Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
  • B01L3/00—Containers or dishes for laboratory use, e.g. laboratory glassware; Droppers
  • B01L3/50—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes
  • B01L3/502—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures

Definitions

• Disposable analysis card including a liquid flow conduit
• the present invention relates to the analysis of one or more different liquid samples, in which or which one seeks to identify, detect and / or quantify one or more analytes, according to any simple or complex analysis process, involving one or more several different reagents, depending on the chemical, biochemical, biological or physical nature of the analyte (s) sought.
• the present invention will nevertheless be illustrated by reference to the biological analysis, of one or more ligands, requiring for their detection and / or quantification the use of one or more anti-ligands.
• ligand is meant any biological species, for example an antigen, an antibody, a nucleic acid, a nucleic acid fragment, or an oligonucleotide, capable of binding, with an anti-ligand.
• an example of application of the analysis techniques described below relates to immunoassays, whatever their format, for example by direct analysis or by competition. But of course, in the biological field, the analysis techniques described below are applied in the same way to the detection and / or the quantification of a nucleic material or of nucleotides.
• analysis devices or cards which generally comprise a body in the form of a plate, in which are arranged or arranged: an orifice for introducing a starting liquid sample; a plurality or multiplicity of operating chambers, containing respectively different reagents, and each arranged to receive a share or aliquot of the starting liquid sample, treated in each said operating chamber;
• a plurality or multiplicity of liquid transfer conduits arranged in parallel with respect to each other, and each communicating on one side with the introduction orifice and on the other side with an operating enclosure.
• the internal volume of which the above-mentioned elements have been previously placed under vacuum or under vacuum the starting liquid sample is introduced, to be analyzed, by the introduction orifice, whereby the sample liquid is introduced and distributed, without further intervention, in the various operating rooms.
• the analysis card is sealed at its insertion orifice, then subjected to various treatments, in particular incubation, to develop the reactions specific to the analysis process adopted in the different operating enclosures, respectively.
• the detection and / or quantification of the reaction products for example by optical means, in the various operating enclosures, provides a set of qualitative and / or quantitative information, making it possible to express an analysis result.
• the various steps or sequences required by the analysis once the analysis card has been sealed, are generally implemented automatically in an appropriate analysis equipment, controlled or ordered, in particular programmed to run automatically. required operations.
• an analysis card constitutes a sort of passive component, in the sense that it is no longer possible to move the same starting liquid sample, or a treated liquid sample, from an enclosure to another, to perform within the same analysis card any processing process required for the determination of the analyte.
• an analysis card constituting an active component has been described, in the sense that its arrangement makes it possible to move any liquid sample from one place to another on the card.
• the proposed analysis device comprises a flattened body, in which are arranged or arranged:
• a liquid circulation circuit capable of being isolated from the outside, by definitive sealing of the introduction orifice, comprising at least one operating chamber for the treated liquid sample, obtained with all or part of the starting sample, and communicating with said introduction orifice;
• this circulation circuit describes, in two dimensions of the map, a geometric line composed of one end to another of successive branches, some of which are "dead ends", so that, in a plane or vertical frame of reference, any change orientation of the card, circulates the liquid by gravity only, from one section or branch to another section or branch of the same circuit, for example on one side or the other of the operating enclosure.
• Such a card makes it possible to circulate any liquid by simple gravity, in the circulation circuit isolated from the outside, due to the relatively large or open section of said circuit.
• the present invention therefore relates to an analysis device, in particular a single-use analysis card, allowing, once said device sealed or closed relative to the outside, regular circulation of any liquid sample, including in the case of a capillary type circulation circuit.
• gravity is used as the source of displacement or movement of any liquid within the card.
• the circulation circuit is both continuous, and looped on itself, between the introduction orifice and the operating enclosure.
• the device comprises at least one liquid transfer duct, arranged or arranged in the body, communicating on one side with the introduction orifice, and on the other side with the operating chamber, the circuit continuous circulation is looped on the transfer duct.
• continuous is meant the characteristic that any portion of the circulation circuit considered comprises on either side respectively two inlet and / or outlet orifices. This qualification is in particular opposed to the concept of "dead end", which implies that the portion of the circuit considered comprises only one inlet and / or outlet. This qualification is not exclusive of the characteristic according to which one or more circuits or conduits, themselves “dead end” can communicate with or connect to the continuous circuit considered.
• looped in on itself is meant the characteristic that the continuous circulation circuit forms in space, that is to say in the volume of the body of the analysis card, a complete loop, in so that any volume of liquid present in the conduit is substantially in equi-pressure on both sides of the column of liquid thus formed.
