Generating a fluid stream in a microfluidic device

• US 10,190,964 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2011
• Issued: 01/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: XY, LLC (Inguran LLC)
• Original Assignee: XY, LLC (Inguran LLC)
• Inventors: Neas, Edwin Dean, Kuiken, Jerald Edward, Schenk, John Louis, Gilligan, Thomas Boyd
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Jill A
• Application Number:
  US13/331,552
• Publication Number:
  US 20120107805A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,597 Days
• Field of Search: 436 43, 436 52, 436 63, 436180, 422502, 422504, 422505
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/027 for microfluidic devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0684 Venting, avoiding backpressure, avoid gas bubbles
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/141 Preventing contamination, tampering
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0481 squeezing of channels or chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0296 from piercable tubing, e.g. in extracorporeal blood sampling
• 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: G01N 15/1409 Handling samples, e.g. injecting samples
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/1484 microstructural devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/149 specially adapted for sorting particles, e.g. by their size or optical properties
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/1492 within droplets
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/1481 Optical analysis of particles within droplets sorting particles within droplets G01N15/1492
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1095 for supplying the samples to flow-through analysers for a specific analyser see relevant groups, e.g. under G01N15/00, G01N21/00, G01N27/00, G01N30/00, H01J49/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/1624 Destructible or deformable element controlled
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 Automated chemical analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/117497 with a continuously flowing sample or carrier stream
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/118339 with formation of a segmented stream
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

A fluid handling and delivery system useful in generating a fluid stream in the flow path of microfluidic device.

Claims

1. A method of operating a flow cytometer, comprising:

providing a variable volume container having a flexible wall;

establishing an amount of fluid in said variable volume container;

exerting an amount of pressure with an amount of a gas on an exterior surface of said flexible wall of said variable volume container, wherein said flexible wall comprises at least two flexible layers, a first flexible layer compatible with said amount of gas and a second flexible layer compatible with said amount of fluid;

collecting said amount of gas between said first flexible layer and said second flexible layer;

providing a conduit between said variable volume container and a flow path of said flow cytometer;

generating a fluid stream of said amount of fluid in said flow path of said flow cytometer by exerting said amount of pressure with said amount of gas on said exterior surface of said flexible wall of said variable volume container;

generating a fluid pressure of said fluid stream of said amount of fluid inside of said flow cytometer within the range of about 25 psi and about 50 psi;

regulating said fluid stream within said flow path of said flow cytometer having said fluid pressure within the range of about 25 psi and about 50 psi for analysis of a plurality of particles entrained within said fluid stream;

intermittently entraining one of said plurality of particles in said fluid stream in said flow path of said flow cytometer; and

analyzing said plurality of particles entrained within said fluid stream.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the variable volume container comprises the step of providing a flexible tubular body having an upper end and a lower end each hermetically formed.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein providing a variable volume container having a flexible wall comprises providing a container only a portion of which provides said flexible wall.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid stream is a fluid selected from the group consisting of a buffer, a sheath fluid, a liquid reagent, a cleaning solution, and a solvent.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising locating said variable volume container in a receptacle.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said first flexible layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, a polyethylene, a fluorocarbon, a styrene, and a polycarbonate.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said second flexible layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, a polyethylene, a fluorocarbon, a styrene, and a polycarbonate.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing at least one intermediate material layer between said first flexible layer and said second flexible layer.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising illuminating said plurality of particles entrained in said fluid stream.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting an emission from each of said plurality of particles which varies based upon corresponding variation of at least one particle characteristic.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said plurality of particles comprises cells and said emission comprises a fluorescent emission which varies based upon a difference in an amount of DNA within a cell.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising sorting said cells based upon relative presence or absence of said at least one particle characteristic.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein sorting said cells based upon relative presence or absence of said at least one particle characteristic comprises sorting X-chromosome bearing from Y-chromosome bearing cells.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said cells comprise live sperm cells.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said flow cytometer comprises a plurality of flow cytometers.