Processing particle-containing samples

• US 10,731,201 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2017
• Issued: 08/04/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HandyLab Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: HandyLab Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Handique, Kalyan, Parunak, Gene, Kehrer, Aaron, Wu, Betty, Ganesan, Karthik
• Primary Examiner(s): Mui, Christine T
• Application Number:
  US15/612,105
• Publication Number:
  US 20180112252A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,159 Days
• Field of Search: 436177, 436174, 436149, 436150, 436 63
• 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 2300/0681 Filter
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/087 Multiple sequential chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0887 Laminated structure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0478 pistons
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0487 fluid pressure, pneumatics
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/049 vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0677 phase change valves; Meltable, freezing, dissolvable plugs; Destructible barriers
• 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 3/502738 characterised by integrated valves microvalves F16K99/0001
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502753 characterised by bulk separation arrangements on lab-on-a-chip devices, e.g. for filtration or centrifugation separation in general B01D; microapparatus for analysis using electrophoresis G01N27/44791; sample preparation G01N1/28
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/6806 Preparing nucleic acids for analysis, e.g. for polymerase chain reaction [PCR] assay C12Q1/6804 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 2523/109 chemical ligation between nucleic acids
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/40 Concentrating samples
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25 including sample preparation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25375 Liberation or purification of sample or separation of material from a sample [e.g., filtering, centrifuging, etc.]

Abstract

A microfluidic device includes an input port for inputting a particle-containing liquidic samples into the device, a retention member, and a pressure actuator. The retention member is in communication with the input port and is configured to spatially separate particles of the particle-containing liquidic sample from a first portion of the liquid of the particle containing fluidic sample. The pressure actuator recombines at least some of the separated particles with a subset of the first portion of the liquid separated from the particles. The device can also include a lysing chamber that receives the particles and liquid from the retention member. The lysing chamber thermally lyses the particles to release contents thereof.

Claims

1. A method of selectively obstructing passage of a liquid sample in a microfluidic network of a microfluidic cartridge, the microfluidic cartridge comprising a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion, wherein the second portion and the third portion are diametrically opposed and mated to opposite sides of the first portion to seal at least a portion of the microfluidic network, the method comprising:

inputting the liquid sample into the microfluidic cartridge, the first portion of the microfluidic cartridge comprising a side channel in communication with a main channel of the microfluidic network, the first portion further comprising a chamber in communication with the side channel, wherein the chamber extends through the first portion and contacts the second portion and the third portion, wherein a thermally responsive substance is disposed within at least the side channel;

increasing a gas pressure within the chamber, and

moving at least a portion of the thermally responsive substance from the side channel to the main channel.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein inputting the liquid sample comprises moving the liquid sample through the main channel of the microfluidic network past the side channel.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the microfluidic network comprises an injection molded polymer.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the microfluidic network comprises a flexible laminate.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the side channel and the main channel are in a common plane of the microfluidic cartridge.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the side channel and the main channel are in communication at a proximal end of the side channel, and wherein the side channel and the chamber are in communication at a distal end of the side channel.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the thermally responsive substance comprises wax.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the thermally responsive substance has a melting point or glass transition temperature of at least 50°

C.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the thermally responsive substance comprises a volume of 250 nl or less.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the chamber is at least 1400 microns in diameter.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the chamber is at least 350 microns deep.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein a surface of the second layer defines a wall of the chamber that is larger than a surface of the chamber defined by the third layer.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the pressure rises by at least about 10%.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the pressure rises by at least about 20%.

7. A method of selectively obstructing passage of a liquid sample in a microfluidic network of a microfluidic cartridge, the microfluidic cartridge comprising a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion, wherein the second portion and the third portion and diametrically opposed and mated to opposite sides of the first portion to seal at least a portion of the microfluidic network, the method comprising:

inputting the liquid sample into the microfluidic cartridge, the first portion of the microfluidic cartridge comprising a first side channel in communication with a main channel of the microfluidic network, the first portion further comprising a first chamber in communication with the first side channel and a first thermally responsive substance disposed within at least the first side channel;

increasing a gas pressure within the chamber; and

moving at least a portion of the first thermally responsive substance from the first side channel to the main channel.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein inputting the liquid sample comprises moving the liquid sample through the main channel of the microfluidic network past the first side channel.

17. The method of claim 7, wherein a surface of the second layer defines a wall of chamber that is larger than a surface of the chamber defined by the third layer.

18. The method of claim 7, wherein the pressure rises by at least about 10%.