Fluidic circuits for sample preparation including bio-discs and methods relating thereto

• US 20050047968A1
• Filed: 06/18/2004
• Published: 03/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nagaoka & Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nagaoka & Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Norton, James R., Kido, Horacio, Coombs, James H.
• Application Number:
  US10/871,203
• Publication Number:
  US 20050047968A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/100
• 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 2300/0864 comprising only one inlet and multiple receiving wells, e.g. for separation, splitting
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0406 capillary forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0409 centrifugal forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0487 fluid pressure, pneumatics
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0688 surface tension valves, capillary stop, capillary break
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0694 vents used to stop and induce flow, backpressure valves
• 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: B01L 3/502738 characterised by integrated valves microvalves F16K99/0001
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502753 characterised by bulk separation arrangements on lab-on-a-chip devices, e.g. for filtration or centrifugation separation in general B01D; microapparatus for analysis using electrophoresis G01N27/44791; sample preparation G01N1/28

Abstract

A fluidic circuit for receiving a fluid and separating a component of a fluid from the fluid comprises a separation chamber for receiving the fluid, an air chamber in fluid communication with the separation chamber, and a return channel in fluid communication with the separation chamber. In an advantageous embodiment, the fluidic circuit is subjected to a force, such as a centrifugal force, so that substantially all of the component of the fluid is moved to the return channel while substantially all remaining portions of the fluid are moved to the separation chamber.

Claims

1. A fluidic circuit for receiving a fluid and separating therefrom a component of the fluid, the fluidic circuit comprising:

a separation chamber for receiving the fluid;

an air chamber in fluid communication with the separation chamber; and

a return channel in fluid communication with the separation chamber, wherein the fluidic circuit is configured to be subjected to a force such that substantially all of the component of the fluid is moved to the return channel while substantially all remaining portions of the fluid are moved to the separation chamber.

2. The fluidic circuit of claim 1, wherein the fluid is blood and the component of the fluid is serum.

3. The fluidic circuit of claim 1, wherein the fluidic circuit is disposed on a circular disc.

4. A fluidic circuit comprising:

a separation chamber for receiving a fluid for processing, the separation chamber including an inlet port;

an air chamber in fluid communication with the separation chamber, the air chamber including a compressible volume of air; and

a return channel in fluid communication with the separation chamber, wherein, when the fluidic circuit is rotated about an axis the fluid compresses the volume of air in the air chamber.

5. The fluidic circuit according to claim 4 wherein after discontinuing rotation of the fluidic circuit, the compressed volume of air directs the fluid into the return channel.

6. An optical analysis disc including the fluidic circuit recited in claim 4.

7. A microfluidic circuit comprising:

a loading chamber for receiving a fluid sample;

a return channel having a first end and a second end, each of the first and second ends in fluid communication with the loading chamber; and

an inlet port positioned proximate to the first end and the loading chamber.

8. The microfluidic circuit of claim 7, wherein when the fluid sample is loaded through the inlet port, a first amount of the fluid sample enters the first end and a second amount of the fluid sample enters the second end of the return channel to thereby create an air lock within the return channel.

9. The microfluidic circuit of claim 7, wherein when the microfluidic circuit is rotated, the first amount of fluid sample in the first end of the return channel moves into the loading chamber to thereby eliminate the air lock.

10. The microfluidic circuit of claim 9, wherein when rotation is discontinued, the fluid sample enters the return channel through the second end of the return channel by capillary action.

11. The microfluidic circuit of claim 9, wherein when rotation is discontinued, the fluid sample enters the return channel through the first end of the return channel by capillary action.

12. A fluidic circuit comprising:

a loading chamber for receiving a fluid sample;

a return channel having a first end and a second end, each of the first and second ends in fluid communication with the loading chamber; and

an inlet port positioned proximate to the first end and the loading chamber.

13. The fluidic circuit of claim 12 wherein after the fluid sample is loaded through the inlet port, a first amount of the fluid sample enters the first end and a second amount of the fluid sample enters the second end of the return channel to thereby create an air lock within the return channel.

14. The fluidic circuit of claim 13 wherein when the fluidic circuit is rotated, the first amount of fluid sample in the first end of the return channel moves into the loading chamber to thereby eliminate the air lock.

15. An optical disc for processing and analyzing a fluid, comprising:

a substantially circular substrate having a center and an outer edge;

a cap portion; and

a fluidic channel positioned between the substrate and the cap, the fluidic channel including one or more microfluidic circuits, the one or more microfluidic circuits comprising;

a loading chamber for receiving a fluid sample;

a return channel having a first end and a second end, each of the first and second ends in fluid communication with the loading chamber, the first end located proximal to the center, and the second end located further from the center than the first end; and

an inlet port formed in the cap portion and positioned proximate to the first end and the loading chamber.

16. The optical disc of claim 15 wherein after the fluid sample is loaded through the inlet port, a first amount of the fluid sample enters the first end and a second amount of the fluid sample enters the second end of the return channel to thereby create an air lock within the return channel.

17. The optical disc of claim 15, wherein when the optical disc is rotated, the first amount of fluid sample in the first end of the return channel moves into the loading chamber to thereby eliminate the air lock.

18. The optical disc of claim 17, wherein when the rotation of the optical disc is discontinued, the fluid sample enters the return channel through the second end of the return channel by capillary action.