Fluid control structures in microfluidic devices
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A microfluidic structure comprising:
- a first surface including a pneumatic channel;
a second surface including a fluidic channel; and
an elastomer membrane located between the first and second surfaces such that the application of a pressure or a vacuum to the pneumatic channel causes the membrane to deflect to modulate a flow of a fluid in the fluidic channel.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for implementing microfluidic analysis devices are provided. A monolithic elastomer membrane associated with an integrated pneumatic manifold allows the placement and actuation of a variety of fluid control structures, such as structures for pumping, isolating, mixing, routing, merging, splitting, preparing, and storing volumes of fluid. The fluid control structures can be used to implement a variety of sample introduction, preparation, processing, and storage techniques.
-
Citations
44 Claims
-
1. A microfluidic structure comprising:
-
a first surface including a pneumatic channel;
a second surface including a fluidic channel; and
an elastomer membrane located between the first and second surfaces such that the application of a pressure or a vacuum to the pneumatic channel causes the membrane to deflect to modulate a flow of a fluid in the fluidic channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A microfluidic structure comprising:
-
a first surface including a pneumatic channel;
a second surface including a plurality of vias;
a third surface including a fluidic channel; and
an elastomer membrane located between the first and second surfaces such that the application of a pressure or a vacuum to the pneumatic channel causes the membrane to deflect to modulate a flow of a fluid in the fluidic channel. - View Dependent Claims (17)
-
-
18. A microfluidic structure comprising:
-
means for allowing flow of a fluid on a first layer;
means for modulating the flow of the fluid on the first layer using the application of a pneumatic pressure or vacuum to control an area of a membrane coupled to the first layer.
-
-
19. A microfluidic device, comprising:
-
a chemically compatible layer, the chemically compatible layer having a plurality of channels, the channels operable to provide paths for fluid flow; and
a membrane layer coupled to the chemically compatible layer, wherein applying pneumatic pressure to regions of the membrane layer is operable to actuate a plurality of pneumatically switchable valves, wherein the pneumatically switchable valves are operable to control fluid flow on the microfluidic device. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
-
-
40. A method for controlling fluid flow on a microfluidic device, the method comprising:
-
opening an input valve and closing an output valve by varying pneumatic pressure to one or more regions of a membrane layer coupled to a glass layer, the glass layer having a plurality of etched channels, the etched channels operable to provide paths for fluid flow;
opening a diaphragm valve and closing the input valve by varying pneumatic pressure; and
opening the output valve and closing the diaphragm valve, wherein closing the diaphragm valve pumps analyte fluid through the open output valve. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42)
-
-
43. A microfluidic device, comprising:
-
means for opening an input valve and closing an output valve by varying pneumatic pressure to one or more regions of a membrane layer coupled to a glass layer, the glass layer having a plurality of etched channels, the etched channels operable to provide paths for fluid flow;
means for opening a diaphragm valve and closing the input valve by varying pneumatic pressure; and
means for opening the output valve and closing the diaphragm valve, wherein closing the diaphragm valve pumps analyte fluid through the open output valve. - View Dependent Claims (44)
-
Specification