Fluid mixing and delivery in microfluidic systems

• US 10,413,899 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2017
• Issued: 09/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Opko Diagnostics, LLC (Opko Health, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Opko Diagnostics, LLC (Opko Health, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tan, Enqing, Linder, Vincent
• Primary Examiner(s): Kwak, Dean
• Application Number:
  US15/647,603
• Publication Number:
  US 20170304822A1
• Time in Patent Office: 797 Days
• Field of Search: 422 681, 422502, 422503, 422504, 436180, 4362865, 4362866, 4362872, 4362882
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0673 Handling of plugs of fluid surrounded by immiscible fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0684 Venting, avoiding backpressure, avoid gas bubbles
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0867 Multiple inlets and one sample wells, e.g. mixing, dilution
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0877 Flow chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0487 fluid pressure, pneumatics
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0694 vents used to stop and induce flow, backpressure valves
• 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 3/502723 characterised by venting arrangements
• 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: C12M 23/16 Microfluidic devices; Capillary tubes integrated microfluidic structures B01L3/5027; microreactors B01J19/0093
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54366 Apparatus specially adapted for solid-phase testing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0329 Mixing of plural fluids of diverse characteristics or conditions
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86292 System with plural openings, one a gas vent or access opening
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87652 With means to promote mixing or combining of plural fluids

Abstract

The specification generally discloses systems and methods for mixing and delivering fluids in microfluidic systems. The fluids can contain, in some embodiments reagents that can participate in one or more chemical or biological reactions.

Claims

1. A fluidic device, comprising:

a first microfluidic channel comprising an inlet and an outlet that are in continuous fluid communication;

a first fluid comprising a reducing agent and a wetting agent stored in the first microfluidic channel, wherein the reducing agent is a first reagent for a chemical and/or biological reaction;

a sealing layer completely covering the inlet of the first microfluidic channel and configured to prevent evaporation and/or contamination of the first fluid within the device;

a sealing layer completely covering the outlet of the first microfluidic channel and configured to prevent evaporation and/or contamination of the first fluid within the device; and

a reaction area for performing a chemical and/or biological reaction.

2. A fluidic device as in claim 1, wherein the reducing agent is a photographic developer.

3. A fluidic device as in claim 1, comprising a second fluid contained in the fluidic device.

4. A fluidic device as in claim 3, wherein the fluidic device is configured to prevent mixing between the first and second fluids during storage of the fluids.

5. A fluidic device as in claim 3, wherein the second fluid comprises a second reagent for the chemical and/or biological reaction, wherein the second reagent is reactive with the first reagent.

6. A fluidic device as in claim 5, wherein the second reagent is a salt.

7. A fluidic device as in claim 6, wherein the salt is a silver salt.

8. A fluidic device as in claim 3, wherein the second fluid is separated from the first fluid by a third fluid that is immiscible with the first and second fluids.

9. A fluidic device as in claim 8, wherein the third fluid is a gas.

10. A fluidic device as in claim 3, wherein the second fluid is stored in a second microfluidic channel in fluid communication with the first microfluidic channel.

11. A fluidic device as in claim 10, wherein the first and second microfluidic channels connect at an intersection and are fluidically connected to a main channel.

12. A fluidic device as in claim 11, wherein a cross-sectional area of at least one of the first microfluidic channel and the second microfluidic channel are selected such that, when equal pressures are applied to the first and second microfluidic channels, the first and second fluids flow into the intersection substantially simultaneously.

13. A fluidic device as in claim 3, wherein the second fluid comprises a wetting agent.

14. A fluidic device as in claim 3, wherein the first and/or second fluid includes an anionic detergent, and wherein the first and/or second fluid includes a non-ionic detergent.

15. A fluidic device as in claim 1, further comprising a metal colloid.

16. A fluidic device as in claim 15, wherein the metal colloid is a gold-conjugated antibody.

17. A fluidic device as in claim 1, further comprising a rinse fluid stored in the fluidic device.

18. A fluidic device as in claim 1, wherein a silver salt is contained in a second fluid positioned in a second microfluidic channel in fluid communication with the first microfluidic channel.

19. A fluidic device as in claim 1, wherein the wetting agent is an anionic wetting agent.