• This continuous circulation duct looped in on itself, communicates with one or more orifices for introducing liquid samples, and one or more vent orifices, as described below.
• the circulation of the liquids takes place in the analysis card, by simple gravity, without any particular resistance, resulting from the depression created by the flow or the capillarity, and this only by changing the map orientation.
• the geometric line described by the continuous circulation circuit comprises at at least one planar segment, located in a plane, for example parallel or coincident with one of the faces of the plate; and this planar segment itself describes a regular line, for example along at least one substantially circular portion, so that the plate being arranged vertically, the change in orientation of the card, for example around an axis perpendicular to the plate and passing substantially through the center of said circular portion, circulates the liquid from one section to another of the continuous circulation circuit.
• the considered portion of the planar circulation segment can also be sinusoidal.
• the previously defined analysis card has many other advantages.
• the circulation of the liquid under simple gravity that is to say without using or using significant energies, makes it possible to practically avoid any formation of bubbles, by dissolution or release of the gases, within the circulating liquids.
• the circulation of a liquid sample within the card, itself presenting bubbles or microbubbles at the outset makes it possible practically entirely to eliminate or degas them.
• FIG. 1 shows in perspective, and with partial cutaway, an analysis card according to a first embodiment of the invention
• Figures 2 and 3 show vertical partial sections respectively along lines II-II and III-III of Figure 1
• FIG. 10 shows a front view of an analysis card according to a second embodiment of the invention
• FIG. 11 shows a partial vertical sectional view of the analysis card according to Figure 10
• Figs 12 to 15 show three different embodiments of the means for permanently closing a vent orifice, and / or an introduction orifice, bearing the reference numeral 9 in all the figures.
• FIG. 16 shows schematically an analysis card, front view, according to a third embodiment of the invention
• FIG. 17 shows, still viewed from the front, an analysis card according to the invention, according to a fourth embodiment Figure 18 shows a view in vertical section, along line XVIII-XVIII of Figure 17, of the analysis card shown in Figure 17 - Figures 19 and 20 schematically represent the analysis card shown in Figure 17, in two respectively different positions corresponding to two different handling phases of the analysis card
• FIG. 21 shows an embodiment of a device according to the invention, as used for the test described in Example 1.
• the analysis card 1 represented in FIG. 1 comprises a continuous circuit 5 for circulation of liquid, integrated or disposed at least partially in the body 2 having the form of a plate, of the analysis card 1.
• the continuous circulation circuit 5 gathers in a loop: - an operating chamber 6, which may or may not be materialized, in particular by the internal presence of reagent;
• a transfer duct 7 communicating by a bypass route with an orifice 3 for introducing a starting liquid sample
• an observation tank By “operating enclosure” is meant any enclosure, whatever its material form, making it possible to carry out any operation or treatment of the treated liquid sample, within the period of time during which said sample stays in said enclosure.
• the operation considered can be of a physical, mechanical, chemical, biochemical or biological nature.
• the enclosure considered may contain, beforehand (for example in dry and / or liquid form), or at the time of the operation or treatment, any reagents or material means aiding said operation.
• observation tank means any means arranged or arranged in the body, making it possible to obtain qualitative and / or quantitative information from one or more parameters or characteristics, observed directly or indirectly in any liquid present in said tank 17.
• the observation tank which communicates with and is included in circuit 5, is arranged, in particular with transparent walls, to detect or measure a parameter, in particular optical, for example fluorescence, to obtain a signal representative of the presence and / or the amount of a biological analyte, for example an antibody, a nucleic acid or the like.
• a parameter in particular optical, for example fluorescence
• the body described in two dimensions of the card 1, a determined geometric line, in this case circular, so that any change in orientation of the card, arranged vertically, as shown in Figure 4, with respect to a three-dimensional reference system having a vertical reference dimension, circulates the liquid present in the circuit, only by gravity from one section to another, for example on one side or the other of the operating enclosure 6, and this in a controlled manner as a function of the amplitude of the change in orientation with respect to the above-mentioned standard.
• the body described in
• the geometric line described by the circuit 5 comprises a planar segment 51, coincident with the face 2a of the plate, and this planar segment 51 comprises or is constituted by a substantially circular portion, thus forming a regular line.
• the analysis card 1 being arranged vertically, any change in orientation of the card in the vertical plane around an axis 77 perpendicular to the plate 2, and preferably passing substantially through the center of the circular portion defined by the planar segment 51, circulates the liquid from one section to another of the circuit 5, for example on one side or the other of the operating enclosure 6.
• planar segment 51 can be regular or broken, and that this same segment can include both a substantially circular portion and a substantially sinusoidal portion. But this geometric line remains continuous, within the meaning of the definition set out above.
