Fluid analysis device

• US 10,427,156 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2015
• Issued: 10/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IMEC International
• Original Assignee: IMEC International
• Inventors: Peumans, Peter, Lagae, Liesbet, Fiorini, Paolo
• Primary Examiner(s): Sinha, Tarun
• Application Number:
  US15/529,424
• Publication Number:
  US 20170326551A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,407 Days
• Field of Search: 73 6456
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/027 for microfluidic devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/10 Integrating sample preparation and analysis in single entity, e.g. lab-on-a-chip concept
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/041 Connecting closures to device or container
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/044 pierceable, e.g. films, membranes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/046 Function or devices integrated in the closure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0627 Sensor or part of a sensor is integrated
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0645 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0672 Integrated piercing tool
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0825 Test strips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0848 Specific forms of parts of containers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0867 Multiple inlets and one sample wells, e.g. mixing, dilution
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/087 Multiple sequential chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0883 Serpentine channels
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0887 Laminated structure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1827 using resistive heater
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0406 capillary forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/049 vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0683 mechanically breaking a wall or membrane within a channel or chamber
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/086 using baffles or other fixed flow obstructions
• 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 3/502707 : 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 3/502715 : characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces
• 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: G01N 1/14 : Suction devices, e.g. pumps; Ejector devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/38 : Diluting, dispersing or mixing samples
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/386 : Other diluting or mixing processes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/49 : Blood chemical methods for determining blood cell populations G01N33/5094; chemical analysis of blood groups or blood types G01N33/80

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a fluid analysis device which comprises a sensing device for analyzing a fluid sample, the sensing device comprising a micro-fluidic component for propagating the fluid sample and a microchip configured for sensing the fluid sample in the micro-fluidic component; a sealed fluid compartment containing a further fluid, the compartment being fluid-tight connected to the sensing device and adapted for providing the further fluid to the micro-fluidic component when the sealed fluid compartment is opened; and an inlet for providing the fluid sample to the micro-fluidic component. Further, the present disclosure relates to a method for sensing a fluid sample using the fluid analysis device.

Claims

1. A fluid analysis device, comprising:

a sensing device for analyzing a fluid sample, comprising a micro-fluidic component for propagating the fluid sample and a microchip configured for sensing the fluid sample in the micro-fluidic component;

a sealed fluid compartment containing a further fluid, fluid-tight connected to the sensing device and adapted for providing the further fluid to the micro-fluidic component when the sealed fluid compartment is opened, wherein the sealed fluid compartment comprises a sacrificial element adapted to open the sealed fluid compartment towards the micro-fluidic component when the sacrificial element is destroyed;

a heating resistor positioned such that the sacrificial element is destroyed by heating, thereby opening the sealed fluid compartment; and

an inlet for providing the fluid sample to the micro-fluidic component.

2. The fluid analyzing device according to claim 1, further comprising a package comprising the sensing device, the sealed fluid compartment and the inlet.

3. The fluid analyzing device according to claim 1, further comprising a movable structure for destructing the sacrificial element.

4. The fluid analyzing device according to claim 1, wherein the heating resistor is positioned in or on the sacrificial element.

5. The fluid analyzing device according to claim 1, wherein the heating resistor is positioned on a substrate comprising the micro-fluidic component.

6. The fluid analyzing device according to claim 1, further comprising a fluid detector positioned to detect the fluid sample when provided in the micro-fluidic component, and wherein the sealed fluid compartment is configured to open when the fluid sample is detected.

7. The fluid analyzing device according to claim 1, wherein the sealed fluid compartment is configured for activating propagation of the fluid sample in the micro-fluidic component when the sealed fluid compartment is opened.

8. The fluid analyzing device according to claim 1, wherein the sensing device comprises:

a silicon fluidic substrate comprising the micro-fluidic component embedded in the silicon fluidic substrate, fluidically connected to the inlet;

a lid attached to the silicon fluidic substrate, at least partly covering the silicon fluidic substrate and at least partly closing the micro-fluidic component, wherein the lid is the microchip.

9. The fluid analyzing device according to claim 8 wherein at least a part of the lid is in contact with the fluid sample when the fluid sample is present in the sensing device.

10. The fluid analyzing device according to claim 8, wherein the lid comprises a transistor layer, the transistor layer being electrically connecting at least one electrical component, the electrical component being at least one of the following:

biosensing circuitry, electrodes for sensing purposes, electrodes for fluid manipulation purposes, circuitry for data communication purposes, circuitry for wireless data communication purposes, temperature sensors, heater electrodes for temperature control, fluid sensors and electrodes for fluidic viscosity control and imaging components.

13. The fluid analyzing device according to claim 8, wherein the microchip is a Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) chip.

14. The fluid analyzing device according to claim 1, wherein the sacrificial element comprises a sealing foil.

11. A method for sensing a fluid sample, comprising:

providing a fluid analyzing device, wherein the device comprises;

a sensing device for analyzing a fluid sample, comprising a micro-fluidic component for propagating the fluid sample and a microchip configured for sensing the fluid sample in the micro-fluidic component;

a sealed fluid compartment containing a further fluid, fluid-tight connected to the sensing device and adapted for providing the further fluid to the micro-fluidic component when the sealed fluid compartment is opened, wherein the sealed fluid compartment comprises a sacrificial element adapted to open the sealed fluid compartment towards the micro-fluidic component when the sacrificial element is destroyed;

a heating resistor positioned such that the sacrificial element is destroyed by heating, thereby opening the sealed fluid compartment; and

an inlet for providing the fluid sample to the micro-fluidic component;

providing a fluid sample to the micro-fluidic component;

mixing the fluid sample with the further fluid contained in the sealed fluid compartment by opening the sealed fluid compartment by heating the sacrificial element thereby providing the further fluid to the micro-fluidic component; and

sensing the fluid sample using the sensing device.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising detecting a fluid sample being provided to the micro-fluidic component, and wherein the further fluid compartment is opened when the fluid sample is detected.