Patent ID: 8435465
Filing Date: 2013-05-07
Classification: C12M,C12N,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A microfluidic cartridge for isolating biological molecules from a liquid sample comprising: a sample loop configured for receiving a sample; an electric field lysis chamber downstream from the sample loop, the electric field lysis chamber having insulating members between lysing electrode members, wherein the insulating members and lysing electrode members are cooperatively configured to lyse cells to produce cell lysate; a capture and elution chamber having an inlet and an outlet and containing a fluidized solid support, the fluidized solid support including beads that are fluidized in response to electric fields, the inlet being downstream from the electric field lysis chamber; a first electrode operably coupled to one side of the capture and elution chamber and a second electrode operably coupled to an opposite side with respect to the first electrode, wherein the first electrode and second electrode are cooperatively configured with the beads of the fluidized support such that activation of these electrodes fluidize the fluidized solid support; an inlet conduit fluidly coupled to the inlet of the capture and elution chamber and an outlet conduit fluidly coupled to the outlet of the capture and elution chamber; an inlet membrane located in the inlet conduit and an outlet membrane located in the outlet conduit and positioned such that the fluidized solid support is held within the capture and elution chamber; and pneumatically controlled valves controlling fluid flow into and out of the capture and elution chamber.