Patent ID: 9546932
Date: 2017-01-17
CPC Classifications: B01J,B01L,B32B,B81C,G01N

Claim:
1. A pneumatically driven portable assay cartridge, having a pneumatic channel component, fluidic channel component and a flexible membrane sheet disposed between and attaching to the pneumatic channel component and the fluidic channel component, comprising: the pneumatic channel component having pneumatic control channels configured to receive controlled application of both positive pressure and vacuum from an operating instrument to control pneumatic-actuated valves and pistons that cause fluid flows of the assay; the pneumatic channel component and flexible membrane sheet having an extended portion that extends beyond one end of the fluidic channel component, the extended portion of the pneumatic channel component having pneumatic ports connected to the pneumatic control channels and configured to receive the controlled pressure and vacuum from the operating instrument; the flexible membrane sheet having holes aligning with the pneumatic ports, and configured to be clamped against corresponding rigid pneumatic instrument ports of the operating instrument; the fluidic channel component having at least one fluidic channel, wherein at least one micro-length tubular assay element is disposed within the at least one fluidic channel, and the fluidic channel component having the pneumatic-actuated valves and pistons, each configured to operate with a respective flexible diaphragm; and the flexible membrane sheet covering and sealing a top portion of the fluidic channel and covering the micro-length tubular assay element, and the flexible membrane sheet forming, at a first selected region of the fluidic channel, the flexible diaphragm for the pneumatic-actuated valve, and the flexible membrane sheet forming at a second selected region of the fluidic channel, the flexible diaphragm for the pneumatic-actuated piston to move fluids of the assay through the fluidic channels, the first and second regions and the extended portion of the flexible membrane sheet all being part of the same contiguous flexible membrane sheet.