Method of producing a microfluidic device

• US 20060096691A1
• Filed: 07/11/2003
• Published: 05/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cranfield University
• Original Assignee: Cranfield University
• Inventors: Piletsky, Sergey A., Bossi, Alessandra, Francis, Anthony Peter, Imiriyna, Olena Volod
• Application Number:
  US10/520,656
• Publication Number:
  US 20060096691A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 156/73.1
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/147 Employing temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/165 Specific details about hydrophobic, oleophobic surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/18 Means for temperature control
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0415 electrical forces, e.g. electrokinetic
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0472 Diffusion
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0487 fluid pressure, pneumatics
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0677 phase change valves; Meltable, freezing, dissolvable plugs; Destructible barriers
• 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: B81B 2201/058 Microfluidics not provided for in B81B2201/051 - B81B2201/054
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 2203/0338 Channels
• CPC Class Codes: B81C 1/00119 Arrangement of basic structures like cavities or channels, e.g. suitable for microfluidic systems
• CPC Class Codes: B81C 2201/0143 Focussed beam, i.e. laser, ion or e-beam
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

The present invention provides a microfluidic device comprising a body structure which comprises a fusible material. Selective application of energy (e.g. scanning radiation) produces and maintains a network of microchannels by fusing the material. There may be pons in fluid communication with one or more channels. The subject devices find use in a variety of electrophoretic applications, including clinical assays, high throughput screening for genomics, proteomics and pharmaceutical applications, point-of-care in vitro diagnostics, molecular genetic analysis and nucleic acid diagnostics, cell separations, and bioresearch generally.

Claims

1. A method of producing a microfluidic device comprising (a) providing a body comprising fusible material;

and (b) selectively applying energy so that a portion of the fusible material melts, thereby creating one or more microchannels in the body.

2. A microfluidic method comprising (i) producing a microfluidic device by the method of claim 1;

and (ii) passing an analyte material into a said microchannel.

3. A method according to claim 2 in which energy is also selectively applied during step (ii) to maintain and/or to alter the microchannel(s).

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein said body comprises a casing of material that is not fusible is use, and fusible material within said casing.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein there are electrodes projecting into the body.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein said selective application of energy is effected by the application of a beam of radiation or particles and/or by the application of a voltage.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein the fusible material is ice, optionally containing a dissolved electrolyte.

8. A method according to claim 1 wherein the body contains one or more cavities, optionally produced by said selective application of energy, communicating with one or more of said microchannels to function as reservoirs.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein the device is provided with one or more detection windows and/or detection devices.

10. A method according to claim 1 wherein the device includes means for use in said selective application of energy.