Microfluidic system including a bubble valve for regulating fluid flow through a microchannel
First Claim
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1. A microfluidic device, comprising:
- a microchannel having an interior bounded by a side wall;
a valve for regulating the flow of fluid through the microchannel, the valve comprising a gas-filled reservoir, a fluid meniscus interfacing the reservoir and the interior and an actuator for varying the volume of the reservoir to increase an internal pressure of the reservoir to vary the flow of liquid through the channel.
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Abstract
A microfluidic system includes a bubble valve for regulating fluid flow through a microchannel. The bubble valve includes a fluid meniscus interfacing the microchannel interior and an actuator for deflecting the membrane into the microchannel interior to regulate fluid flow. The actuator generates a gas bubble in a liquid in the microchannel when a sufficient pressure is generated on the membrane.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A microfluidic device, comprising:
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a microchannel having an interior bounded by a side wall;
a valve for regulating the flow of fluid through the microchannel, the valve comprising a gas-filled reservoir, a fluid meniscus interfacing the reservoir and the interior and an actuator for varying the volume of the reservoir to increase an internal pressure of the reservoir to vary the flow of liquid through the channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A microfluidic device comprising:
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a first plate having a groove formed therein defining a microchannel;
a second plate for enclosing the microchannel bonded to the first plate having an aperture adjacent to the groove sized and dimensioned to form a meniscus when the microchannel is filled with a liquid, the aperture defining a reservoir adjacent to the microchannel, wherein the meniscus forms an interface between the microchannel and the reservoir; and
a flexible membrane bonded to the second plate to seal the reservoir. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A microfluidic device, comprising:
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a microchannel having an interior bounded by a side wall;
a bubble valve for creating and injecting a bubble into the microchannel interior to regulate fluid flow through the microchannel; and
a hydrophobic patch for retaining the bubble in a predetermined position in the microchannel interior. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A method of making a bubble valve, comprising:
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providing a microchannel having an interior bounded by a side wall, an aperture formed in the side wall and a valve chamber adjacent to the aperture in communication with the interior;
filling the microchannel with a liquid to form a meniscus of the liquid in the aperture, whereby the step of filling traps a gas in the valve chamber;
providing an actuator for increasing the pressure in the valve chamber to deflect the meniscus into the interior.
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18. A method of making a bubble valve, comprising:
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providing a microchannel having an interior bounded by a side wall, an aperture formed in the side wall and a valve chamber adjacent to the aperture in communication with the interior;
filling the microchannel with a liquid to form a meniscus of the liquid in the aperture, applying and sealing an actuator comprising a chamber to a top surface of the microchannel to form a gas-filled chamber adjacent to the meniscus, wherein the actuator varies the pressure in the gas-filled chamber to deflect the meniscus into the interior, thereby regulating fluid flow.
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19. In a particle sorting device a bubble valve for separating particles having a predetermined characteristic from particles not having a predetermined characteristic, the bubble valve comprising:
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a gas-filled reservoir;
a side channel in communication with a channel through which a stream of particles in a carrier fluid passes, wherein the carrier fluid forms a meniscus in the side channel adjacent to the gas-filled reservoir;
an actuator for deflecting the meniscus to create a pressure pulse to selectively deflect a particle having the predetermined characteristic from the stream of particles.
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20. A method of varying an electrical resistance in a microchannel, comprising the steps of:
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generating a bubble;
injecting the bubble into a liquid in the microchannel, whereby the bubble varies the electrical resistance of the microchannel. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. An electrophoretic system, comprising:
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an electrokinetically operated microchannel;
a sample well for providing an sample to the microchannel;
a voltage source;
a bubble valve for injecting a bubble into the microchannel to vary the electrical resistance of the microchannel.
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24. An electrokinetic column to column switch, comprising:
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a first electrokinetically operated microchannel;
a second electrokinetically operated microchannel in communication with the first electrokinetically operated microchannel;
a bubble valve for selectively blocking flow from the first electrokinetically operated microchannel to the second electrokinetically operated microchannel by selectively injecting a bubble into a microchannel.
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Specification