EP-4735177-A2 - LIQUID HANDLING DEVICE

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a liquid handling device, comprising: a first chamber in fluidic communication with a second chamber; a first pneumatic port in fluidic communication with one of the first chamber and the second chamber; a second pneumatic port in fluidic communication with the other one of the first chamber and the second chamber; a chamber inlet conduit configured to permit liquid to flow into the first chamber; a chamber outlet conduit configured to permit liquid to flow out of the second chamber; and a third pneumatic port in fluidic communication with a first liquid reagent capsule, wherein when the first liquid reagent capsule is opened, the first liquid reagent capsule is in selective fluidic communication with the first chamber or the second chamber.

Inventors

• LUXTON, RICHARD
• LINDEN, VINCENT
• ABDALLA, Aya
• REIS, Nuno
• TYLER-LAI, Adam

Assignees

• Osler Diagnostics Limited

Dates

Publication Date

20260506

Application Date

20240626

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A liquid handling device, comprising: a first chamber in fluidic communication with a second chamber; a first pneumatic port in fluidic communication with one of the first chamber and the second chamber; a second pneumatic port in fluidic communication with the other one of the first chamber and the second chamber; a chamber inlet conduit configured to permit liquid to flow into the first chamber ; a chamber outlet conduit configured to permit liquid to flow out of the second chamber; and a third pneumatic port in fluidic communication with a first liquid reagent capsule, wherein when the first liquid reagent capsule is opened, the first liquid reagent capsule is in selective fluidic communication with the first chamber or the second chamber.
2. 2. A liquid handling device according to claim 1 , wherein the first pneumatic port is in permanent fluidic communication with the first chamber.
3. 3. A liquid handling device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the second pneumatic port is in permanent fluidic communication with the second chamber.
4. 4. A liquid handling device according to any of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: a first flow cell in fluidic communication with the second chamber via the chamber outlet conduit; a second flow cell in fluidic communication with the first flow cell; and a bypass conduit configured to permit liquid to bypass the second flow cell after flowing through the first flow cell.
5. 5. A liquid handling device according to claim 4, wherein the first flow cell is in fluidic communication with a waste chamber via a first flow cell outlet conduit.
6. 6. A liquid handling device according to claim 5, wherein the waste chamber is permanently vented.
7. 7. A liquid handling device according to any of claims 4 to 6, wherein the second flow cell is in fluidic communication with the waste chamber via a second flow cell outlet conduit.
8. 8. A liquid handling device according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the third pneumatic port is in fluidic communication with a second liquid reagent capsule.
9. 9. A liquid handling device according to claim 8 when dependent on claim 4, wherein when the second liquid reagent capsule is opened, the second liquid reagent capsule is in selective fluidic communication with the second flow cell.
10. 10. A liquid handling device according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the third pneumatic port is in fluidic communication with a third liquid reagent capsule.
11. 11. A liquid handling device according to claim 10, wherein when the third liquid reagent capsule is opened, the third liquid reagent capsule is in selective fluidic communication with the first flow cell.
12. 12. A liquid handling device according to any of claims 1 to 11 , further comprising a sample inlet chamber in fluidic communication with the chamber inlet conduit.
13. 13. A liquid handling device according to claim 12, further comprising a sample flow cell in fluidic communication with the sample inlet chamber via a sample flow cell inlet conduit.
14. 14. A liquid handling device according to claim 13, wherein the sample flow cell is in fluidic communication with a sample flow cell waste chamber via a sample flow cell outlet conduit.
15. 15. A liquid handling device according to claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the sample flow cell waste chamber is in fluidic communication with the second pneumatic port.
16. 16. A liquid handling device according to any of claims 1 to 15, further comprising a third chamber, wherein the third chamber is in fluidic communication with the first pneumatic port.
17. 17. A liquid handling device according to claim 16, wherein the third chamber is in fluidic communication with the first liquid reagent capsule.
18. 18. A liquid handling device according to any of claims 1 to 17, wherein the third pneumatic port is in fluidic communication with an air/wash supply conduit and is configured to supply air via the air/wash supply conduit.
19. 19. A liquid handling device according to any of claims 1 to 18, wherein one or more of the first chamber, the second chamber and the third chamber houses a dry reagent.
20. 20. A liquid handling device, comprising: a fluidic layer comprising a chamber, wherein the chamber comprises: an opening at an upper end of the chamber; and a sealing layer configured to seal the opening of the chamber; wherein the chamber comprises one or more protrusions, wherein each of the one or more protrusions extends from an inner wall of the chamber; wherein when a reagent ball is housed in the chamber, the one or more protrusions prevent the reagent ball from contacting the sealing layer.

