Microlaboratory devices and methods
First Claim
1. An apparatus for use in performing a desired activity in an automated, microscale format, comprising:
- a) a first substrate having a first workplace defining x-y coordinates;
b) one or more microparticles adapted for controlled movement adjacent said first workplace, each microparticle being adapted for having one or more magnetic or electrostatic dipoles, and one or more of said microparticles having one or more effectors;
c) a plurality of stations located at different known first workplace x-y coordinates, each station being adapted to carry out or participate in one or more selected operations with said microparticle effectors;
d) a first driving structure positioned adjacent said first workplace, said driving structure having a plurality of first-structure drive elements selectively energizable to move one or more of said microparticles between selected first workplace x-y coordinates, through interactions of said drive elements with said microparticles'"'"' dipoles; and
, e) one or more controllers operatively linked to said first-structure drive elements for energizing said first-structure drive elements to move said one or more selected microparticles between or among selected stations to accomplish said desired activity.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed herein are apparatuses and devices, and methods for using and making the same, for use in performing desired activities in an automated, microscale format. Microparticles are ushered about within a microscale apparatus, to selectively move between various stations in a selected order and manner. Some embodiments include reaction, micro-weighing, micro-analysis, reagent acquisition and deposition, and incubation stations. Microparticles can individually move, or move as trains. Samples, including particulate and solid tissue samples may be manipulated and analyzed within the device. Some embodiments may engage in micro-fabrication activities or micro-deconstruction activities. Systems for controlling such apparatuses are included as well as methods of operation.
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Citations
90 Claims
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1. An apparatus for use in performing a desired activity in an automated, microscale format, comprising:
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a) a first substrate having a first workplace defining x-y coordinates;
b) one or more microparticles adapted for controlled movement adjacent said first workplace, each microparticle being adapted for having one or more magnetic or electrostatic dipoles, and one or more of said microparticles having one or more effectors;
c) a plurality of stations located at different known first workplace x-y coordinates, each station being adapted to carry out or participate in one or more selected operations with said microparticle effectors;
d) a first driving structure positioned adjacent said first workplace, said driving structure having a plurality of first-structure drive elements selectively energizable to move one or more of said microparticles between selected first workplace x-y coordinates, through interactions of said drive elements with said microparticles'"'"' dipoles; and
,e) one or more controllers operatively linked to said first-structure drive elements for energizing said first-structure drive elements to move said one or more selected microparticles between or among selected stations to accomplish said desired activity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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18. An apparatus for use in performing one or more desired activities in an automated, microscale format, comprising:
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a) a substrate forming a workplace expanse having an upper surface;
b) one or more stations formed within or adjacent said substrate;
c) one or more trenches formed within said substrate, said trenches interconnecting said stations in a selected format to form at least one intersection, said trenches being capable of holding one or more liquids;
d) one or more microparticles adapted to movably fit within said trenches, said microparticles each having one or more magnetic or electrostatic dipoles and one or more effectors;
e) a driving structure positioned adjacent said workplace, said driving structure having a plurality of drive elements selectively energizable to move one or more of said microparticles through said trenches, through interactions of said drive elements with said microparticles'"'"' dipoles; and
f) a controller operatively linked to said drive elements for energizing said drive elements to move said one or more selected microparticles between or among selected stations interconnected by said trenches to accomplish said one or more desired activities.
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32. A method for performing one or more desired activities in an automated, microscale format, comprising the steps of:
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i) providing an apparatus having a) a substrate forming a workplace expanse having an upper surface;
b) one or more stations formed within or adjacent said substrate;
c) one or more trenches formed within said substrate, said trenches interconnecting said stations in a selected format to form at least one intersection, said trenches being capable of holding one or more liquids;
d) one or more microparticles adapted to movably fit within said trenches, said microparticles each having one or more magnetic or electrostatic dipoles and one or more effectors;
e) a driving structure positioned adjacent said workplace, said driving structure having a plurality of drive elements selectively energizable to move one or more of said microparticles through said trenches, through interactions of said drive elements with said microparticles'"'"' dipoles; and
f) a controller operatively linked to said drive elements for energizing said drive elements to move said one or more selected microparticles between or among selected stations interconnected by said trenches to accomplish said one or more desired activities, and, ii) operating said controller to cause selected microparticles to selectively move between a selected sequence of stations in said apparatus to carry out said one or more desired activities with said selected microparticles. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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35. A method for carrying out one or more desired activities in an automated, microscale format comprising:
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a) providing a device having therein one or more stations, and one or more microparticles, each microparticle adapted for having one or more dipoles, and at least one microparticle having at least one effector, said device having a driving substrate with one or more drive elements, said drive elements being capable of acting upon said microparticles'"'"' dipoles to cause said microparticles to selectively move about said device to assume one or more different positions within said device; and
b) controlling said movement of said microparticles from said positions within said device by activating selected drive elements to cause said microparticles to move between selected stations so that at least one of said selected microparticles is acted upon by selected stations in a desired sequence and manner.
