Patent ID: 9731297
Date: 2017-08-15
CPC Classifications: B01L,C12Q

Claim:
1. An assay cartridge for conducting a PCR analysis of a sample, said cartridge comprising a fluidic network including (a) a plurality of air vent ports arranged as one or two rows of apertures on the cartridge, (b) a primary flow path comprising, from a proximal to a distal end, an inlet, a purification zone, a PCR reaction zone, and a detection zone, wherein said primary flow path further comprises one or more of said air vent ports, (c) one or more chambers connected to an additional one of said air vent port, and (d) one or more fluidic conduits each intersecting said primary flow path and fluidically connected to said chamber, wherein a fluidic conduit of said one or more fluidic conduits comprises a multi-conduit fluidic junction including (i) a first conduit connecting said primary flow path and said chamber, and (ii) a second conduit connecting said chamber to said additional air vent port, wherein said fluidic conduit is configured to be in communication with an optical fluid sensor at a position distal from said fluidic junction and a metered volume of fluid is defined by the distance between said fluidic junction and said distal position, wherein said PCR reaction zone comprises a first temperature controlled zone and a second temperature controlled zone, and a restriction zone positioned between said first and second temperature controlled zones, and said fluidic network is configured to shuttle a metered volume of fluid between said first and second temperature controlled zones during a PCR reaction conducted in said PCR reaction zone.