Microfluidic system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A microfluidic system, comprising:
- a loading component comprising at least one microchannel, wherein the loading component is suitable for forming an array of plugs, wherein each plug comprises a plug fluid and wherein each plug is separated another plug by a carrier and/or spacer that is immiscible with the plug fluid; and
at least one detachable holding component comprising at least one microchannel that is configured to make a fluid connection with the holding component;
wherein when the holding component is loaded with the array of plugs and is detached from the loading component, the plugs do not immediately merge or mix.
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Abstract
The present invention provides microfluidic technology enabling rapid and economical manipulation of reactions on the femtoliter to microliter scale.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A microfluidic system, comprising:
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a loading component comprising at least one microchannel, wherein the loading component is suitable for forming an array of plugs, wherein each plug comprises a plug fluid and wherein each plug is separated another plug by a carrier and/or spacer that is immiscible with the plug fluid; and
at least one detachable holding component comprising at least one microchannel that is configured to make a fluid connection with the holding component;
wherein when the holding component is loaded with the array of plugs and is detached from the loading component, the plugs do not immediately merge or mix. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A kit, comprising:
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a holding component comprising a first microchannel with at least one open end, wherein at least one open end is configured for making a fluid connection with another microchannel; and
one or more linear arrays of plugs of plug fluid disposed within the first microchannel of the holding component, wherein each plug is separated from another by either a carrier and/or a spacer, wherein the carrier and the spacer are immiscible with the plug fluid and with each other, and wherein the microchannel is wetted by carrier. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A combining component, comprising:
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a first microchannel with an inlet and an outlet, a second microchannel with a reagent inlet and one or more delivery channels in fluid communication with the first microchannel, wherein the delivery channels have substantially similar fluidic resistance.
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14. A microfluidic system, comprising:
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at least one carrier fluid which comprises a fluorine-containing molecule;
one or more plugs of plug fluid separated by the carrier fluid, wherein the plug fluid is immiscible with the carrier; and
a surfactant that is substantially insoluble in the plug fluid and soluble in the carrier fluid.
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15. A microfluidic system, comprising:
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a holding component comprising at least one microchannel, wherein the holding component is suitable for storing and transporting an array of plugs comprising plugs of a plug fluid that are separated from one another by a carrier that is immiscible with the plug fluid; and
a combining component comprising (a) a first microchannel with an inlet and an outlet and (b) a second microchannel with a reagent inlet and one or more delivery channels in fluid communication with the first microchannel, wherein the delivery channels have substantially similar fluidic resistance;
wherein the holding component is detachable from the combining component.
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16. A method comprising:
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(a) introducing a linear array of plugs of a first plug fluid into a first microchannel within a microfluidic device with a first flow rate, wherein plugs of the first plug fluid are separated from each other either by a first carrier and/or by a spacer, and wherein the carrier and the spacer are immiscible with the plug fluid and with each other;
(b) introducing a stream of second plug fluid into a second microchannel within the microfluidic device with a second flow rate, wherein in the first and second microchannels are in fluid communication with each other; and
(c) merging at least one plug of first plug fluid with at least some second plug fluid to form a merged plug, wherein said merging occurs at one or more intersections of the first and second microchannels.
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17. A method comprising the steps of:
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offering an inventory of reagents, carrier and plug fluids;
receiving from the customer a desired subset of reagents, a carrier and plug fluids, and delivering a holding component to the customer that contains an array of plugs of plug fluids separated from each other with a carrier and/or spacer, wherein the carrier and the spacer are immiscible with the plug fluid and with each other, and where each plug contains an element of the desired subset of reagents.
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18. A kit comprising:
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a receiving component comprising a receiving microchannel with at least one open end, wherein the open end is configured for making a fluid connection with another microchannel and for receiving a linear array of fluid plugs; and
a measuring device for identifying the placement of a fluid plug within the first microchannel.
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19. A kit comprising:
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a combining component comprising (a) a first microchannel with an inlet and an outlet and (b) a second microchannel with a reagent inlet and one or more delivery channels in fluid communication with the first microchannel, wherein the delivery channels have substantially similar fluidic resistance; and
a pump.
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20. A receiving component comprising a first microchannel with at least one open end, wherein the open end is configured for making a fluid connection with another microchannel and wherein the first microchannel contains one or more physical marks for identifying the placement of a plug within the microchannel.
Specification