Chemico-mechanical microvalve and devices comprising the same

• US 20020054835A1
• Filed: 12/14/2001
• Published: 05/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hongfeng Yin, Karla M. Robotti, Sally A. Swedberg
• Original Assignee: Hongfeng Yin, Karla M. Robotti, Sally A. Swedberg
• Inventors: Robotti, Karla M., Yin, Hongfeng, Swedberg, Sally A.
• Application Number:
  US10/020,693
• Publication Number:
  US 20020054835A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/103
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/0093 Microreactors, e.g. miniaturised or microfabricated reactors laboratory containers with capillary fluid transport in microfabricated channels or chambers B01L3/5027
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00891 Feeding or evacuation
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00907 using membranes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00909 using filters
• 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 2400/0677 phase change valves; Meltable, freezing, dissolvable plugs; Destructible barriers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502738 characterised by integrated valves microvalves F16K99/0001
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 3/0035 Constitution or structural means for controlling the movement of the flexible or deformable elements
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 2099/0074 using photolithography, e.g. etching
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 2099/0076 using electrical discharge machining [EDM], milling or drilling
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 2099/0078 using moulding or stamping
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 2099/0084 Chemistry or biology, e.g. "lab-on-a-chip" technology
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0001 Microvalves microdevices B81B1/00; manufacture or treatment of devices or systems in or on a substrate B81C1/00; microfluidic structures B01L3/5027; micropumps F04B19/006
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0017 Capillary or surface tension valves, e.g. using electro-wetting or electro-capillarity effects
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0025 Valves using microporous membranes
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0036 operated by temperature variations
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0044 using thermo-electric means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2082 Utilizing particular fluid
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

Micro-fluid devices and methods for their use are provided. The subject devices are characterized by the presence of at least one micro-valve comprising a phase reversible material, e.g. a reversible gel, that reversibly changes its physical state in response to an applied stimulus, e.g. a thermoreversible gel. In using the subject device, fluid flow along a flow path of the device is modulated by applying an appropriate stimulus, e.g. changing the temperature, to the microvalve. The subject devices find use in a variety of applications, including micro-analytical applications.

Claims

1. A micro-fluidic device having a fluid flow path and at least one micro-valve comprising a phase reversible material.

2. The micro-fluidic device according to claim 1, wherein said device comprises two intersecting flow paths, wherein one of said flow paths is substantially filled with said phase reversible material and said micro-valve is positioned at the intersection of said intersecting flow paths.

3. The micro-fluidic device according to claim 1, wherein said micro-valve comprises said phase reversible material stably associated with a high surface area component.

4. The micro-fluidic device according to claim 3, wherein said high surface area component is stably associated with at least one wall of said fluid flow path.

5. The micro-fluidic device according to claim 3, wherein said high surface area component is maintained in said flow path by a retaining means.

6. The micro-fluidic device according to claim 1, wherein said phase reversible material is a phase reversible polymer.

7. The micro-fluidic device according to claim 1, wherein said micro-valve modulates the rate of the fluid flow along said flow path.

8. The micro-fluidic device according to claim 1, wherein said phase reversible material is thermo-reversible.

44. A kit for use in a fluid flow process, said kit comprising:

a micro-fluidic device according to claim 1.

45. The kit according to claim 44, wherein said kit further comprises a phase reversing means.

9. A micro-fluidic device comprising a micro-valve and two intersecting flow paths, wherein one of said intersecting flow paths is substantially filled with a phase reversible material and said micro-valve is positioned at the intersection of said intersecting flow paths.

10. The micro-fluidic device according to claim 9, wherein said micro-fluidic device comprises at least one micro-compartment.

11. The micro-fluidic device according to claim 10, wherein said micro-compartment is a micro-channel.

12. The micro-fluidic device according to claim 9, wherein said phase reversible material is a phase reversible polymer.

13. The micro-fluidic device according to claim 12, wherein said phase reversible polymer is an N-isopropylacrylamide copolymer.

14. The micro-fluidic device according to claim 12, wherein said phase reversible polymer is a polyalkylene oxide.

15. The micro-fluidic device according to claim 9, wherein said micro-valve modulates the rate of the fluid flow along said flow path.

16. The micro-fluidic device according to claim 9, wherein said phase reversible material is thermo-reversible.

18. The micro-fluidic device according to claim 17, wherein said high surface area component comprises an array of posts bonded to said at least one surface of said flow path.

19. The micro-fluidic device according to claim 17, wherein said micro-fluidic device comprises at least one micro-compartment.

20. The micro-fluidic device according to claim 19, wherein said micro-compartment is a micro-channel.

21. The micro-fluidic device according to claim 17, wherein said phase reversible material is a phase reversible polymer.

22. The micro-fluidic device according to claim 21, wherein said phase reversible polymer is an N-isopropylacrylamide copolymer.

23. The micro-fluidic device according to claim 21, wherein said phase reversible polymer is a polyalkylene oxide.

24. The micro-fluidic device according to claim 17, wherein said micro-valve modulates the rate of the fluid flow along said flow path.

25. The micro-fluidic device according to claim 17, wherein said phase reversible material is thermo-reversible.

27. The micro-fluidic device according to claim 26, wherein said retaining means comprises fluid permeable barriers positioned in said flow path on opposite sides of said high surface area component.

28. The micro-fluidic device according to claim 26, wherein said retaining means comprises constrictions in said flow path present on either side of said high surface area component.

29. The micro-fluidic device according to claim 26, wherein said high surface area component is selected from the group consisting of:

a plurality of solid phase particles;

a membrane; and

a mesh structure.

30. The micro-fluidic device according to claim 26, wherein said micro-fluidic device comprises at least one micro-compartment.

31. The micro-fluidic device according to claim 30, wherein said micro-compartment is a micro-channel.

32. The micro-fluidic device according to claim 26, wherein said phase reversible material is a phase reversible polymer.

33. The micro-fluidic device according to claim 32, wherein said phase reversible polymer is an N-isopropylacrylamide copolymer.

34. The micro-fluidic device according to claim 32, wherein said phase reversible polymer is a polyalkylene oxide.

35. The micro-fluidic device according to claim 26, wherein said micro-valve modulates the rate of the fluid flow along said flow path.

36. The micro-fluidic device according to claim 26, wherein said phase reversible material is thermo-reversible.

38. The method according to claim 37, wherein said phase reversible material is a phase reversible polymer.

39. The method according to claim 38, wherein said phase reversible polymer is a thermoreversible polymer.

40. The method according to claim 37, wherein said modulating comprises changing the temperature of said thermoreversible polymer.

41. The method according to claim 37, wherein said modulating occurs by actuation of a phase reversing means.

42. The method according to claim 41, wherein said phase reversing means is completely external to said device.

43. The method according to claim 41, wherein at least one component of said phase reversing means is internal to said device.

17. A micro-fluidic device comprising a fluid flow path and at least one micro-valve, wherein said micro-valve comprises a phase reversible material stably associated with a high surface area component, and wherein said high surface area component is stably associated with at least one surface of said flow path.

26. A micro-fluidic device comprising a fluid flow path and at least one micro-valve, wherein said micro-valve comprises a phase reversible material stably associated with a high surface area component maintained in said flow path by a retaining means.

37. A method of modulating fluid flow along a flow path of a micro-fluidic device, said method comprising:

modulating the physical state of a micro-valve positioned in said flow path, wherein said micro-valve comprises a phase reversible material.