Fluidic circuits and related manufacturing methods

• US 10,065,186 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2013
• Issued: 09/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Revvity Health Sciences Incorporated (Revvity, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Micronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kolb, Andrew, Sprague, Isaac, Kay, Justin L., Bragd, Matthew Scott, Stone, Martha
• Primary Examiner(s): Wecker, Jennifer
• Application Number:
  US14/653,731
• Publication Number:
  US 20150352549A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,719 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0689 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/12 Specific details about manufacturing devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0874 Three dimensional network
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0887 Laminated structure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/123 Flexible; Elastomeric
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0481 squeezing of channels or chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0487 fluid pressure, pneumatics
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0638 membrane valves, flap valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0655 pinch valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502707 characterised by the manufacture of the container or its components by shaping or joining plastic parts B29C59/00, B29C65/00; by laminating B32B37/00; manufacture of microstructural devices in general B81C
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50273 characterised by the means or forces applied to move the fluids micropumps F04B19/006, of the membrane type F04B43/043
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502738 characterised by integrated valves microvalves F16K99/0001
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 43/021 characterised by the shape of the surface
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/16 Laser beams
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2101/00 Use of unspecified macromolecular compounds as moulding material use of unspecified rubbers B29K2021/00
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2009/00 Layered products
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7496 Pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 2201/052 Ink-jet print cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: B81C 1/00119 Arrangement of basic structures like cavities or channels, e.g. suitable for microfluidic systems
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/043 : Micropumps
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 2099/0078 : using moulding or stamping
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 2099/008 : Multi-layer fabrications
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 2099/0084 : Chemistry or biology, e.g. "lab-on-a-chip" technology
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 2099/0086 : Medical applications
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0015 : Diaphragm or membrane valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0059 : actuated by a pilot fluid
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1026 : with slitting or removal of material at reshaping area prior to reshaping

Abstract

Fluidic cartridges, and manufacture thereof, having a plurality of circuit element subtypes containing pneumatically operated diaphragm members, where the diaphragm materials are selected for yield point, chemical resistance, breathability and other properties individually according to the fluidic element subtype are provided. A process of in-situ edge-bonded decoupage for forming diaphragm members inside a cartridge, and fluidic circuits having diaphragm members as active and passive circuit elements, including pumps, valves, vents, waste receptacles, reagent reservoirs, and cuvettes with optical windows, where the material composition of each individual diaphragm member may be selected from an assortment of materials during manufacture are also provided.

Claims

1. A fluidic device comprising a body comprising a stack of four body layers:

a first body layer;

a second body layer;

a third body layer; and

a fourth body layer, said body enclosing a hydraulic microcircuit for moving a fluid, wherein;

i) a plurality of diaphragm members are sealedly sandwiched between said second body layer and said third body layer;

ii) said plurality of diaphragm members comprise a plurality of thin film materials;

iii) said plurality of thin film materials are dissimilar materials comprising an irreversibly stretchable thin film and an elastomeric breathable thin film; and

iv) said fluidic device is configured such that movement of said fluid in said hydraulic microcircuit is powered and controlled by at least one diaphragm member of a pneumatic microcircuit operatively linked thereto.

2. The fluidic device of claim 1, wherein said hydraulic microcircuit of said stack is formed in said second body layer of said stack and said pneumatic microcircuit of said stack is formed in said third body layer thereof.

3. The fluidic device of claim 1, wherein said at least one diaphragm member is sealedly sandwiched between said second body layer and said third body layer.

4. The fluidic device of claim 1, wherein said first body layer and said fourth body layer are capping layers.

5. The fluidic device of claim 1, wherein said second body layer and said third body layer are molded members.

6. The fluidic device of claim 1, wherein said second body layer and said third body layer are laminated members.

7. The fluidic device of claim 1, wherein said at least one diaphragm member is formed by edge-bonded decoupage.