Method and apparatus for controlling fluid movement in a microfluidic system
First Claim
1. A method for moving a fluid sample within an open channel flow device by centrifugal force which comprises providing a planar platform having a plurality of chambers, having a first chamber with a plane, a fluid passage in the plane of the plurality of chambers, each fluid passage having a first and a second end, the first end in fluid communication with the first chamber a second chamber in fluid communication with the second end of the fluid passage, and a second fluid passage in the plane of the plurality of chambers having a first and a second end the first end in fluid communication with the second chamber and a third chamber in fluid communication with the second end of the second fluid passage, the position or shape of each fluid passage creating a flow restricting action in a first position and a flow enhancing action in a second position by reorientation of the platform while connecting the first second and third chambers to enable sequential movement of a fluid from the first chamber to the second chamber in a first orientation of the platform such that centrifugal force is applied in a flow enhancing direction to move fluid through the first passage from the first chamber to the second chamber and following a change in orientation of the platform to enable further movement of the fluid from the second chamber to the third chamber, placing the open channel flow device in a centrifuge, positioning the open channel flow device such that a fluid placed in the first chamber will not move by centrifugal force from the first chamber to the second chamber when the open channel flow device is a first position stopping the application of centrifugal force and thereafter positioning the open channel flow device in a second position wherein fluid moves from the first chamber to the second chamber during operation of the centrifuge, the second position being achieved by rotation of the planar platform around an axis of rotation placed at an angle greater than zero to the plane of the platform, applying a centrifugal force to the platform for sufficient time to move the fluid from the first chamber to the second chamber, stopping the application of centrifugal force, thereafter positioning the open channel flow device in a third position such that the fluid in the second chamber will move by centrifugal force from the second chamber to the third chamber, and applying a centrifugal force for sufficient time to move the fluid from the second chamber to the third chamber, the third position being achieved by rotation of the planar platform around an axis of rotation placed at an angle greater than zero to the plane of the platform.
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Abstract
The invention provides a method for moving a fluid sample within an open channel flow device by centrifugal force and specially adapted apparatus for practicing the method of the invention. The inventive method is a mechanically simple method for moving a fluid in a platform by changing the orientation of a platform relative to the direction of applied forces when the centrifuge rotor is at rest in order to move a fluid sequentially through a plurality of chambers, wherein movement of the fluid is controlled by the location or size of the passages connecting chambers relative to the direction of forces acting on the fluid.
46 Citations
33 Claims
- 1. A method for moving a fluid sample within an open channel flow device by centrifugal force which comprises providing a planar platform having a plurality of chambers, having a first chamber with a plane, a fluid passage in the plane of the plurality of chambers, each fluid passage having a first and a second end, the first end in fluid communication with the first chamber a second chamber in fluid communication with the second end of the fluid passage, and a second fluid passage in the plane of the plurality of chambers having a first and a second end the first end in fluid communication with the second chamber and a third chamber in fluid communication with the second end of the second fluid passage, the position or shape of each fluid passage creating a flow restricting action in a first position and a flow enhancing action in a second position by reorientation of the platform while connecting the first second and third chambers to enable sequential movement of a fluid from the first chamber to the second chamber in a first orientation of the platform such that centrifugal force is applied in a flow enhancing direction to move fluid through the first passage from the first chamber to the second chamber and following a change in orientation of the platform to enable further movement of the fluid from the second chamber to the third chamber, placing the open channel flow device in a centrifuge, positioning the open channel flow device such that a fluid placed in the first chamber will not move by centrifugal force from the first chamber to the second chamber when the open channel flow device is a first position stopping the application of centrifugal force and thereafter positioning the open channel flow device in a second position wherein fluid moves from the first chamber to the second chamber during operation of the centrifuge, the second position being achieved by rotation of the planar platform around an axis of rotation placed at an angle greater than zero to the plane of the platform, applying a centrifugal force to the platform for sufficient time to move the fluid from the first chamber to the second chamber, stopping the application of centrifugal force, thereafter positioning the open channel flow device in a third position such that the fluid in the second chamber will move by centrifugal force from the second chamber to the third chamber, and applying a centrifugal force for sufficient time to move the fluid from the second chamber to the third chamber, the third position being achieved by rotation of the planar platform around an axis of rotation placed at an angle greater than zero to the plane of the platform.
- 12. A valve-less fluidic device comprising a centrifuge rotor having mounted there on a platform having a first chamber, a second chamber and a third chamber within a plane, a plurality of fluid passages in same plane as two of the chambers the first, second and third chamber and second chambers, each fluid passage having a first end and a second end, a first fluid passage having the first end in fluid communication with the first chamber and the second end in fluid communication with the second chamber and a second fluid passage being positioned and shaped such that fluid communication is established between the first and second chambers when the platform is placed in a first orientation to the direction of applied centrifugal force and prevents fluid flow when the platform is rotated around its axis at an angle greater than zero to the plane of the fluid passage, to a second position wherein fluid does not flow through the passage when centrifugal force is applied to the platform, and a second fluid passageway having a first end in fluid communication with the second chamber and the second end in fluid communication with the third chamber such that fluid communication is established between the second and third chambers when the platform is placed in a second orientation to the direction of applied centrifugal force and prevents fluid flow form the second chamber to the first chamber when the platform is rotated around its axis at an angle greater than zero to the plane of the fluid passage when centrifugal force is applied to the platform, the device comprising positioning means for fixing the platform in a plurality of positions and means for moving the platform from a first fixed position to a second fixed position when the rotor is at rest, such that changing the orientation of the platform is conducted in the absence of applied centrifugal force.
- 23. A centrifuge for applying centrifugal force to a device comprising a rotor adapted to house a valve free device comprising a platform having at least three chambers within a plane, at least two fluid passages in same plane as at least two of the chambers each fluid passage having a first end and a second end, the first end being in fluid communication with a first chamber, and the second end of the fluid passage being in fluid communication with a second chamber each fluid passage being positioned and shaped such the fluid communication is established between the first and second chambers when the platform is placed in a first orientation to the direction of applied centrifugal force and preventing fluid communication when the platform is rotated around its axis at an angle greater than zero to the plane of the fluid passage to a second position wherein fluid does not flow through the passage when centrifugal force is applied to the platform, and means to stop the rotor, means to reposition the platform by rotating the platform from a first position to a second position when the rotor is at rest.
Specification