Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.

Hoffmann-la Roche Inc.

Roche Diagnostics Gmbh

F. Hoffmann-la Roche Ag

Nadine Losleben

Norbert Oranth

Sascha Lutz

Adelbert Grossmann

Christoph Boehm

Juergen Spinke

Thorsten Brueckner

Peter Koltay

Manfred Augstein

Chris Steinert

Timo Klein

Jürgen Spinke

Stefan Borja Bammesberger

Laurent Tanguy

Andreas Ernst

Thorsten BRÜCKNER

Christoph BÖHM

A micro fluid filtration system () preferably for increasing the concentration of components contained in a fluid sample has a fluid circuitry (). The fluid circuitry () comprises the following elements: A tangential flow filtration element () capable for separating the fluid sample into a retentate stream and a permeate stream upon passage of the fluid, an element for pumping () for creating and driving a fluid flow through the fluid circuitry () and at least one element for obtaining information about the properties of the fluid sample within the circuitry. The circuitry further comprises a plurality of conduits () connecting the elements of the fluid circuitry () through which a fluid stream of the fluid sample is conducted. The circuitry () has a minimal working volume of at most 5 ml, which is the minimal fluid volume retained in the elements and the conduits () of the circuitry () such that the fluid can be recirculated in the circuitry () without pumping air through the circuitry (). An integrated microfluidic element () of the circuitry () contains the functionality of at least two elements of the group of elements of the circuitry ().

Micro flow filtration system and integrated microfluidic element

A method of dispensing a particle mixture and a reagent fluid cartridge are presented. The cartridge comprises a first reservoir partially filled with reagent fluid, a second reservoir partially filled with particles, a pumping chamber, a first pumping chamber conduit connecting the first reservoir and the pumping chamber, a second pumping chamber conduit connecting the second reservoir and the pumping chamber, an outlet for dispensing reagent fluid and particles from the cartridge, an outlet conduit connecting the outlet to the pumping chamber, and a valve sealing the outlet conduit. The method comprises closing the valve, applying a force to the plunger to transport a first defined volume of reagent fluid and second defined volume of particles into the pumping chamber to form a mixture of reagent fluid and particles, opening the valve, and forcing the mixture from the pumping chamber using the plunger to dispense the mixture from the outlet.

Method and cartridge for dispensing particles and a reagent fluid in an automatic analyzer

A dispensing assembly comprising a cartridge holder is presented. The cartridge holder can receive a cartridge for dispensing a fluid. The cartridge can comprise a reservoir for receiving the fluid. The reservoir can comprise an outlet. The reservoir can have an adjustable volume for forcing the fluid through the outlet. The cartridge can further comprise a nozzle for dispensing the fluid. The nozzle can be connected to the outlet. The dispensing assembly can further comprise an actuator for actuating the adjustable volume. The dispensing assembly can further comprise an impulse generator for imparting an impulse to the nozzle. The impulse generator can comprise an actor for contacting the nozzle. The dispenser assembly can further comprise a controller for controlling the actor and the impulse generator.

Dispensing assembly

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

A micro flow filtration system comprises a fluid circuitry () and a first reservoir () outside the circuitry () suitable for containing a fluid. The fluid circuitry () comprises a tangential flow filtration module () capable of separating the fluid sample into a retentate stream and a permeate stream upon passage of the fluid sample into the tangential flow filtration module () through an inlet feed (). The fluid circuitry () further comprises a second reservoir () integrated in the fluid circuitry (), a pump () for creating and driving a fluid flow, optionally at least one pressure sensor (or) for acquiring and detecting data about the fluid sample, optionally a pressure regulator () for regulating the flow in the fluid circuitry () and a plurality of conduits () forming the fluid circuitry () together with the second reservoir (), the TFF-module (), the pump (), the pressure sensor (or) (if present) and the pressure regulator () (if present). The volume of the first reservoir () outside the circuitry () is significantly larger than the volume of the second reservoir (). The first reservoir () outside the fluid circuitry () is connected to the circuitry () via a connection conduit () such that the fluid flows unidirectionally into the circuitry () until the first reservoir () is empty so that a continuous fluid flow from the first reservoir () to the circuitry () is established.

Micro flow filtration system and flow filtration method

A flow filtration system () for concentration of components contained in a fluid sample comprises a fluid channel () being formed by two conduits () allowing a bidirectional flow of the fluid sample through the fluid channel (), a tangential flow filtration module () and at least two pairs () of piston pumps () each having two piston pumps (), wherein the piston pumps () having a piston swept volume forming a reservoir being able to contain the fluid for volumes of up to 100 ml. The tangential flow filtration module () is located in the fluid channel () so that a fluid flowing through the channel () passes through the filtration module (). At each end () of the channel () one piston pump () of each pair () of piston pumps () is located in such a manner that the piston pumps are fluidically connected in parallel. The system () is arranged and adapted such that during the concentration process at least for a predetermined period of time only one of the pairs () of piston pumps () is used to drive the fluid through the tangential flow filtration module ().

Micro flow filtration system and flow filtration method for a fluid sample

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

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Mannheim, Germany

Nadine Losleben