Methods for modulation of flow in a flow pathway

• US 20060000709A1
• Filed: 06/30/2004
• Published: 01/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: LifeScan Scotland Limited (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: LifeScan Scotland Limited (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Bohm, Sebastian, McNeilage, Alan Watson
• Application Number:
  US10/882,647
• Publication Number:
  US 20060000709A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 204/403.10
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0645 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0406 capillary 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 3/502738 characterised by integrated valves microvalves F16K99/0001
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 2099/0074 using photolithography, e.g. etching
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 2099/0078 using moulding or stamping
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 2099/0084 Chemistry or biology, e.g. "lab-on-a-chip" technology
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 2099/0086 Medical applications
• 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 99/0017 Capillary or surface tension valves, e.g. using electro-wetting or electro-capillarity effects

Abstract

Methods for modulating the flow of a liquid are provided.

Claims

1. A method of modulating liquid flow in flow pathway, said method comprising:

introducing liquid to a flow modulation pathway having a hydrophobic region in contact with a capillary passage comprising at least one stepped-down junction, whereby said liquid is stopped in an area of said pathway that includes said hydrophobic region and said at least one stepped-down junction.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said liquid is stopped at said at least one stepped-down junction.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said stepped-down junction further includes sharp edges.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said liquid is a biological fluid.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said biological fluid is whole blood, serum, plasma or interstitial fluid.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said method further comprising providing a pressure to said stopped liquid to initiate flow.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said pressure ranges from about 20 mbar to about 40 mBar.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said method further comprises processing said liquid in said device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said processing comprises an analyte determination assay.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said analyte determination assay is for determining at least one of:

the presence of an analyte in said liquid and the concentration of an analyte in said liquid.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said analyte is glucose.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein said analyte determination is accomplished electrochemically.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein said analyte determination is accomplished optically.

18. The method according to claim 4, wherein said measuring comprises detecting an electrical signal that can be related to the concentration of said analyte in said liquid.

14. A method for measuring the concentration of an analyte in a liquid, said method comprising:

stopping the flow of said liquid at a stepped-down junction of a hydrophobic-region containing capillary passage; and

measuring the concentration of said analyte in said stopped liquid.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said liquid is a biological fluid.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein said analyte is glucose.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein said measuring comprises detecting a color that can be related to the concentration of said analyte in said liquid.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein said method further comprising providing a pressure to said stopped liquid to initiate flow.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said pressure ranges from about 20 mBar to about 40 mBar.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising stopping the flow of said liquid at a stepped-down junction of a different hydrophobic-region containing capillary passage;

and

measuring the concentration of an analyte in said stopped liquid.

22. A method for modulating a flow of a liquid, said method comprising:

introducing liquid to a flow pathway comprising a first flow modulation region having a first hydrophobic region in contact with a first capillary passage comprising a first stepped-down junction, and a second flow modulation region serially connected to said first flow modulation region and having a second hydrophobic region in contact with a second capillary passage comprising a second stepped-down junction, whereby said liquid is stopped at said first flow modulation region; and

providing a pressure sufficient to said stopped liquid to overcome a burst pressure of said first modulation region, to initiate flow of said stopped liquid, whereby said liquid is stopped at said second flow modulation region.