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36. An apparatus for use in performing one or more desired laboratory activities in an automated, microscale format, comprising:
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a) a first substrate having a workplace defining x-y coordinates;
b) one or more microparticles adapted to levitate adjacent said workplace, said microparticles each having a magnetic or electrostatic dipole, and at least one of said microparticles having one or more laboratory effectors;
c) a plurality of laboratory stations located at different known workplace x-y coordinates, each laboratory station being adapted to carry out or participate in one or more selected laboratory operations with said microparticle;
d) a driving structure positioned adjacent said workplace, said driving structure having a plurality of drive elements selectively energizable to move one or more of said microparticles between selected workplace x-y coordinates, with said microparticles in a levitated state, through interactions of said drive elements with said microparticles'"'"' dipoles; and
e) a controller operatively linked to said drive elements for energizing said drive elements to move said one or more selected microparticles between or among selected laboratory stations to accomplish said desired one or more laboratory activities.
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37. An apparatus for use in performing one or more desired activities in an automated, microscale format, comprising:
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a) a first substrate having a workplace defining x-y coordinates;
b) one or more microparticles adapted to levitate adjacent said workplace, said microparticles each having a magnetic or electrostatic dipole, and at least one of said microparticles having one or more effectors;
c) a plurality of laboratory stations located at different known workplace x-y coordinates, each station being adapted to carry out or participate in one or more selected operations with said microparticle;
d) a driving structure positioned adjacent said workplace, said driving structure having a plurality of drive elements selectively energizable to move one or more of said microparticles between selected workplace x-y coordinates, with said microparticles in a levitated state, through interactions of said drive elements with said microparticles'"'"' dipoles; and
e) a controller operatively linked to said drive elements for energizing said drive elements to move said one or more selected microparticles between or among selected stations to accomplish said desired one or more activities.
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55. A microparticle for use in carrying out micro-scale activities comprising:
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a) a magnetic substrate characterized by (i) a surface having a maximum dimension between about 50 micrometers and about 3 millimeters, (ii) a first magnetic dipole whose magnetic field lines are substantially normal to said surface, and (iii) an energy density of at least 10 megagauss-oersted, such that said microparticle, when placed flat-surface down on a diamagnetic surface, is able to levitate on said surface; and
b) a region on said magnetic substrate having an effector for carrying out or participating in a selected chemical operation. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65)
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66. An apparatus for exposing a microparticle to a plurality of liquid, comprising:
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a) a diamagnetic substrate having a workplace defining x-y coordinates, and on which said microparticle can levitate;
b) a plurality of stations located at different known workplace x-y coordinates, each station having a chamber for holding a selected liquid, and a chamber opening forming a gas/liquid interface when said chamber contains such liquid, each station being adapted to carry out or participate in one or more selected operations;
c) a driving structure positioned adjacent said workplace, said driving structure having (i) a first set of drive elements selectively energizable to cause an interaction between selected energized drive elements and one or more selected microparticles, to move said microparticles between selected workplace x-y coordinates, with said microparticles in a levitated state, through interaction of said drive element with said microparticles'"'"' dipoles, and (ii) a second set of drive elements associated with each station, selectively energizable to cause an interaction between selected energized drive elements and one or more selected microparticles, to move said microparticles across said gas/liquid interfaces at said laboratory stations; and
d) a controller operatively linked to said first and second sets of drive elements for energizing said first and second sets of drive elements to move said one or more selected microparticles between or among selected laboratory stations, and in and out of laboratory stations, to accomplish said desired laboratory-activity. - View Dependent Claims (67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79)
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80. An apparatus for use in performing multi-particle operations, comprising:
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a) a substrate having a workplace defining x-y coordinates;
b) a plurality of microparticles adapted to levitate adjacent said workplace, said microparticles each having a magnetic dipole;
c) a driving structure positioned adjacent said workplace, said driving structure having a plurality of drive elements selectively energizable to move a linear train of selected microparticles coordinately between selected workplace x-y coordinates, with said microparticles in a levitated state, through interactions of said drive elements with said microparticles'"'"' dipoles; and