• vent orifice 8 communicates with the circuit 5 at a junction point different from the junction point of the introduction orifice
• vent orifice 8 and the introduction orifice 3 comprise or are associated with definitive sealing means, for example sealing.
• a decantation tank 15 is arranged or arranged in the body 2, downstream of the introduction orifice 3, in the direction of introduction of the liquid sample, and the circuit 5 can be closed either on the tank 15 decantation, either downstream of the latter.
• the operating enclosure 6 is delimited in the continuous circulation circuit 5, in the direction of introduction of the liquid sample, by at least one means 18 for stopping the liquid introduced, chosen or arranged to free the passage of said liquid under the effect of a minimum hydrostatic head.
• different means shown in Figures 7 to 9 can be used:
• the stop means 18 is a local arrangement of the continuous circulation circuit 5, generating a pressure drop, for example by a throttle 19 shown in Figure 9, or a baffle 20 shown in Figure 8; this baffle 20 is obtained by passing from the upper face 2a to the lower face 2b of the body 2 by a first vertical through conduit, by circulating on the lower face 2b, then going up towards the upper face 2a, by a second through conduit ;
• the stop means 18 can be constituted by a local and punctual coating, hydrophobic, of the circuit 5, therefore with low wetting, hindering, in the absence of a minimum charge, the circulation of the liquid ; more particularly, and as shown in Figure 7, the stop means 18 is constituted by two notches, arranged one opposite the other, on either side of the conduit 5, and forming with it a local liquid retention area.
• the analysis card 2 is obtained essentially, by precision molding of a technical plastic material, compatible with the treated liquids.
• the circuit 5 is formed at least in part by a channel 25, formed at least in part on the surface of one 2a and / or the other face 2b, it being understood that, as shows the combination of Figures 1 and 8, the circuit 5 extends over one 2a and / or the other face 2b of the body, parallel one to the other, possibly crossing right through the body 2, locally, at one or more places in the continuous circulation circuit 5.
• the two faces 2a and 2b of the body 2 are coated in a sealed manner, by two sheets or films, for example of transparent plastic, 22.
• the operating enclosure 6 comprises, freely or fixed relative to the body, one or more reactive. This fixation can consist as well in a covalent chemical bond of the reagent on the wall of circuit 5, as in a weak bond, for example by adsorption or absorption of the reagent on this same wall.
• analysis card 1 The operation of the analysis card 1 can be explained with reference to Figures 4 to 5, the analysis card 1 being arranged vertically.
• the introduction orifice 3 and the vent orifice 8 are open.
• the liquid sample to be analyzed, whether or not associated with a reagent, is introduced through the orifice 3, whereby it forms a liquid column 62 at the bottom of the circuit 5 in equilibrium, and in contact with the reagent contained in the operating chamber 6 Then the openings 8 and 3 are hermetically sealed, so that the card is isolated from the outside.
• the liquid sample is circulated, in one direction then in the other, in contact with the reagent, so that a reaction grows between the liquid sample and the reagent. In the angular position represented in FIG.
• the column of liquid is displaced in the observation tank 17. Also by rotation on either side of the angular position represented in FIG. 5, one can make circulate, in one direction then in the other, the liquid through the tank 17. Thus, it is possible to detect and / or measure the 1 analyte present in the tank 17.
• the analysis card according to the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment by the following points: - an enclosure 21 is arranged and arranged flat, substantially in the center of the body 2, and once sealed, forms a chamber included in the continuous circuit 5 for circulation of the liquid; this enclosure is sealed and closed off by a membrane which, by successive insertion and release, makes it possible to aspirate the liquid sample through the introduction orifice 3; the orifice 3 for introducing the liquid sample opens into a settling tank 15, before communicating with the circuit 5 proper; the decantation tank 15 is provided with at least one vent 81 and / or 82 which is closed when the cavity 21 is used to suck up the liquid and make it flow in the conduit 5;
• the circuit 5 is looped over the settling tank 15, by a through conduit, passing from the face 2a to the face 2b of the body 2.
• the enclosure 21 has another utility: it allows in practice to absorb pressure variations, within the analysis card.
• the means for permanently closing the orifice 3 or 16 (see Figure 17) and vents 81, 82 can be chosen from the following means:
• this means is a cover 10 for final closure;
• this sealing means combines the conduit 11 for introducing the liquid sample, the active end 11a of which can take two positions relative to the body 2, namely a retracted position ( Figure 13 ) communicating in a leaktight manner with an introduction cavity 12 for the liquid, and an advanced position (FIG. 14), penetrating in a leaktight manner into a calibrated blind orifice 13 formed in the body 2; in the latter position, the introduction conduit 11 is sealed; - And an adhesive strip 14 which is attached, in a leaktight manner, and adhesive on the orifice 3, see Figure 15.
