Microfluidic cell and method for sample handling
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a microfluidic cell and method for sample handling, and more particularly a cell (1) with a one-dimensional or two-dimensional array of ultrasonic transmitters (2) or resonance cavities for trapping biologically activated microbeads and passing fluids carrying samples interacting with the microbeads for detection and analysis. The invention allows for individual loading of the positions in the cell and individual detection steps enabling multistep biological assays to be performed on submicrolitre volumes. The invention also relates to an apparatus and method for blood plasma analysis incorporating such a microfluidic cell.
31 Citations
129 Claims
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1-51. -51. (canceled)
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52. A microfluidic cell having an inlet and an outlet for fluid flow through a channel, comprising an array of ultrasonic transmitter units arranged at separate positions between the inlet and the outlet, each ultrasonic transmitter unit capable of being independently controlled to create an acoustic ultrasonic radiation pressure;
- and a control unit for controlling the operation of the array and adapted to activate selected transmitter units to create an acoustic radiation pressure at selected transmitter unit positions; and
in that the channel height is of the same order as the ultrasonic wavelength of the fluid. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 60, 61, 62, 63, 65, 67, 68, 83, 86, 89, 92, 94, 95, 127)
- and a control unit for controlling the operation of the array and adapted to activate selected transmitter units to create an acoustic radiation pressure at selected transmitter unit positions; and
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56. A microfluidic cell having inlets and outlets for fluid flow through channels, comprising a first inlet side with inlets for fluid flow in a first direction towards outlets at a first outlet side, a second inlet side with inlets for fluid flow in a second direction towards outlets at a second outlet side, the first direction being essentially orthogonal to the second direction;
- an array of ultrasonic transmitter units arranged at separate positions between the inlet and the outlet sides, each ultrasonic transmitter unit capable of being independently controlled to create an acoustic ultrasonic radiation pressure; and
a control unit for controlling the operation of the array and adapted to activate selected transmitter units to create an acoustic radiation pressure at selected transmitter unit positions; and
in that the channel height is of the same order as the ultrasonic wavelength of the fluid. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58, 59, 64, 66, 69, 84, 87, 90, 128)
- an array of ultrasonic transmitter units arranged at separate positions between the inlet and the outlet sides, each ultrasonic transmitter unit capable of being independently controlled to create an acoustic ultrasonic radiation pressure; and
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70. A microfluidic cell having inlets and outlets for fluid flow through channels, comprising a first inlet side with inlets for fluid flow in a first direction towards outlets at a first outlet side, a second inlet side with inlets for fluid flow in a second direction towards outlets at a second outlet side, the first direction crossing the second direction;
- a number of separate acoustic radiation pressure trapping positions between the inlet and outlet sides; and
at least one ultrasonic transmitter unit arranged to create an acoustic radiation pressure at at least one trapping position; and
in that the channel height is of the same order as the ultrasonic wavelength of the fluid. - View Dependent Claims (71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 85, 88, 91, 93, 96, 97, 129)
- a number of separate acoustic radiation pressure trapping positions between the inlet and outlet sides; and
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98. A method for sample handling using a microfluidic cell having an inlet and an outlet for fluid flow through a channel, an array of ultrasonic transmitter units arranged at separate positions between the inlet and the outlet;
- and a control unit for controlling the operation of the array and adapted to activate the transmitter units to create an acoustic radiation pressure at selected transmitter unit positions, comprising the steps of;
loading the cell with active material;
passing fluid carrying a sample to be analyzed through the channel;
letting the sample interact with the active material. - View Dependent Claims (99, 100, 101, 112, 114, 116)
- and a control unit for controlling the operation of the array and adapted to activate the transmitter units to create an acoustic radiation pressure at selected transmitter unit positions, comprising the steps of;
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102. A method for sample handling a microfluidic cell having inlets and outlets for fluid flow through channels, with a first inlet side with inlets for fluid flow in a first direction towards outlets at a first outlet side, a second inlet side with inlets for fluid flow in a second direction towards outlets at a second outlet side, the first direction being essentially orthogonal to the second direction;
- an array of ultrasonic transmitter units arranged at separate positions between the inlet and the outlet sides; and
a control unit for controlling the operation of the array and adapted to activate the transmitter units to create an acoustic radiation pressure at selected transmitter unit positions, comprising the steps of;
loading the cell with active material in the first direction;
passing fluid carrying a sample to be analyzed through the channels in the second direction;
letting the sample interact with the active material. - View Dependent Claims (103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 113, 115, 117)
- an array of ultrasonic transmitter units arranged at separate positions between the inlet and the outlet sides; and
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118. A method for sample handling using a microfluidic cell having inlets and outlets for fluid flow through channels, with a first inlet side with inlets for fluid flow in a first direction towards outlets at a first outlet side, a second inlet side with inlets for fluid flow in a second direction towards outlets at a second outlet side, the first direction crossing the second direction;
- a number of separate acoustic radiation pressure trapping positions between the inlet and the outlet sides; and
at least one ultrasonic transmitter unit arranged to create an acoustic radiation pressure at at least one trapping position comprising the steps of;
loading the cell with active materials in the first direction;
passing fluid carrying a sample to be analyzed through the channels in the second direction;
letting the sample interact with the active material. - View Dependent Claims (119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126)
- a number of separate acoustic radiation pressure trapping positions between the inlet and the outlet sides; and
Specification