Microfluidic devices with distributing inputs

• US 20020185183A1
• Filed: 05/30/2002
• Published: 12/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nanostream, Inc.
• Inventors: Dantsker, Eugene, Karp, Christoph D., OʼConnor, Stephen D.
• Granted Patent: US 6,981,522 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/814
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/432 with means for dividing the material flow into separate sub-flows and for repositioning and recombining these sub-flows; Cross-mixing, e.g. conducting the outer layer of the material nearer to the axis of the tube or vice-versa
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/30 Micromixers
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7182 with means for feeding the material with a fractal or tree-type distribution in a surface
• 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 2219/00783 Laminate assemblies, i.e. the reactor comprising a stack of plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00833 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00869 Microreactors placed in parallel, on the same or on different supports
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00891 Feeding or evacuation
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00997 Strategical arrangements of multiple microreactor systems
• 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 2300/0864 comprising only one inlet and multiple receiving wells, e.g. for separation, splitting
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0867 Multiple inlets and one sample wells, e.g. mixing, dilution
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0874 Three dimensional network
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0887 Laminated structure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/14 Means for pressure control
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0406 capillary forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0487 fluid pressure, pneumatics
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0688 surface tension valves, capillary stop, capillary break
• 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: B29C 2035/0827 : using UV radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/02 : by heating, with or without pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/02 : Preparation of the material, in the area to be joined, prior to joining or welding B29C66/32 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/026 : Chemical pre-treatments B29C66/028 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/71 : characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined welding bar compositions B29C65/125
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/00 : Use of polyalkenes or derivatives thereof as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/12 : PP, i.e. polypropylene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2067/00 : Use of polyesters or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/756 : Microarticles, nanoarticles
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 2201/058 : Microfluidics not provided for in B81B2201/051 - B81B2201/054
• CPC Class Codes: B81C 3/008 : Aspects related to assembling from individually processed components, not covered by groups B81C3/001 - B81C3/002
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2030/565 : slurry packing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/6095 : Micromachined or nanomachined, e.g. micro- or nanosize
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/206 : Flow affected by fluid contact, energy field or coanda effect [e.g., pure fluid device or system]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/212 : System comprising plural fluidic devices or stages
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2196 : Acoustical or thermal energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2224 : Structure of body of device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8359 : Inspection means

Abstract

Microfluidic devices having a plurality of functional features for performing one or more fluidic operations in parallel are provided. Reagents, samples or other fluids common to multiple functional features (“common fluids”) may be input into a microfluidic device or system through one or more distributing inputs that divide and distribute the common fluids as desired. The use of a multi-layer fabrication technique allows multiple distributing inputs to distribute to multiple functional features in a microfluidic device without undesirable fluid channel intersections.

Claims

1. A multi-layer microfluidic device comprising a plurality of device layers, the plurality of device layers defining:

at least three functional features;

a first, a second, and a third distributing input each associated with each of the at least three functional features; and

a channel crossover region that includes;

a first distribution channel of the first distributing input, the first distribution channel defined in a first device layer of the plurality of device layers;

a second distribution channel of the second distributing input, the second distribution channel defined in a second device layer of the plurality of device layers; and

a third device layer of the plurality of device layers disposed between the first device layer and the second device layer, wherein the third device layer prevents fluid communication between the first distribution channel and the second distribution channel at the channel crossover region.

2. The multi-layer microfluidic device of claim 1 wherein:

each distributing input defines a fluid flow path to each functional feature of the at least three functional features;

each fluid flow path has a characteristic impedance to fluid flow; and

the impedances of the fluid flow paths are substantially equal.

3. The multi-layer microfluidic device of claim 1 wherein:

each distributing input defines a fluid flow path to each functional feature of the at least three functional features;

each fluid flow path has a characteristic length; and

the lengths of the fluid flow paths are substantially equal.

4. The multi-layer microfluidic device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of device layers further defines a plurality of fluidic outputs each being in fluid communication with at least one functional feature of the at least three functional features.

5. The multi-layer microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of device layers further defines a plurality of independent fluidic inputs each being in fluid communication with at least one functional feature of the at least three functional features.

6. The multi-layer microfluidic device of claim 1 wherein at least one device layer of the plurality of device layers is a stencil layer.

7. The multi-layer microfluidic device of claim 1 wherein any device layer of the plurality of device layers is fabricated with a polymeric material.

8. The multi-layer microfluidic device of claim 1 wherein any device layer of the plurality of device layers is fabricated with a self-adhesive tape material.

9. The multi-layer microfluidic device of claim 1 wherein the at least three functional features are selected from the group consisting of:

mixers, separation channels, reaction chambers, and analysis windows.

10. A multi-layer microfluidic device comprising:

at least three functional features;

at least three distributing inputs each including a plurality of channels, each distributing input being in fluid communication with the at least three functional features;

a plurality of channel crossings; and

an intervening device layer preventing fluid communication between any of the at least three distributing inputs at any channel crossing of the plurality of channel crossings.