• the analysis card according to the third embodiment differs from the first embodiment by the fact that the planar segment 51 of the circuit 5 describes a line formed by at least two substantially circular portions 511 and 512 , concentric, connected together in series, by a conduit passing right through the body 2.
• the following variants can be made:
• Several operating enclosures 6 can be provided and arranged in the body 2, being included in series in the continuous circulation circuit 5, so that the controlled change of orientation of the card 2, makes it possible to circulate in an adapted manner the liquid sample in one and / or the other operating enclosure; - Several continuous circuits 5 for circulating liquid can be arranged or arranged in the body 2, and be connected together, in series and / or in parallel.
• the different circuits 5 can communicate with the same introduction orifice 3 or 16, or respectively with two separate orifices 3 and 16, for two liquid samples respectively.
• the circuits 5 can communicate with the same observation tank 17, or respectively each with a separate observation tank 17 for each sample processed.
• the analysis card according to the fourth embodiment of the invention differs from the first embodiment by the following characteristics.
• the circuit 5 comprises a planar segment 51, constituted by two substantially circular portions 511 and 512, and concentric, connected together in series, and this by passing below the portion 511, as shown in the Figure 18, on its right side.
• An additional circuit 23 is arranged or arranged in the body 2 on the face 2a of the corresponding plate, and comprises:
• the annex circuit 23 communicates on one side with the circuit 5, and has no exit or exit on the other side, other than 1 • vent 8.
• any change in orientation in the other direction of rotation that is to say in the positive direction, makes it possible to introduce any liquid contained in the cavity 24 into the main circuit 5.
• the above characteristic is obviously useful, for temporarily storing a reagent, and introducing it in a controlled manner into circuit 5, at any time during the analysis process.
• the liquid (reagent for example) is injected at the level of the introduction orifice 16, and thanks to the conduit 65 fills the cavity 24, by an outlet orifice emerging at the top of '' a stud, located substantially in the center and at two thirds of the height of the cavity 24.
• TMA Transcription-Mediated Amplification
• the "MTD-2" amplification test was carried out according to the supplier's manual protocol with a few modifications. Briefly, the reaction was assembled by combining 25 ⁇ l of a positive control (10 exp 6 copies of a 16S rRNA molecule synthesized in vitro, corresponding approximately to 100 bacterial cells) or 25 ⁇ l of a negative control (water ultrapure, with resistivity greater than or equal to 18 MegaOhms), to 12.5 ⁇ l of reconstituted amplification reagent, in a 12 x 75 mm 5 ml tube (polypropylene) and the whole is covered with 200 ⁇ l of mineral oil .
• a positive control 10 exp 6 copies of a 16S rRNA molecule synthesized in vitro, corresponding approximately to 100 bacterial cells
• a negative control water ultrapure, with resistivity greater than or equal to 18 MegaOhms
• the tube is heated for 5 minutes to 95 ° C, cooled to 42 ° C for 5 minutes (thermostatically controlled dry baths), then 12.5 ⁇ l of enzymatic reagent are added and mixed by gentle stirring.
• the reaction is incubated for one hour at 42 ° C (water bath), then placed on ice while waiting to be subjected to the detection step by HPA.
• HPA detection was carried out in a separate tube on 10 ⁇ l of reaction mixture (1/5 of reaction) supplemented with 90 ⁇ l of water, to which are added 100 ⁇ l of acridinium ester probe.
• the tube is incubated for 15 minutes at 60 ° C (water bath) to hybridize the probe, and a selection step is carried out with 300 ⁇ l of selection reagent.
• the automation of the amplification steps was carried out with a card or device 1 according to Figure 21, obtained in a body 2, machined in a square plate 10 cm side and 3 mm thick.
• the card is made functional by affixing a transparent adhesive film 22 of the BOPP type to the body, in order to seal the circulation circuit 5 tightly.
• a solid ball of enzymatic reagent is deposited and contained in a mini bowl provided for this purpose, in position "R2" of the circulation circuit.
• This 2 mm diameter ball is obtained by lyophilization of droplets of a trehalose solution (20%) containing the equivalent of a unit dose of enzyme necessary for carrying out a TMA amplification reaction.
• a reagent has the advantage of being stable for months at room temperature and of dissolving instantly on contact with an aqueous solution.
• the card thus formed is considered to be the analysis device in which the amplification steps from a sample are carried out automatically.
• the test within the device begins with a single initial phase of introduction of reagents by the manipulator or a device for dispensing liquids.
