Microfluidic device

• US 20040202579A1
• Filed: 04/28/2004
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gyros Patent AB (Mesa Laboratories Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gyros Patent AB (Mesa Laboratories Inc.)
• Inventors: Andersson, Per, Larsson, Anders, Allmer, Klas
• Application Number:
  US10/834,350
• Publication Number:
  US 20040202579A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/99
• 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: B01L 2300/0806 Standardised forms, e.g. compact disc [CD] format
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0864 comprising only one inlet and multiple receiving wells, e.g. for separation, splitting
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/089 Virtual walls for guiding liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0406 capillary forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0409 centrifugal forces
• 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: B01L 3/502723 characterised by venting arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502738 characterised by integrated valves microvalves F16K99/0001
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502746 characterised by the means for controlling flow resistance, e.g. flow controllers, baffles B01L3/502738 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5088 confining liquids at a location by surface tension, e.g. virtual wells on plates, wires B01L3/50857 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 59/14 by plasma treatment plasma tubes per se H01J
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/16 Microfluidic devices; Capillary tubes integrated microfluidic structures B01L3/5027; microreactors B01J19/0093
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00495 Centrifuges
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00524 Mixing by agitating sample carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00069 whereby the sample substrate is of the bio-disk type, i.e. having the format of an optical disk

Abstract

A microfluidic device adapted such that the flow of fluids within the device is controlled by different surfaces of the device having different surface characteristics. Preferably the device comprises a substrate not formed from a hydrated oxide material.

Claims

1-19. -19. (canceled)

20. A microfluidic device comprising:

(a) a solid substrate,

(b) formed in the substrate, a channel network having

(i) one or more reservoirs, and

(ii) one or more capillary channels connecting the reservoirs in fluid communication with one another,

said network having wall portions that are sufficiently wettable to promote flow of a liquid in the network by capillarity along such wall portions, and

(c) formed on at least one of said wall portions, a non-wettable region effective to block liquid flow by capillarity past or through said non-wettable region.

21. A microfluidic device according to claim 20, wherein said microfluidic device comprises a central reservoir connected to at least two capillary channels.

22. The microfluidic device of claim 20 wherein at least one of said reservoirs is a zone for receiving sample material in a sample assay.

23. The microfluidic device of claim 22 wherein at least one of the reservoirs is in fluid communication with said zone reservoir for supplying liquid to the zone through a capillary channel.

24. The microfluidic device according to claim 20, further comprising means for applying a force to the liquid to move the liquid past the non-wettable region.