Silicon nano-collection analytic device

• US 20020160520A1
• Filed: 03/13/2002
• Published: 10/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kumetrix Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Phoenix Bioscience, Inc.
• Inventors: Subramanian, Kumar, Orloff, Eugene
• Application Number:
  US10/099,495
• Publication Number:
  US 20020160520A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 436/72
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1486 using enzyme electrodes, e.g. with immobilised oxidase
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150022 for capillary blood or interstitial fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150213 Venting means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150358 Strips for collecting blood, e.g. absorbent optical reagent test strips G01N21/8483; chemical reagent test strips G01N33/4875, G01N33/52
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0684 Venting, avoiding backpressure, avoid gas bubbles
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/12 Specific details about manufacturing devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0645 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0825 Test strips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0896 Nanoscaled
• 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 3/502723 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: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/1056 Disposable (single-use) samplers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/149 Capillaries; Sponges
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1095 for supplying the samples to flow-through analysers for a specific analyser see relevant groups, e.g. under G01N15/00, G01N21/00, G01N27/00, G01N30/00, H01J49/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

This invention relates to a nanofabricated device for collecting and analyzing small volumes of fluid for analysis. It comprises an etched silicon device having top and bottom members which together form an inlet, analytic region and vent where the inlet has a tapered surface for ready collection of fluid.

Claims

1. A silicon nano-collection analytic device having an inlet, an analysis region, a vent and a signal path said device formed from a distinct bottom and top member:

wherein the bottom member is silicon and has a proximal end, a distal end and an etched region disposed between the proximal and distal ends,

where the etched region has an inlet portion, an analytic portion, and a vent portion with the inlet portion located at the proximal end, the vent portion located at the distal end and the analytic portion disposed between the inlet and vent portions;

wherein the top member is dimensionally mated to the bottom member so that the analysis portion is sealed to yield an analysis region defining the interior of the device, the inlet and vent are created with the analysis region in fluid communication with the inlet and vent, and the members provide a signal path for communicating the state of the analysis from the interior of the device to the exterior.

2. A device of claim 1 wherein the signal path is a top member that is optically transparent.

3. A device of claim 1 wherein the top member is glass.

4. A device of claim 1 wherein the top member is plastic.

5. A device of claim 1 wherein the signal path is both a top member that is optically transparent and a bottom member with an optically transparent window.

6. A device of claim 1 wherein the optical window in the bottom member is silicon nitride.

7. A device of claim 1 wherein the signal path comprises a pair of electrodes deposited on either the top or bottom member.

8. A device of claim 1 wherein the top member is silicon.

9. A device of claim 1 wherein the etched region comprises chemical reagents for analyzing biological samples.

10. A device of claim 1 wherein the etched region contains an electrochemical sensor for analyzing biological samples.

11. A device of claim 1 wherein the inlet is at least 15-200 microns in one dimension.

12. A device of claim 1 wherein the vent region is at least 100-500 microns in one dimension.

13. A device of claim 1 wherein the etched region of the bottom member is 20-150 microns deep.

14. A device of claim 1 wherein the volume of the etched region is 50 to 300 nanoliters.

15. A device of claim 1 where the proximal end is tapered.

16. A device of claim 1 wherein either the bottom or top member contains a contact pad region at the distal end.

18. A method of claim 17 wherein the signal path is an optically transparent top member.

19. A method of claim 17 wherein the top member is glass.

20. A method of claim 17 wherein the top member is plastic.

21. A method of claim 17 wherein the signal path is both a top member that is optically transparent and a bottom member with an optically transparent window.

22. A method of claim 17 wherein the optical window in the bottom member is silicon nitride.

23. A method of claim 17 further comprising a pair of electrodes deposited on either the top or bottom member.

24. A method of claim 17 wherein the top member is silicon.

25. A method of claim 17 wherein the inlet is at least 15-200 microns in one dimension.

26. A method of claim 17 wherein the vent region is at least 100-500 microns in one dimension.

27. A method of claim 17 wherein the etched region of the bottom member is 20-150 microns deep.

28. A method of claim 17 wherein the volume of the etched region is 50 to 300 nanoliters.

29. A method of claim 17 wherein etching into the bottom member forms a contact pad area at the distal end.

30. A method of claim 17 wherein the top member contains a contact pad area at the distal end.

31. A method of claim 17 wherein dry etching forms a taper at the proximal end of either the top, bottom or both top and bottom members.

32. A method of claim 17 wherein molding or grinding forms a taper at the proximal end of the top member.

33. A method of claim 17 wherein wet etching forms a taper at a 54.7°

at the proximal end of either the top, bottom or both top and bottom members.

35. A method of claim 34 wherein the fluid is blood.

36. A method of claim 34 wherein the fluid is interstitial fluid.

37. A method of claim 34 wherein the fluid is a combination of blood and interstitial fluid.

38. A method of claim 34 wherein the signal pathway is an optically transparent upper member.

39. A method of claim 34 wherein the detection method is reflectance.

40. A method of claim 34 wherein the detection method is transmittance.

41. A method of claim 34 wherein the detection method is electrochemical.

42. A method of claim 34 wherein the detection method is fluorescence.

43. A method of claim 34 wherein the detection method is chemiluminescence.

44. A method of claim 34 wherein the analyte is glucose.

17. A process for manufacturing a silicon nano-collection analytic device having an inlet, an analysis region, a vent and a signal path for communicating from the interior of the analysis region to the exterior said device formed from a distinct bottom and top member wherein the process comprises:

etching into silicon to form a bottom member having a proximal end, a vent portion in the distal end, an inlet portion in the proximal end, and an analysis region disposed between the vent portion and inlet portion end,

contacting the bottom member with the top member where the top member is dimensionally mated to the bottom member to form the inlet and vent, and to seal the analysis portion to yield the analysis region defining an interior with a signal path.

34. A method of determining the presence of analytes in a silicon nano-collection analytic device comprising:

i. providing a silicon nano-collection analytic device having an inlet, an analysis region, a vent and a signal path said device formed from a distinct bottom and upper member;

wherein the bottom member is silicon and has a proximal end, a distal end and an etched region disposed between the proximal and distal ends,

where the etched region has an inlet portion, an analytic portion, and a vent portion with the inlet portion located at the proximal end, the vent portion located at the distal end and the analytic portion disposed between the inlet and vent portions;

wherein the top member is dimensionally mated to the bottom member so that the analysis portion is sealed to yield an analysis region defining the interior of the device, the inlet and vent are created with the analysis region in fluid communication with the inlet and vent, and the members provide a signal path for communicating the state of the analysis from the interior of the device to the exterior.

ii. introducing fluid containing analytes into the inlet;

iii. permitting the fluid to enter the analysis region; and

,

iv. communicating the state of the analysis via the signal pathway.