Valves and pumps for microfluidic systems and method for making microfluidic systems
First Claim
1. A microfluidic system comprising:
- a fluid path;
an inlet to the fluid path;
an outlet to the fluid path; and
a first closing member disposed along the fluid path between the inlet and the outlet;
wherein the fluid path has a cross-sectional dimension of less than about 500 μ
m.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to microfluidic systems, including valves and pumps for microfluidic systems. The valves of the invention include check valves such as diaphragm valves and flap valves. Other valves of the invention include one-use valves. The pumps of the present invention include a reservoir and at least two check valves. The reservoir may be of variable volume. The present invention also relates to a flexible microfluidic system. The present invention additionally relates to a method of making microfluidic systems including those of the present invention. The method includes forming a microfluidic system on a master, connecting a support to the microfluidic system and removing the microfluidic system from the master. The support may remain connected to the microfluidic system or the microfluidic system may be transferred to another substrate. The present invention further relates to a method of manipulating a flow of a fluid in a microfluidic system. This method includes initiating fluid flow in a first direction and inhibiting fluid flow in a second direction and may be practiced with the valves of the present invention.
72 Citations
71 Claims
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1. A microfluidic system comprising:
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a fluid path;
an inlet to the fluid path;
an outlet to the fluid path; and
a first closing member disposed along the fluid path between the inlet and the outlet;
wherein the fluid path has a cross-sectional dimension of less than about 500 μ
m. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A valve having an open position and closed position, comprising:
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a fluid path;
an inlet to the fluid path;
an outlet to the fluid path;
a flexible diaphragm disposed along the fluid path between the inlet and the outlet;
an opening in the flexible diaphragm; and
a seat constructed and arranged such that, when the valve is in the closed position, the seat obstructs the opening and supports the flexible diaphragm around at least the periphery of the opening. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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27. A microfluidic pump, comprising:
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a fluid path;
an inlet to the fluid path;
an outlet to the fluid path;
a first closing member disposed along the fluid path between the inlet and the outlet;
a second closing member disposed along the fluid path between the inlet and the outlet; and
a reservoir having a variable volume disposed along the fluid path between the first closing member and the second closing member;
wherein the fluid path has a cross-sectional dimension of less than about 500 μ
m. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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31. A microfluidic system, comprising:
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a flexible support;
a flexible material connected to the flexible support; and
at fluid path within the flexible material having a cross-sectional dimension of less than about 500 μ
m. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34)
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35. A method for making a microfluidic system, comprising:
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providing a master corresponding to the microfluidic system;
forming the microfluidic system on the master;
connecting a support to the microfluidic system; and
removing the microfluidic system from the master. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A method for opening a microfluidic valve, comprising:
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providing a microfluidic valve including;
a fluid path, an inlet to the fluid path, an outlet to the fluid path, and a first closing member disposed along the fluid path between the inlet and the outlet, wherein the fluid path has a cross-sectional dimension of less than about 500 μ
m;
providing a flow of a fluid through the fluid path; and
deflecting the closing member with the flow from a closed position to an open position without the closing member sliding against any portion of the microfluidic valve.
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47. A method for manipulating a flow of a fluid in a microfluidic system, comprising:
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providing a fluid path having a cross-sectional dimension of less that about 500 μ
m;
initiating the flow of the fluid through the fluid path in a first direction; and
inhibiting the flow of the fluid through the fluid path in a second direction. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49)
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50. A microfluidic system comprising:
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a first fluid path;
a second fluid path; and
a first closing member comprised of a voltage degradable material and disposed between the first and second fluid paths;
wherein one of the first and second fluid paths has a cross-sectional dimension of less than about 500 μ
m. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63)
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64. A microfluidic system comprising:
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a first fluid path;
a second fluid path; and
a first closing member comprised of a voltage degradable material and disposed between the first and second fluid paths;
wherein the first closing member has a thickness of less than about 50 μ
m.
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65. A microfluidic device, comprising:
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a substantially sealed fluid reservoir;
a fluid positioned within the fluid reservoir;
a fluid path separated from the fluid reservoir by a closing member;
a first electrode connected to the fluid reservoir; and
a second electrode connected to the fluid path.
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66. A method of manipulating fluid flow in a fluidic system, comprising:
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creating a voltage difference between a first fluid path and a second fluid path separated by a closing member, the voltage being sufficient to form an opening in the closing member; and
allowing a fluid to flow between the first and second fluid paths. - View Dependent Claims (67, 68, 69)
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70. A method of testing, comprising:
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introducing a test fluid into a test reservoir;
creating a voltage difference between the test reservoir and a reagent reservoir containing a reagent and separated from the test reservoir by a closing member, the voltage difference being sufficient to make an opening in the closing member;
allowing at least one of the test fluid and the reagent to flow between the test reservoir and the reagent reservoir.
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71. A method of making an opening in a fluidic system, comprising:
creating a voltage difference between a first fluid path and a second fluid path separated from the first fluid path by a closing member sufficient to make an opening in the closing member.
Specification