11. The multi-layer microfluidic device of claim 10 wherein:

at least one distributing input defines a fluid flow path to each of the at least three functional features;

each fluid flow path has a characteristic fluidic impedance; and

the fluidic impedances of the fluid flow paths are substantially equal.

12. The multi-layer microfluidic device of claim 10 wherein:

at least one distributing input defines a fluid flow path to each of the at least three functional features;

each fluid flow path has a characteristic length; and

the lengths of the fluid flow paths are substantially equal.

13. The multi-layer microfluidic device of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of fluidic outputs each being in fluid communication with at least one functional feature of the at least three functional features.

14. The multi-layer microfluidic device of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of independent fluidic inputs each being in fluid communication with at least one functional feature of the at least three functional features.

15. The multi-layer microfluidic device of claim 10 wherein the device is fabricated with a plurality of device layers, and at least one device layer of the plurality of device layers is a stencil layer.

16. The multi-layer microfluidic device of claim 10 wherein the device is fabricated with a plurality of device layers, and any device layer of the plurality of device layers is fabricated with a polymeric material.

17. The multi-layer microfluidic device of claim 10 wherein the device is fabricated with a plurality of device layers, and any device layer of the plurality of device layers is fabricated with a self-adhesive tape material.

18. The multi-layer microfluidic device of claim 10 wherein the at least three functional features are selected from the group consisting of:

mixers, separation channels, reaction chambers, and analysis windows.

20. The multi-layer microfluidic device of claim 19 wherein:

any of the first, second, and third set of distribution channels defines a plurality of fluid flow paths;

at least three fluid flow paths of the plurality of fluid flow paths has a characteristic fluidic impedance; and

the fluidic impedances of the at least three fluid flow paths are substantially equal.

21. The multi-layer microfluidic device of claim 19 wherein:

any of the first, second, and third set of distribution channels defines a plurality of fluid flow paths;

at least three fluid flow paths of the plurality of fluid flow paths has a characteristic length; and

the lengths of the at least three fluid flow paths are substantially equal.

22. The multi-layer microfluidic device of claim 19 wherein any of the functional device layer, the first device layer, the second device layer, and the third device layer includes a plurality of sublayers.

23. The multi-layer microfluidic device of claim 22 wherein the plurality of sublayers includes a stencil layer.

24. The multi-layer microfluidic device of claim 19 wherein any of the functional device layer, the first device layer, the second device layer, and the third device layer is a stencil layer.

25. The multi-layer microfluidic device of claim 19 wherein any of the functional device layer, the first device layer, the second device layer, and the third device layer is fabricated with a polymeric material.

26. The multi-layer microfluidic device of claim 19 wherein any of the functional device layer, the first device layer, the second device layer, and the third device layer is fabricated with a self-adhesive tape material.

27. The multi-layer microfluidic device of claim 19 wherein the at least three functional features are selected from the group consisting of:

mixers, separation channels, reaction chambers, and analysis windows.

29. The multi-layer microfluidic device of claim 28 wherein any of the first distributing input, the second distributing input, and the third distributing input defines a plurality of fluid flow paths, and at least three fluid flow paths of the plurality of fluid flow paths are substantially impedance-matched.

30. The multi-layer microfluidic device of claim 28 wherein any of the first distributing input, the second distributing input, and the third distributing input defines a plurality of fluid flow paths each having a length, and at least three fluid flow paths of the plurality of fluid flow paths have substantially the same length.

31. The multi-layer microfluidic device of claim 28 wherein any of the first device layer, the second device layer, and the third device layer includes a plurality of sublayers.

32. The multi-layer microfluidic device of claim 28 wherein the plurality of sublayers includes a stencil layer.

33. The multi-layer microfluidic device of claim 28 wherein any of the first device layer, the second device layer, and the third device layer is a stencil layer.

34. The multi-layer microfluidic device of claim 28 wherein any of the first device layer, the second device layer, and the third device layer is fabricated with a polymeric material.

35. The multi-layer microfluidic device of claim 28 wherein any of the first device layer, the second device layer, and the third device layer is fabricated with a self-adhesive tape material.

36. The multi-layer microfluidic device of claim 28 wherein the at least three functional features are selected from the group consisting of:

mixers, separation channels, reaction chambers, and analysis windows.

19. A multi-layer microfluidic device comprising:

a functional device layer defining at least three functional features;

a first device layer having a first set of distribution channels in fluid communication with the at least three functional features;

a second device layer having a second set of distribution channels in fluid communication with the at least three functional features; and

a third device layer having a third set of distribution channels in fluid communication with the at least three functional features;

wherein the second device layer is disposed between the first device layer and the third device layer.

28. A multi-layer microfluidic device comprising:

a first device layer defining at least three functional features and a first distributing input in fluid communication with each of the at least three functional features;

a second device layer defining a second distributing input in fluid communication with each of the at least three functional features;

a third distributing input defined in one of the first device layer or the second device layer, the third distributing input being in fluid communication with each of the at least three functional features; and

a third device layer disposed between the first device layer and the second device layer.