Bioreactor for selectively controlling the molecular diffusion between fluids
First Claim
1. A diffusion controlling bioreactor that selectively controls the molecular diffusion between a first fluid and a second fluid, comprising:
- a reaction reservoir having at least one reaction reservoir sidewall thereby defining a reaction reservoir volume, wherein the reaction reservoir initially contains the first fluid;
a microchannel in fluid communication with the reaction reservoir, having a proximal end with a proximal end opening, a distal end with a distal end opening, a length, at least one microchannel sidewall defining a cross-sectional area, wherein the length and cross-sectional area are selected to obtain a predetermined rate of molecular diffusion between the first fluid and the second fluid, and wherein the microchannel is configured such when the microchannel is filled with the second fluid, and the second fluid is a liquid, that flow of the second fluid through the microchannel is laminar and the capillary action of the microchannel and the second fluid is such that the second fluid does not flow into the reaction reservoir unless the pressure of the second fluid is increased by an external source.
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Abstract
A diffusion controlling bioreactor that selectively controls the molecular diffusion between fluids through a microchannel in fluid communication with a reaction reservoir. The length and cross-sectional area are selected to obtain a predetermined rate of molecular diffusion between fluids. When the fluids are liquids, flow through the microchannel is laminar and the capillary action of the microchannel and fluid is such that the fluid does not flow into the reaction reservoir unless the pressure of the fluid is increased by an external source, thereby minimizing contamination of the bioreactor. The instant invention may also utilize at least one microchannel and reagent reservoir to regulate, rather than prevent, the passage of various molecules into the bioreactor. A pressure equalizing vent operating on similar principles to the microchannel may have a structure configured to minimize the chances of fluid leakage from the bioreactor, even if the bioreactor is turned in various directions.
89 Citations
37 Claims
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1. A diffusion controlling bioreactor that selectively controls the molecular diffusion between a first fluid and a second fluid, comprising:
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a reaction reservoir having at least one reaction reservoir sidewall thereby defining a reaction reservoir volume, wherein the reaction reservoir initially contains the first fluid;
a microchannel in fluid communication with the reaction reservoir, having a proximal end with a proximal end opening, a distal end with a distal end opening, a length, at least one microchannel sidewall defining a cross-sectional area, wherein the length and cross-sectional area are selected to obtain a predetermined rate of molecular diffusion between the first fluid and the second fluid, and wherein the microchannel is configured such when the microchannel is filled with the second fluid, and the second fluid is a liquid, that flow of the second fluid through the microchannel is laminar and the capillary action of the microchannel and the second fluid is such that the second fluid does not flow into the reaction reservoir unless the pressure of the second fluid is increased by an external source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A diffusion controlling bioreactor that selectively controls the molecular diffusion between a first fluid, a second fluid, and a third fluid, comprising:
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a reaction reservoir having at least one reaction reservoir sidewall thereby defining a reaction reservoir volume, wherein the reaction reservoir initially contains the first fluid;
a microchannel in fluid communication with the reaction reservoir, having a proximal end with a proximal end opening, a distal end with a distal end opening, a length, at least one microchannel sidewall, having a sidewall thickness, and defining a cross-sectional area, wherein the length and cross-sectional area are selected to obtain a predetermined rate of molecular diffusion between the first fluid and the second fluid, and wherein the microchannel is configured such when the microchannel is filled with the second fluid, and the second fluid is a liquid, that flow of the second fluid through the microchannel is laminar and the capillary action of the microchannel and the second fluid is such that the second fluid does not flow into the reaction reservoir unless the pressure of the second fluid is increased by an external source; and
a pressure equalizing vent in fluid communication with the reaction reservoir and a fluidic external environment, wherein the pressure equalizing vent is capable of equalizing pressure within the reaction reservoir with that of the external environment, wherein the pressure equalization vent has a distal end with a distal end opening in communication with the external environment, a length, at least one sidewall, having a sidewall thickness, and defining a cross-sectional area, and a proximal end with a proximal end opening in communication with the reaction reservoir, and wherein the pressure equalizing vent is configured such that when it is filled with a third fluid, and the third fluid is a liquid, that flow of the third fluid through the pressure equalizing vent is laminar and the capillary action of the pressure equalizing vent and the third fluid is such that the third fluid does not flow out of the distal end opening unless the pressure of the third fluid is increased by an external source. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A diffusion controlling bioreactor that selectively controls the molecular diffusion between a first fluid, a second fluid, and a third fluid, comprising:
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a reaction reservoir having at least one reaction reservoir sidewall thereby defining a reaction reservoir volume, wherein the reaction reservoir initially contains the first fluid;
a first microchannel in fluid communication with the reaction reservoir, having a proximal end with a proximal end opening, a distal end with a distal end opening, a length, at least one first microchannel sidewall, having a sidewall thickness, and defining a cross-sectional area, wherein the length and cross-sectional area are selected to obtain a predetermined rate of molecular diffusion between the first fluid and the second fluid, and wherein the first microchannel is configured such when the first microchannel is filled with the second fluid, and the second fluid is a liquid, that flow of the second fluid through the first microchannel is laminar and the capillary action of the first microchannel and the second fluid is such that the second fluid does not flow into the reaction reservoir unless the pressure of the second fluid is increased by an external source; and
a second microchannel in fluid communication with the reaction reservoir, having a proximal end with a proximal end opening, a distal end with a distal end opening, further including a reagent reservoir at the distal end of the second microchannel and in fluid communication with both the second microchannel and the reaction reservoir, wherein the reagent reservoir has at least one reagent reservoir sidewall thereby defining reagent reservoir volume and a reagent reservoir opening through which the third fluid enters the reagent reservoir, a length, at least one second microchannel sidewall, having a sidewall thickness, and defining a cross-sectional area, wherein the length and cross-sectional area are selected to obtain a predetermined rate of molecular diffusion between the first fluid and the third fluid, and wherein the second microchannel is configured such when the second microchannel is filled with the third fluid, and the third fluid is a liquid, that flow of the third fluid through the second microchannel is laminar and the capillary action of the second microchannel and the third fluid is such that the third fluid does not flow into the reaction reservoir unless the pressure of the third fluid is increased by an external source. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification