Fluid delivery system and method

• US 10,048,252 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2015
• Issued: 08/14/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: President and Fellows of Harvard College (Harvard Corporation)
• Original Assignee: President and Fellows of Harvard College (Harvard Corporation)
• Inventors: Linder, Vincent, Sia, Samuel K., Whitesides, George M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crawford, Erik B
• Application Number:
  US14/702,278
• Publication Number:
  US 20150233901A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,201 Days
• Field of Search: 4352881, 436166
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0673 Handling of plugs of fluid surrounded by immiscible fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/16 Reagents, handling or storing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0293 for liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5027 by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip B01L3/5023 takes precedence; micromixers B01F33/30; microreactors for synthesis B01J19/0093; microcapillary devices in general B81B1/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502784 specially adapted for droplet or plug flow, e.g. digital microfluidics automatic analysis using a stream of discrete samples in a tube system G01N35/08
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/5304 Reaction vessels, e.g. agglutination plates for solid-phase systems G01N33/543
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/543 with an insoluble carrier for immobilising immunochemicals
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/08 using a stream of discrete samples flowing along a tube system, e.g. flow injection analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1002 Reagent dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1065 Multiple transfer devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes

Abstract

A method and apparatus for delivering one or more fluids. Fluids may be delivered from a common vessel to a chemical, biological or biochemical process.

Claims

1. A method of delivering fluids in a fluidic system, comprising:

with a sealed vessel comprising;

a first fluid and a second fluid maintained separately from each other in the sealed vessel, wherein the first fluid is present in a first branch of the vessel and the second fluid is present in a second branch of the vessel; and

, a third fluid, wherein the third fluid is a gas or a gaseous mixture, wherein the third fluid is immiscible with the first and second fluids, and wherein the third fluid provides separation between the first and second fluids while the vessel is sealed, performing the steps of;

unsealing the vessel;

transferring the first and second fluids in the vessel towards a reaction site of a fluidic device;

mixing at least portions of the first and second fluids to form a mixed fluid; and

applying the mixed fluid to the reaction site of the fluidic device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising connecting the vessel to the fluidic device comprising the reaction site.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the vessel and reaction site are on a common platform.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the vessel and reaction site are integrally connected during storage of the first and second fluids in the vessel.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising applying a pressure differential across the reaction site.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the pressure differential is provided by suction on a downstream side of the reaction site.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the pressure differential is provided by a pump on an upstream side of the reaction site.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the reaction site comprises is adapted a first binding partner that undergoes a binding event with a second binding partner, and wherein at least one of the first and second binding partners comprises an antibody.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the sealed vessel contains a fourth fluid upstream of the first or second fluids, and wherein the fourth fluid is a rinse solution.

10. The method of claim 1, comprising disposing a sample in the fluidic device prior to applying the mixed fluid to the reaction site.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising electrolessly depositing metal at the reaction site to produce an opaque material.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one of the first and second fluids comprises a metal precursor.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the metal precursor is a metallic salt solution.

14. The method of claim 13, comprising determining light absorbance or transmission through the opaque material.

15. A method comprising:

with a sealed vessel comprising a first fluid and a second fluid maintained separately from each other in the sealed vessel, wherein the first fluid is present in a first branch of the vessel and the second fluid is present in a second branch of the vessel, performing the steps of;

unsealing the vessel;

transferring the first and second fluids in the vessel towards a reaction site of a fluidic device;

mixing at least portions of the first and second fluids to form a mixed fluid; and

disposing a sample in the fluidic device, followed by applying the mixed fluid to the reaction site of the fluidic device.