• washing buffer PBS IX, Tween-20 0.5%) are introduced into the external circular segment of the card, through the orifice 81 communicating with the circuit 5, below the position according to the internal circular segment "RI".
• the sample to be tested is composed of 25 ⁇ l positive or negative control as previously described, supplemented with 12.5 ⁇ l of enzyme dilution buffer (Enzyme Dilution Buffer, Gen-Probe) and 12.5 ⁇ l of amplification reagent reconstructed.
• the assembly is injected through the orifice 8 in position "RI" of the card.
• the device is inserted vertically in a computer-controlled automaton, a program of which allows the simultaneous control of the stages of rotation of the card around its central axis (speed, amplitude, acceleration, polarity, sequences) and the temperature of the liquids contained in the external and internal circular segments of the card, by means of a heating pad.
• This heating pad is in direct contact with the adhesive film of the device, the thin thickness of the latter ensuring perfect heat exchange for controlling the temperature inside the liquid segment located at its level.
• the shoe covers the circular segments over an angular amplitude of 45 ° on either side of the lower position of the device (vertical to the "RI" position), position in which the liquids are permanently located, whatever the rotation of the device, due to the combined effect of gravity and the liquid piston, specific to the present invention.
• the heating pad is regulated by a thermocouple probe; its heating is active, while its cooling is passive, under the action of an air flow at room temperature (20-25 ° C) conveyed by a pump under a pressure of 0.5 bar.
• the treatment program for the device or card is carried out as follows: the card which has just been filled with the washing buffer and the sample, as previously described, is inserted into the automaton whose temperature setpoint is 65 ° C (preheating carried out).
• the initial position of the card is that where the sample and the washing buffer are centered on the RI position.
• the sample is homogenized by 30 continuous oscillations of amplitude ⁇ 30 °, centered on the "RI" position (ie a maximum total amplitude of 60 ° per oscillation), and incubated simultaneously for 5 minutes at 65 ° C.
• the temperature is then stabilized at 42 ° C for 2 minutes, the card then being stationary, in the initial position.
• the temperature of the pad remaining at 42 ° C, a rotation of 140 ° C (anti-clockwise) is performed, which allows the liquid fraction to be centered on the "R2" position.
• the detection process is not carried out here inside the map, but the incorporation during the TMA amplification process of markers (for example fluorescent) allows , by the presence of washing buffers within the card, to carry out the detection of the amplification products by specific capture on probes immobilized in the observation tank.
• markers for example fluorescent
• the HPA detection was here carried out in a separate tube on 10 ⁇ l of reaction mixture (1/5 of reaction) supplemented with 90 ⁇ l of water, to which are added 100 ⁇ l of acridinium ester probe. The tube is incubated for 15 minutes at 60 ° C (water bath) to hybridize the probe, and a selection step is carried out with 300 ⁇ l of selection reagent.
• the interest of such a device according to the invention is important, in particular in the field of molecular biology, including techniques such as TMA make it possible to carry out sensory detection of pathogenic agents quickly.
• these techniques given their performance, are very sensitive to environmental contamination or brought during handling to carry out the intermediate steps of adding or mixing reagents, thus leading to false positive tests.
• the present invention makes it possible to carry out the amplification steps in a confined and isolated manner, and optionally to chain them with the detection steps, from the introduction of a sample within the disposable device.
• the latter can therefore contain ready-to-use reagents in stabilized form, the conditioning and preparation of which can be carried out in a controlled environment free from contamination.
• the experimenter must simply ensure that there is no contamination during the steps of preparing the sample, before carrying out the test and when it is introduced into the card. More generally, when the detection steps are also integrated within the card, the elimination and destruction of the laboratory card without ever opening the latter, authorize the carrying out of all the steps located upstream of such a test. amplification and detection; pretreatment of clinical samples, lysis of microorganisms, extraction of nucleic acids can be carried out in the same working environment, without risk of producing erroneous results.

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Hematology (AREA)
• Clinical Laboratory Science (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Automatic Analysis And Handling Materials Therefor (AREA)
• Apparatus Associated With Microorganisms And Enzymes (AREA)

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• 1996
  • 1996-06-07 FR FR9607381A patent/FR2749663B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 1997
  • 1997-06-09 CA CA002228737A patent/CA2228737A1/fr not_active Abandoned
  • 1997-06-09 EP EP97928314A patent/EP0843594A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1997-06-09 US US08/983,492 patent/US6015531A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1997-06-09 WO PCT/FR1997/001020 patent/WO1997046318A1/fr not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1997-06-09 JP JP10500293A patent/JPH11511857A/ja active Pending

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