On chip dilution system
First Claim
1. A dilution system for diluting a chemical compound, comprising:
- a sample well for providing a chemical compound;
a dilution well for providing a diluent;
a dilution channel for transmitting the diluent;
a sample channel for transmitting the chemical compound to the dilution channel to form a diluted chemical compound; and
a variable flow valve for varying the flow of diluent through the dilution channel, thereby varying a ratio of the diluent to the chemical compound in the diluted chemical compound.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An on-chip chemical compound dilution system for providing dilution of a chemical compound in a microfluidic application includes at least one sample well for providing a selected chemical compound to be diluted, a dilution well for providing a diluent for diluting the chemical compound, a network of channels for carrying the chemical compound and diluent, a first syringe pump for effecting dilution, a second syringe pump, a detector and a plurality of valves for selectively controlling the flow of liquid through the channels. The dilution system may be a multiple-stage dilution system for precisely mixing a plurality of chemical compounds in a diluent. The dilution system allows for accurate calibration to compensate for variations due to manufacturing, thereby providing precise dilution ratios. The dilution system further enables flushing to allow re-use of the system with another chemical compound.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A dilution system for diluting a chemical compound, comprising:
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a sample well for providing a chemical compound;
a dilution well for providing a diluent;
a dilution channel for transmitting the diluent;
a sample channel for transmitting the chemical compound to the dilution channel to form a diluted chemical compound; and
a variable flow valve for varying the flow of diluent through the dilution channel, thereby varying a ratio of the diluent to the chemical compound in the diluted chemical compound. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for diluting a sample, comprising:
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providing a dilution system having;
a sample well for providing a sample which may be a known chemical standard;
a dilution well for providing a diluent;
a dilution channel for transmitting the diluent;
a sample channel for transmitting the known chemical standard to the dilution channel to form a diluted chemical standard;
a high precision variable flow valve for varying the flow of diluent through the dilution channel, wherein the variable flow valve has a plurality of settings corresponding to different dilution ratios; and
a detector capable measuring the ratio of standard chemicals to diluent when chemical standards are introduced into the system through the sample well; and
introducing one or more predetermined chemicals into the system so that the observed dilution at the detector can be correlated with each setting of the precision variable flow valve.
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11. A method of calibrating an on-chip dilution system, comprising:
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providing a dilution system comprising a sample well for providing a chemical compound, a dilution well for providing a diluent, a dilution channel for transmitting the diluent, a sample channel for transmitting the chemical compound to the dilution channel to form a diluted chemical compound, a variable flow valve for controlling the flow of diluent through the dilution channel and a detector for analyzing the diluted chemical standard; and
calibrating the variable flow valve to correlate a setting on the variable flow valve to a dilution ratio for the system. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A dilution system for diluting a plurality of chemical compounds, comprising:
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a first dilution module comprising a first sample well for providing a first chemical compound, a first dilution well for providing a first diluent, a first dilution channel for transmitting the first diluent, a first sample channel for transmitting the first chemical compound to the first dilution channel to form a first diluted chemical compound, and a first variable flow valve for varying the flow of diluent through the dilution channel;
a second dilution module comprising a second dilution channel for receiving the first diluted chemical compound, a second sample well for providing a second chemical compound, a second sample channel for transmitting the second chemical compound to the second dilution channel to mix the second chemical compound with the diluted first chemical compound to form a diluted mix, and a second variable flow valve for regulating the flow of the second chemical compound; and
a bi-stable valve for selectively blocking flow between the first dilution module and the second dilution module. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A variable flow valve for regulating liquid flow through a channel, comprising
an aperture formed in a side wall of the channel; -
a membrane covering the aperture; and
an external actuator for deflecting the membrane through the aperture a predetermined amount to vary the resistance of the channel to flow, comprising a base and a cylindrical head for contacting the membrane.
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Specification