Pneumatic valve interface for use in microfluidic structures

• US 20050205816A1
• Filed: 10/06/2004
• Published: 09/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: PerkinElmer Health Sciences, Inc. (Revvity, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Micronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Hayenga, Jon W., Weigl, Bernhard H., Saltsman, Patrick
• Application Number:
  US10/960,890
• Publication Number:
  US 20050205816A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 251/61.100
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/14 Dialysis systems; Artificial kidneys; Blood oxygenators semi-permeable membranes characterised by the material, manufacturing processes therefor B01D71/00; Reciprocating systems for treatment of body fluids, e.g. single needle systems for hemofiltration or pheresis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2206/11 Laminar flow
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 21/0012 Settling tanks making use of filters, e.g. by floating layers of particulate material
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 21/283 Settling tanks provided with vibrators
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/027 for microfluidic devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/028 Modular arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0636 Focussing flows, e.g. to laminate flows
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0647 Handling flowable solids, e.g. microscopic beads, cells, particles
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0668 Trapping microscopic beads
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0829 Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0861 Configuration of multiple channels and/or chambers in a single devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0874 Three dimensional network
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0883 Serpentine channels
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0406 capillary forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0436 acoustic forces, e.g. surface acoustic waves [SAW]
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0457 passive flow or gravitation
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0487 fluid pressure, pneumatics
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/084 Passive control of flow resistance
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5027 by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip B01L3/5023 takes precedence; micromixers B01F33/30; microreactors for synthesis B01J19/0093; microcapillary devices in general B81B1/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502707 characterised by the manufacture of the container or its components by shaping or joining plastic parts B29C59/00, B29C65/00; by laminating B32B37/00; manufacture of microstructural devices in general B81C
• 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 3/502746 : characterised by the means for controlling flow resistance, e.g. flow controllers, baffles B01L3/502738 takes precedence
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502761 : specially adapted for handling suspended solids or molecules independently from the bulk fluid flow, e.g. for trapping or sorting beads, for physically stretching molecules investigating characteristics of particles G01N15/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502776 : specially adapted for focusing or laminating flows
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 2099/008 : Multi-layer fabrications
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 2099/0084 : Chemistry or biology, e.g. "lab-on-a-chip" technology
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 7/17 : the diaphragm being actuated by fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0001 : Microvalves microdevices B81B1/00; manufacture or treatment of devices or systems in or on a substrate B81C1/00; microfluidic structures B01L3/5027; micropumps F04B19/006
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0015 : Diaphragm or membrane valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0025 : Valves using microporous membranes
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0059 : actuated by a pilot fluid
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/0255 : with mechanical, e.g. inertial, classification, and investigation of sorted collections with centrifuges G01N15/042
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/05 : in blood
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/1456 : without spatial resolution of the texture or inner structure of the particle, e.g. processing of pulse signals
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/4016 : being a selective membrane, e.g. dialysis or osmosis
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/4061 : Solvent extraction
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/4094 : using ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/0288 : Sorting the particles
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/1411 : Features of sheath fluids
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/1413 : Hydrodynamic focussing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/144 : Imaging characterised by its optical setup
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/1486 : Counting the particles
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00247 : Microvalves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25375 : Liberation or purification of sample or separation of material from a sample [e.g., filtering, centrifuging, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 : Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

A pneumatic valve for use in laminated plastic microfluidic structures. This zero or low dead volume valve allows flow through microfluidic channels for use in mixing, dilution, particulate suspension and other techniques necessary for flow control in analytical devices.

Claims

1. A device for controlling flow in microfluidic devices comprising:

a first substrate having at least one microfluidic structure manufactured therein;

a first flexible sheet placed on top of at least a portion of said microfluidic structure; and

means for creating a pressure differential onto said first flexible sheet such that a portion of said sheet moves in relationship to said microfluidic structure wherein the cross-section of said microfluidic structure is altered at least in one dimension such that the fluid resistance in said microfluidic structure is altered.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising a second microfluidic structure on the opposite side of said first flexible sheet for transmitting pressure through air or fluid flow onto a specific location of said first flexible sheet such that a portion of said sheet moves in relationship to said microfluidic structure such that the cross-section of said microfluidic structure is altered at least in one dimension such that the fluid resistance in said microfluidic structure is altered.

3. A device for controlling flow in microfluidic devices, comprising:

a first substrate having at least one microfluidic structure manufactured therein;

a first flexible sheet placed on top of a at least a portion of said microfluidic structure; and

means for creating pressure onto multiple, individually addressable locations on said first flexible sheet such that one or more potions of said sheet move in relationship to said microfluidic structure such that the cross-section of said microfluidic structure is altered at least in one dimension in one or more locations such that the fluid resistance in said microfluidic structure is altered in one or more locations such that fluid flow through said microfluidic structure can be directed or altered.