Microfluidic device and method for focusing, segmenting, and dispensing of a fluid stream
First Claim
1. A method of forming and dispensing minute volume segments of a material in a microfluidic device, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a microfluidic device that includes a body having first, second, third, and fourth microchannels formed therein, said first, second, third, and fourth microchannels communicating at a first intersection and said first microchannel being connected to a source of a first material;
providing a first focusing channel in said body having one end in fluid communication with a source of a focusing material and a second end in fluid communication with said first channel between said source of the first material and the first intersection;
transporting a stream of the first material through said first channel toward the first intersection, said stream of first material having a width;
transporting a stream of the focusing material from the first focusing channel into said first channel, such that the width of the stream of first material in said first channel is narrowed; and
dispensing a volume segment of the narrowed first material stream into the fourth channel.
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Abstract
A microfluidic device and method for forming and dispensing minute volume segments of a material are described. In accordance with the present invention, a microfluidic device and method are provided for spatially confining the material in a focusing element. The device is also adapted for segmenting the confined material into minute volume segments, and dispensing a volume segment to a waste or collection channel. The device further includes means for driving the respective streams of sample and focusing fluids through respective channels into a chamber, such that the focusing fluid streams spatially confine the sample material. The device may also include additional means for driving a minute volume segment of the spatially confined sample material into a collection channel in fluid communication with the waste reservoir.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of forming and dispensing minute volume segments of a material in a microfluidic device, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a microfluidic device that includes a body having first, second, third, and fourth microchannels formed therein, said first, second, third, and fourth microchannels communicating at a first intersection and said first microchannel being connected to a source of a first material;
providing a first focusing channel in said body having one end in fluid communication with a source of a focusing material and a second end in fluid communication with said first channel between said source of the first material and the first intersection;
transporting a stream of the first material through said first channel toward the first intersection, said stream of first material having a width;
transporting a stream of the focusing material from the first focusing channel into said first channel, such that the width of the stream of first material in said first channel is narrowed; and
dispensing a volume segment of the narrowed first material stream into the fourth channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 14, 15, 17, 19)
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6. An apparatus for forming and dispensing minute volume segments of a material in a microfluidic device, the apparatus comprising:
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a substrate having first, second, third, and fourth microchannels formed therein, said microchannels communicating at a first intersection and said first microchannel being connected to a source of a first material;
a focusing channel formed in said substrate and having one end in fluid communication with a source of a focusing material and a second end in fluid communication with said first channel between said source of the first material and the first intersection;
means for transporting a stream of the first material through said first channel toward said first intersection, said stream of first material having a width;
means for transporting a stream of the focusing material into said first channel, whereby the width of the stream of first material in said first channel is narrowed; and
means for dispensing a volume segment of the narrowed first material stream into the fourth channel. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 18)
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Specification