Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.

Hitachi-high-technologies Corporation

Roche Diagnostics Gmbh

F. Hoffmann-la Roche Ag

Juergen Spinke

Christoph Boehm

Thorsten Brueckner

Sascha Lutz

Norbert Oranth

Peter Koltay

Timo Klein

Thomas Fischer

Michael Grol

Eloisa Lopez-Calle

Volker Klemt

Alfons Nichtl

Klaus Hallermayer

Anneliese Borgya

Andreas Gallusser

Josef Roedl

Nadine Losleben

Laurent Tanguy

Thomas Manuel Keller

Peter Kupser

Thomas Dolbinow

Erik Beiersdorf

Domenik Wensorra

Pamela Espindola

Sabrina Adler

Dieter Heindl

Joachim Hoenes

Carina Horn

Hans-Peter Josel

Taku Sakazume

Rupert Herrmann

Kyoko Imai

Manfred Augstein

Terumi Tamura

Chris Steinert

Stefan Borja Bammesberger

Juergen Schaeffler

Ludger Bodenbach

Sabrina Kartmann

Klaus Mutschler

A medical system for determining an analyte quantity in a blood sample via a cartridge that spins around a rotational axis. The cartridge may include: a separation chamber that separates blood plasma from the sample; a processing chamber containing a reagent with a specific binding partner which binds to the analyte to form an analyte specific binding partner complex; a first valve structure connecting the separation chamber to the processing chamber; a measurement structure to measure the quantity of the analyte, wherein the measurement structure includes a chromatographic membrane with an immobilized binding partner for direct or indirect binding of the analyte or the analyte specific binding partner complex, and an absorbent structure that is nearer to the axis than the membrane; a second valve structure connecting the processing chamber to the measurement structure; and a fluid chamber filled with a washing buffer and fluidically connected to the measurement structure.

Determining a quantity of an analyte in a blood sample

An automatic analyzer cartridge, spinnable about a rotational axis, has fluid and aliquoting chambers, a metering chamber connected to a vent that is nearer to the rotational axis than the metering chamber, first and second ducts connecting the fluid and aliquoting chambers, and the metering and aliquoting chambers, respectively. Metering chamber side walls taper away from a central region, wherein capillary action next to the walls is greater than in the central region. Fluid flows to the metering chamber using capillary action via the second duct that has an entrance and exit in the aliquoting and metering chambers, respectively; the exit being closer to the rotational axis than the entrance. A downstream fluidic element connects to the metering chamber via a valve. A fluidic structure receives and processes a biological sample into the processed biological sample and has a measurement structure that enables measurement of the processed biological sample.

Rotatable cartridge for processing and analyzing a biological sample and dispensing method therewith

Rotatable cartridge for processing and analyzing a biological sample

A cartridge for dispensing a fluid is provided, the cartridge comprising: a reservoir chamber configured for receiving the fluid, the reservoir chamber having a fluid outlet and a cover with a first bearing; and a stirring assembly comprising a stirrer located inside the reservoir chamber, the stirring assembly comprising a shaft connected to the stirrer. The stirring assembly can be moved between first and second positions, wherein in the first position the stirring assembly can seal the fluid outlet, the stirring assembly in the first position being configured to form a second bearing with the reservoir chamber or the fluid outlet such that the stirrer can be rotated about an axis defined by the first and second bearing, and wherein if the stirring assembly is in the second position the fluid can pass through the fluid outlet, the shaft being configured to transmit rotational power to the stirrer.

Cartridge for stirring and dispensing a fluid, automatic analyzer and method of analyzing a biological sample

A cartridge for dispensing fluid is presented. The cartridge comprises a valve. The valve comprises a pumping chamber for pumping the fluid. The valve positions a pumping chamber conduit. The pumping chamber conduit is connected to the pumping chamber. The cartridge further comprises a plunger for changing the volume of the pumping chamber. The cartridge further comprises a reservoir conduit for connecting the reservoir with the valve. The valve positions the pumping chamber conduit to connect with the reservoir conduit. The cartridge further comprises an outlet conduit for dispensing the fluid. The valve further rotates the pumping chamber conduit to connect with the outlet conduit.

Cartridge for dispensing a fluid

An automatic analyzer cartridge, spinnable around a rotational axis, has aliquoting and metering chambers, a connecting duct there between, and a vent connected to the metering chamber and nearer to the rotational axis than the metering chamber. The metering chamber has side walls that taper away from a central region. Capillary action next to the side walls is greater than in the central region. A circular arc about the rotational axis passes through a duct entrance in the aliquoting chamber and a duct exit in the metering chamber. The cartridge has a downstream fluidic element which is part of a fluidic structure for processing a biological sample into the processed biological sample. A valve connects the metering chamber to the fluidic element, which is fluidically connected to the fluidic structure. The fluidic structure receives the biological sample and has a measurement structure for enabling measurement of the processed biological sample.

