Miniaturized fluid delivery and analysis system

• US 20040063217A1
• Filed: 05/14/2003
• Published: 04/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AST Management Incorporated
• Original Assignee: AST Management Incorporated
• Inventors: Chen, Chi-Chen, Chang, Ping, Hong, Rong-I, Webster, James Russell, Wang, Shaw-Tzuv
• Granted Patent: US 7,241,421 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 436/180
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/10 Integrating sample preparation and analysis in single entity, e.g. lab-on-a-chip concept
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0867 Multiple inlets and one sample wells, e.g. mixing, dilution
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0883 Serpentine channels
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0887 Laminated structure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0481 squeezing of channels or chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0605 check valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0638 membrane valves, flap valves
• 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: B01L 3/502738 characterised by integrated valves microvalves F16K99/0001
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/043 Micropumps
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for combining a fluid delivery system with an analysis system for performing immunological or other chemical of biological assays. The method comprises a miniature plastic fluidic cartridge containing a reaction chamber with a plurality of immobilized species, a capillary channel, and a pump structure along with an external linear actuator corresponding to the pump structure to provide force for the fluid delivery. The plastic fluidic cartridge can be configured in a variety of ways to affect the performance and complexity of the assay performed.

Claims

1. A fluid delivery and analysis system comprised of:

a plastic fluidic device comprising;

upper substrate, a lower substrate, and flexible intermediate interlayer;

at least one channel of capillary dimensions and at least one main reaction chamber connected to said channel;

at least one pumping chamber formed in the upper substrate and a through-hole in the lower substrate corresponding to said pumping chamber;

at least two check valve structures adapted to restrict flow in one direction only from either an upper substrate channel to a lower substrate channel or from a lower substrate channel to an upper substrate channel;

at least one micropump comprised of the pumping chamber and at least two check valve structures; and

an actuator system comprised of at least one linear actuator corresponding to the pump chambers.

2. The fluid delivery and analysis system of claim 1 wherein said actuator further comprises an electromagnetic solenoid.

3. The fluid delivery and analysis system of claim 1 where the upper substrate is made of a plastic.

The fluid delivery system of claim 3, where the plastic is poly methyl methacrylate, polysteryease, polycarbonate, polypropylene or polyvinyl chloride.

The fluid delivery system of claim 3, wherein the plastic is transparent.

4. The miniaturized fluid delivery and analysis system of claim 1 wherein said flexible intermediate interlayer is made of a rubber material.

The fluid delivery system of claim 4, wherein the rubber material comprises latex, silicone elastromers, polyvinyl chloride or fluroelastomers.

5. The fluid delivery and analysis system of claim 1 wherein the capillaries, reaction chambers, and pump chambers are formed in the upper and/or lower substrates by injection molding.

6. The fluid delivery and analysis system of claim 1 wherein the plastic fluidic device is assembled by heat staking.

7. The fluid delivery and analysis system of claim 1 wherein said at least one reaction chamber contains plurality of immobilized species.

8. The fluid delivery and analysis system of claim 7 where said immobilized species are proteins.

9. The fluid delivery and analysis system of claim 7 where said immobilized species are nucleic acids.

10. A method of performing an immunological assay of a sample comprising adding the sample to be assayed into the fluid delivery and analysis system of claim 1;

pumping the sample in the at least one reaction chamber, reacting the sample in the at least one reaction chamber and obtaining a detectable signal.

11. A method of performing a biological or chemical assay of a sample to be assayed into the fluid delivery and analysis system of claim 1;

pumping the sample in the at least one reaction chamber, reacting the sample in the at least one reaction chamber and obtaining a detectable signal.