d) a controller operatively linked to said drive elements for energizing said drive elements to move said microparticles between or among selected x, y coordinates to accomplish said multi-particle operation. - View Dependent Claims (81, 82, 83)
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84. A controller for controlling movement of one or more microparticles, said controller comprising:
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a controller circuit adapted to send signals to energize one or more drive elements adjacent a workplace surface defined by a substrate, said one or more drive elements in communication with said controller, wherein said signals are selectively communicated to one or more selected drive elements to energize said selected drive elements to selectively produce an attracting force or a repelling force, said one or more microparticles adapted to levitate adjacent said workplace surface by levitation condition, said one or more microparticles each having one or more polar regions, each of said one or more polar regions capable of being attracted by said attracting force or repelled by said repelling force, wherein said attracting force causes at least one of said one or more microparticles adjacent said selected drive element to move towards said drive element, and said repelling force causes at least one of said one or more microparticles to move away from said energized drive element.
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85. An apparatus for directing movement of microparticles within a micro laboratory device having therein one or more locations comprising:
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a) a substrate having an upper surface;
b) one or more drive element track loops for moving said microparticles about said substrate surface, said loops each defining a loop path and each loop comprising a plurality of drive elements adapted to cause selective movement of said microparticles along said loop path by electrostatic or magnetic interactions between said microparticles and said drive elements so that a selected microparticle will move along a selected loop path when said drive elements of said loop are selectively activated;
c) one or more biasing elements adjacent one or more of said loop paths for attracting, holding, and/or repelling said microparticles traveling along said loop paths and by said biasing elements, said biasing elements being adapted to attract, hold, and/or repel said microparticles traveling by said biasing elements when activated; and
d) a controller device for selectively activating said drive elements of said loops and selectively activating said biasing elements to transiently form one or more routes between two or more desired locations within said device for causing directed movement selected microparticles to said desired locations within said microlaboratory device. - View Dependent Claims (86, 87, 88)
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89. A method for directing movement of microparticles within a device having therein one or more locations comprising the steps of:
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i) providing said device, said device having a) a substrate having an upper surface;
b) one or more drive element track loops for moving said microparticles about said substrate surface, said loops each defining a loop path and each loop comprising a plurality of drive elements adapted to cause selective movement of said microparticles along said loop path by electrostatic or magnetic interactions between said microparticles and said drive elements so that a selected microparticle will move along a selected loop path when said drive elements of said loop are selectively activated;
c) one or more biasing elements adjacent one or more of said loop paths for attracting, holding, and/or repelling said microparticles traveling along said loop paths and by said biasing elements, said biasing elements being adapted to attract, hold, and/or repel said microparticles traveling by said biasing elements when activated; and
d) a controller device for selectively activating said drive elements of said loops and selectively activating said biasing elements; and
,ii) transiently forming one or more routes between two or more desired locations within said device and directing movement of selected microparticles to said desired locations within said microlaboratory device using said routes.
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90. A method for performing one or more desired activities in an automated, microscale format, comprising the steps of:
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i) providing a device having a) a first substrate having a workplace defining x-y coordinates;
b) one or more microparticles adapted to levitate adjacent said workplace, said microparticles each having a magnetic or electrostatic dipole, and at least one of said microparticles having one or more effectors;
c) a plurality of stations located at different known workplace x-y coordinates, each station being adapted to carry out or participate in one or more selected operations with said microparticle;
d) a driving structure positioned adjacent said workplace, said driving structure having a plurality of drive elements selectively energizable e) a controller operatively linked to said drive elements for energizing said drive elements and, ii) operating said controller to energize selected drive elements such that one or more of said microparticles moves between selected workplace x-y coordinates, with said microparticles in a levitated state, through interactions of said drive elements with said microparticles'"'"' dipoles to accomplish said desired one or more activities.
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Specification