms, wherein the cartridge receiver includes:
 a cartridge interface unit configured for moving the valve body to change fluidic interconnections between the plurality of sample processing chambers, 
 a pressure interface unit for applying pressure to move fluid among the plurality of processing chambers according to position of the valve body, and 
 a sample preparation controller configured to electronically communicate with the assay processing device and configured to control the cartridge interface unit and pressure interface unit to process the unprepared sample into a prepared sample within the sample cartridge; and 
 a chip control unit component having an instrument interface with a plurality of contacts arranged to interface with contacts of an electrical interface of a chip carrier device fluidly coupled with the sample cartridge when received within the cartridge receiver to facilitate analysis of the sample using a chip carried within the chip carrier device. 
   
     
     
         53 . The module of  claim 52 , wherein the chip control unit includes one or more active components configured for signal integrity, amplification, multiplexing or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         54 . The module of  claim 52 , wherein the module further comprises:
 a processor unit configured to perform an analysis of a fluid sample exposed to an active element of the chip supported in the chip carrier device via the plurality of contacts of the instrument interface.   
     
     
         55 . A method for processing a sample, the method comprising:
 receiving a sample cartridge at a cartridge receiver of a module, the sample cartridge comprising a plurality of processing chambers fluidically interconnected by a one or more mechanisms;   receiving an electronic instruction to process the unprepared sample into a prepared sample from a processing control unit of the cartridge receiver;   performing a sample preparation method to process the unprepared sample into the prepared sample;   fluidically moving the prepared sample into a chip carrier device fluidly coupled with the sample cartridge; and   performing an analysis of the fluid sample using an active element of a chip supported within the chip carrier device via processing control unit of the cartridge receiver electrically coupled with the chip.   
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55 ,
 wherein performing the sample preparation comprises
 moving a cartridge interface unit to move a valve body of the sample cartridge to change fluidic interconnections between the plurality of sample processing chambers of the sample cartridge; and 
 applying pressure to a pressure interface unit to move fluid between the plurality of processing chambers according to a position of the valve body. 
   
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein analysis of the fluid sample is performed within a flow cell of the chip carrier device and is controlled by the processing unit via a plurality of contacts of an electrical interface of the chip carrier device. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 55 , further comprising:
 coupling a no-leads chip having the active element within a carrier portion of the chip carrier device, wherein the no-leads chips is configured to perform analysis of a fluid sample with the active element.   
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein coupling the no-leads chip within the chip carrier device comprises:
 coupling the chip within a chip carrier adapter having the carrier portion and an electrical interface with a plurality of electrical contacts;   coupling the chip carrier with a flowcell adapter defining a flowcell chamber between the flowcell adapter and the active element of the chip when coupled thereto; and   coupling the flowcell adapter to a fluid sample adapter, the fluid sample adapter having a fluidic interface configured to fluidically couple with the sample processing cartridge so as to facilitate flow of the fluid sample therein for analysis using the active element of the chip within the chip carrier device.