Rotatable cartridge with a metering chamber for analyzing a biological sample

A valve for dispensing a fluid comprising a dry portion and a wet portion is presented. Only the wet portion is contacted by the fluid. The wet portion comprises a fluid dispenser unit having a inlet opening, a capillary nozzle providing a fluid outlet, a cavity, the capillary nozzle having an end within the cavity, and a plunger. The plunger moves within the cavity into an opening position allowing an inflow of the fluid through the inlet opening through the cavity and an outflow of the fluid through the capillary nozzle. The plunger has a sealing surface directed towards the end of the capillary nozzle. The plunger moves into a closing position for sealing the end of the capillary nozzle with the sealing surface. The dry portion comprises a closing component for exercising a magnetic closing force onto the plunger for attracting the plunger into the closing position.

Valve for dispensing a fluid

A method of performing a measurement of an analyte in a sample using an automatic analyzer is provided. The automatic analyzer comprises: a cartridge for dispensing a fluid, a measurement unit for performing the measurement, a sample holder for receiving the sample, and a pump for pumping the fluid out of the cartridge and into the sample holder. The cartridge comprises: a rigid portion, a flexible bladder, and an outlet. The rigid portion comprises an opening, which is connected to an inner cavity. The flexible bladder seals the opening to form a fluid chamber from the inner cavity. The fluid chamber is at least partially filled with the fluid. The pump is connected to the outlet. The method comprises: placing the sample into the sample holder, controlling the pumping of the fluid from the cartridge into the sample holder, and performing the measurement of the analyte using the measurement unit.

Method to perform a measurement of an analyte in a sample using an automatic analyzer

An automatic analyzer cartridge, spinnable around a rotational axis, has a support structure with a front face perpendicular to the rotational axis, a fluidic structure for processing a biological sample into the processed biological sample, a measurement structure with at least one detection zone on the front face, and a rotatable lid covering the front face. The rotatable lid is rotatable about the rotational axis relative to the support structure from a first position relative to the support structure to a second position relative to the support structure. The rotatable lid has a sample inlet opening and a detection zone opening. In the first position, a sample inlet is aligned with the sample inlet opening and the measurement structure is covered by the rotatable lid. In the second position, the sample inlet is covered by the rotatable lid and the measurement structure is aligned with the detection zone opening.

Cartridge with a rotatable lid

A cartridge for dispensing a fluid is presented. The cartridge comprises a reservoir chamber for receiving the fluid. The reservoir chamber has a fluid outlet. The cartridge further comprises a controllable dispenser component for dispensing a dispensing volume of the fluid from the reservoir chamber. The dispenser component is connected to the fluid outlet of the reservoir. The cartridge further comprises a single compressible fluid pump with a single elastic pumping element and a conduit extending from the fluid pump towards the fluid outlet. The fluid pump discharges a mixing volume of the fluid from the conduit into the reservoir chamber upon compression of the elastic pumping element. The mixing volume depends on the degree of compression of the elastic pumping element. The fluid pump sucks in the mixing volume from the reservoir into the conduit upon decompression of the elastic pumping element.

Cartridge for dispensing a fluid, automatic analyzer and method of analyzing a biological sample

A cartridge for dispensing a fluid is presented. The cartridge comprises a reservoir chamber for receiving the fluid and for receiving a ventilation gas. The reservoir chamber comprises an inlet for receiving the ventilation gas and an outlet for dispensing the fluid. At least a portion of the reservoir chamber is filled with the ventilation gas when in an operating position. The inlet is located in the portion being filled with the ventilation gas. The fluid comprises a reagent. The cartridge further comprises a baffle for restricting gas diffusion through the inlet. The reservoir chamber receives the ventilation gas via the baffle. The inlet is maintains a constant gas pressure within the portion of the reservoir chamber that is being filled with the ventilation gas.

Cartridge for dispensing a fluid comprising a reagent

A dispenser for dispensing a fluid is presented. The dispenser comprises a compressible elastomeric fluid conduit having a first end and a second end for flowing the fluid from the first end to the second end, a first check valve and a second check valve distanced in the conduit for forming a fluid chamber, and an actor for compressing the fluid chamber for dispensing a portion of the fluid. At least the second check valve is a duckbill valve. The second check valve is located at the second end of the conduit. The second check valve has sealing lips that extend beyond the second end of the conduit.

Microfluidic dispenser, cartridge and analysis system for analyzing a biological sample

Growing community of inventors

Lorsch, Germany

Juergen Spinke