Description

LIQUID HANDLING DEVICE FIELD The present disclosure relates to liquid handling devices, liquid handling systems and methods of moving liquids in liquid handling devices. BACKGROUND Point-of-care diagnostic devices are typically used for carrying out diagnostic tests, such as immunoassays, on a biological sample (such as whole blood, blood serum or blood plasma). In order to carry out such diagnostic tests, the biological sample needs to be transferred to the diagnostic device. The diagnostic device is subsequently inserted into an analyser device (or instrument), which controls the movement of fluids (e.g. biological samples, reagents, buffer solutions, etc.) within the diagnostic device and conducts measurements of biomarkers, in order to conduct the diagnostic test. Point-of-care detection brings a diagnostic test conveniently and immediately to a patient, allowing better and faster clinical decisions to be made. However, integration of diagnostic tests into a point- of-care device or system is challenging. Preparation of a sample for an immunoassay may require mixing of multiple solutions and reagents, with precise control of volumes and mixing times. Further, the device is ideally automated to obviate the need for a medical professional to be present. Accordingly, there exists a need for improved liquid handling devices capable of performing liquid handling operations for use in point-of-care diagnostic tests. SUMMARY This summary introduces concepts that are described in more detail in the detailed description. It should not be used to identify essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. The inclusion of multiple statements in the same paragraph of the summary does not imply that there is a structural or functional relationship between such statements. According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a liquid handling device, comprising: a fluidic layer comprising: a plurality of channels; and an opening in a surface of the fluidic layer, wherein the opening extends through at least part of the thickness of the fluidic layer to one of the plurality of channels; a rigid layer comprising an actuatable portion; and a liquid storage capsule positioned between the fluidic layer and the actuatable portion, wherein the liquid storage capsule comprises: a body defining a volume in which a liquid is stored, the body comprising a first deformable portion, a main liquid storage portion, and a restriction connecting the first deformable portion to the main liquid storage portion; and a sealing layer configured to seal the volume; wherein the liquid storage capsule is positioned over the opening such that a portion of the sealing layer covers the opening; wherein the actuatable portion comprises a protrusion extending towards the liquid storage capsule, wherein the actuatable portion is actuatable from a first position, in which the protrusion does not deform the first deformable portion, to a second position, in which the protrusion deforms the first deformable portion into contact with the portion of the sealing layer to cause rupture of the portion of the sealing layer, wherein when the actuatable portion is in the second position, the protrusion does not deform the restriction. The protrusion may be unable to pass into the opening. The liquid storage capsule may be positioned over the opening such that the first deformable portion and the restriction are at least partly positioned over the opening. The opening may have an obround shape. The first deformable portion may comprise a first region and a second region, wherein a first distance between the first region and the sealing layer is greater than a second distance between the second region and the sealing layer. The first region and the second region may be concentric, such that the first region surrounds the second region. A width of the opening may be less than a width of the protrusion. The protrusion may comprise an end that engages the first deformable portion of the liquid storage capsule. The end of the protrusion may be flat. The end of the protrusion may have a cross-section with a major sector shape. The protrusion may comprise a groove defining a cross-section of the end of the protrusion. The groove may be aligned with the restriction of the liquid storage capsule. The groove may define the major sector shape of the cross-section of the end of the protrusion. The cross-section of the end of the protrusion may include one or more outwardly extending projecting ribs. The one or more outwardly extending projecting ribs may extend from a curved portion of the major sector shape. The protrusion may be a first protrusion and the actuatable portion may comprise a second protrusion extending towards the liquid storage capsule. The body of the liquid storage capsule may comprise a second deformable portion. The opening may be a first opening and the fluidic layer may com