Patent ID: 9555411
Date: 2017-01-31
CPC Classifications: B01L,F16K

Claim:
1. A microfluidic cartridge assembly for performing an assay of a target analyte in a biological sample, the microfluidic cartridge comprising: a cartridge housing defining one or more reservoirs, the one or more reservoirs including a reagent reservoir containing one or more free flowing or mobile reagents; a microfluidic substrate attached to the cartridge housing, the microfluidic substrate having a plurality of microfluidic channels in fluid communication with the one or more reservoirs, the plurality of microfluidic channels being adapted for performing an assay of the target analyte in the sample using the one or more reagents; one or more valves in fluid communication with the plurality of microfluidic channels that are configured to be actuated between a closed configuration that inhibits fluid flow through the microfluidic channels and an open configuration allowing fluid flow from the one or more reservoirs through the plurality of microfluidic channels; and one or more pressure septa in fluid communication with the plurality of microfluidic channels configured for introducing pressure into the plurality of microfluidic channels, wherein the plurality of microfluidic channels and the one or more valves are configured such that introducing a pressure into the plurality of microfluidic channels allows fluids within the cartridge assembly to flow freely through the plurality of microfluidic channels in a controlled manner so as to perform the assay of the target analyte in the sample using the one or more reagents during fluid flow through the plurality of microfluidic channels when the one or more valves are in the open configuration.