Devices and methods for the performance of miniaturized in vitro amplification assays

• US 20040259237A1
• Filed: 03/16/2004
• Published: 12/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Tecan Trading AG (Tecan Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Tecan Trading AG (Tecan Group AG)
• Inventors: Arnold, Todd, Able, Charles, Lin, Hsin-Chiang, Kob, Mikayla, Kieffer-Higgins, Stephen, Ommert, Shari, Carvalho, Bruce L., Kellogg, Gregory J., Sheppard, Norman F.
• Application Number:
  US10/801,460
• Publication Number:
  US 20040259237A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/287.1
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2215/0431 Numerical size values, e.g. diameter of a hole or conduit, area, volume, length, width, or ratios thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2215/0477 Numerical time values
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/3017 Mixing chamber
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/304 the mixing being performed in a mixing chamber where the products are brought into contact
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/71 Feed mechanisms with proportioning B01F35/80
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/712 for feeding fluids
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7172 using capillary forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/71725 using centrifugal forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/71805 using valves, gates, orifices or openings
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7547 using valves, gates, orifices or openings
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/896 characterised by the build-up of the device
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0621 Control of the sequence of chambers filled or emptied
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0806 Standardised forms, e.g. compact disc [CD] format
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0861 Configuration of multiple channels and/or chambers in a single devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1827 using resistive heater
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0409 centrifugal forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0677 phase change valves; Meltable, freezing, dissolvable plugs; Destructible barriers
• 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: G01N 2035/00237 Handling microquantities of analyte, e.g. microvalves, capillary networks
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/4795 spatially resolved investigating of object in scattering medium in vivo A61B
• 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

This invention relates to methods and apparatus for performing microanalytic and microsynthetic analyses and procedures. The invention provides a microsystem platform and a micromanipulation device for manipulating the platform that utilizes the centripetal force resulting from rotation of the platform to motivate fluid movement through microchannels. The invention specifically provides devices and methods for performing miniaturized in vitro amplification assays such as the polymerase chain reaction. Methods specific for the apparatus of the invention for performing PCR are provided.

Claims

1. A centripetally-motivated microsystem platform comprising:

a) a rotatable platform comprising a substrate having a surface comprising one or a multiplicity of microfluidics structures embedded in the surface of the platform, wherein each microfluidics structure comprises;

i) a sample input port fluidly connected to

ii) a chamber in thermal contact with a temperature control element, and

iii) a sample outlet port,

wherein the temperature control element changes or maintains the temperature of a fluid in the chamber at a temperature greater than ambient temperature, and wherein rotation of the platform maintains or changes the temperature of a fluid in a chamber to be substantially equal to ambient temperature.

2. A microsystem platform of claim 1 wherein the temperature control element is a resistive heater.

3. A microsystem platform of claim 1 wherein the temperature control element is a Peltier heater.

4. A microsystem platform of claim 1 further comprising a temperature sensing element in thermal contact with the chamber of the temperature control element or both.

5. A microsystem platform according to claim 4, wherein the temperature sensing element is a thermistor.

6. A microsystem platform of claim 1 wherein the platform further comprises:

b) an electric platen comprising a substrate bearing one or a multiplicity of temperature control elements, wherein each of the temperature control elements is electrically connected to at least two electrical leads, and wherein the electrical leads are connected to a power source through a slip ring

wherein the substrate comprising the sample input port, the chamber and the sample outlet port is separate from the platen and wherein each temperature control element is in thermal contact with a chamber in the substrate of the platform.

7. A microsystem platform according to claim 6, wherein the platen substrate is a printed circuit board.

8. A microsystem platform of claim 6 wherein the temperature control element further comprises one or a multiplicity of metal contact plates in thermal contact with a heating element.

9. A microsystem platform of claim 8 wherein at least one metal contact plate is in thermal contact with the chamber.

10. A microsystem platform of claim 8 wherein at least one metal contact plate is in thermal contact with a heat sink.

11. A microsystem platform of claim 8 wherein the metal contact plate is brass.

12. A microsystem platform of claim 1 wherein the temperature of a fluid in the chamber can be changed at a rate sufficient for performing an in vitro amplification reaction.

13. A microsystem platform of claim 12 wherein the in vitro amplification reaction is polymerase chain reaction.

14. A microsystem platform of claim 1 that is a circular disk.

15. A microsystem platform of claim 1 wherein the sample chamber further comprises a sample input port.