Flow modulation devices

• US 20060002817A1
• 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:
  US10/883,585
• Publication Number:
  US 20060002817A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/57
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/12 Specific details about manufacturing devices
• 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 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

Devices and kits for modulating the flow of a liquid are provided.

Claims

1. A device comprising a flow modulation pathway having a hydrophobic region in contact with a capillary passage comprising at least one stepped-down junction.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said capillary passage is formed by a first substrate and a second substrate.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said capillary pathway is formed by a trench in at least one of said substrates.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein said capillary passage is formed by wall forming members present between said first and second substrates.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein said wall forming members are adhesive.

6. The device of claim 2, wherein said hydrophobic region is present on a surface of at least one of said substrates.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein said hydrophobic region is present on a surface of only one of said substrates.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the width of said hydrophobic region is at least as great as the width of said capillary passage.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein said width of said hydrophobic region is greater than the width of said capillary passage.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the length of said hydrophobic region is at least as great as the length of said capillary passage.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein said length of said hydrophobic region is greater than the length of said capillary passage.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein said hydrophobic region is a hydrophobic ink.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein said capillary passage is positioned between a liquid inlet channel and a liquid outlet channel.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the depth of at least one of said inlet channel and said outlet channel is greater than the depth of said capillary passage.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein the depth of at least one of said inlet channel and said outlet channel is at least twice as great as the depth of said capillary passage.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein said depth of said capillary passage ranges from about 5 microns to about 500 microns.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one stepped-down junction is present between said capillary passage and said liquid outlet channel.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one stepped-down junction comprises sharp edges.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein said sharp edges comprise angles less than about 90 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of said capillary passage.

20. The device of claim 1, further comprising a reaction chamber for determining at least one of:

the presence of an analyte in a liquid applied to said device and the concentration of an analyte in a liquid applied to said device.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein said reaction chamber is an electrochemical cell.

22. The device of claim 20, wherein said reaction chamber is an optical chamber.

23. A device comprising a flow modulation pathway having a hydrophobic region in contact with a capillary passage having a fluid inlet end and a fluid outlet end, wherein said fluid inlet end comprises sharp edges.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein said sharp edges comprise angles less than about 90 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of said capillary passage.

25. The device of claim 23, wherein said capillary passage is formed by a first substrate and a second substrate.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein said capillary pathway is formed by a trench in at least one of said substrates.

27. The device of claim 25, wherein said capillary passage is formed by wall forming members present between said first and second substrates.

28. The device of claim 27, wherein said wall forming members are adhesive.

29. The device of claim 23, wherein said hydrophobic region is present on a surface of at least one of said substrates.

30. The device of claim 23, wherein the width of said hydrophobic region is at least as great as the width of said capillary passage.

31. The device of claim 30, wherein said width of said hydrophobic region is greater than the width of said capillary passage.

32. The device of claim 23, wherein the length of said hydrophobic region is at least as great as the length of said capillary passage.

33. The device of claim 23, wherein said capillary passage comprises at least one stepped-down junction.

34. The device of claim 23, further comprising a reaction chamber for determining at least one of:

the presence of an analyte in a liquid applied to said device and the concentration of an analyte in a liquid applied to said device.

35. A device comprising a flow modulation pathway having a first hydrophobic region in contact with a first capillary passage comprising a first stepped-down junction and a second hydrophobic region in contact with a second capillary passage comprising a second stepped-down junction.

36. A kit comprising:

a device comprising a flow modulation pathway having a hydrophobic region in contact with a capillary passage comprising at least one stepped-down junction; and

instructions for using said device to modulate the flow of a liquid.