Chip with cleaning cavity

• US 20060202330A1
• Filed: 12/29/2005
• Published: 09/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Reinhardt, Thomas, Baeuerle, Martin
• Application Number:
  US11/321,121
• Publication Number:
  US 20060202330A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 257/737
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 13/02 for receptacle or instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/141 Preventing contamination, tampering
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/045 whereby the whole cover is slidable
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0644 rotary valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/065 sliding valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5027 by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip B01L3/5023 takes precedence; micromixers B01F33/30; microreactors for synthesis B01J19/0093; microcapillary devices in general B81B1/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 2099/008 Multi-layer fabrications
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 2099/0084 Chemistry or biology, e.g. "lab-on-a-chip" technology
• 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 99/0013 Rotary valves

Abstract

A chip comprising at least one cleaning cavity adapted for collecting material when a moveable device is contacted to and moved relative to the chip.

Claims

1. A chip comprising at least one cleaning cavity adapted for collecting material when a moveable device is contacted to and moved relative to the chip,

wherein, in case the chip is a microfluidic chip with at least one inlet port and at least one microfluidic channel, each cleaning cavity is fluidically separated from each inlet port and each microfluidic channel.

2. The chip according to claim 1,

wherein the chip is a microfluidic chip with at least one inlet port and at least one microfluidic channel,

wherein each cleaning cavity is fluidically separated from each inlet port and each microfluidic channel.

3. The chip according to claim 1,

wherein the chip is a cleaning chip adapted for using within a separation system adapted for separating compounds of a fluid instead of a microfluidic chip comprising at least one inlet port and at least one microfluidic channel.

4. The chip according to claim 1,

wherein the cleaning cavity or at least one of several cleaning cavities comprises at least one of the following features:

the respective cleaning cavity is a through hole penetrating the chip or a recess open to a contact surface of the moveable device and not penetrating the chip;

the respective cleaning cavity is formed as a groove or as a slot or has a circular or oval cross section;

the respective cleaning cavity is manufactured within the chip using laser-cutting or jet-cutting or die-cutting or injection embossing or etching;

the respective cleaning cavity is provided at a surface of the chip.

5. The chip according to claim 1,

comprising at least one of the following features:

the chip is adapted for using within a fluid separation system adapted for separating compounds of a fluid, wherein the system is operable in a cleaning mode in which the moveable device is driven to move a contact surface of the moveable device into or through at least one position not used in a normal operation mode of the system in which normal operation mode the moveable device is driven to control at least one inlet port of a microfluidic chip comprising the at least one inlet port and at least one microfluidic channel;

the chip is flexible;

the chip is arranged within a frame adapted for inserting the frame together with the chip into a fluid separation system adapted for separating compounds of a fluid, wherein the frame preferably comprises at least one identification-tag, in particular a radio-frequency-chip;

the chip is adapted for interacting with a contact surface of the moveable device.

the material is at least one of dirt, abrasion, dust.

6. The chip according to claim 1, comprising at least one of the following features:

the moveable device is a valve comprising at least one moveable or revolving valve element comprising a contact surface to be cleaned using the chip;

the moveable device is a microfluidic valve,

the moveable device is a revolving device.

the chip is adapted for interacting with a contact surface of the moveable device.

7. A fluid separation system adapted for separating compounds of a fluid, comprising:

a fluid provider adapted for providing the fluid,

a separation unit adapted for separating compounds of the fluid,

a chip according to claim 1,

a moveable device adapted for contacting the chip and adapted for moving relative to the chip.

8. The system according to claim 7,

comprising at least one of the following features:

the moveable device is driven to move a contact surface of the moveable device into or through at least one position not used in a normal operation mode of the system in which normal operation mode the moveable device is driven to control at least one inlet port of a microfluidic chip comprising the at least one inlet port;

the system is adapted for automatically activating a cleaning mode when a frame comprising the chip and at least one identification-tag, in particular a radio-frequency-chip, is inserted and identified.

9. A method for cleaning a moveable device, comprising the steps of:

contacting the moveable device with a chip having at least one cleaning cavity,

moving the moveable device relative to the chip in order to clean the moveable device by collecting material in the at least one cleaning cavity.

10. The method according to claim 9,

wherein the movement is executed as a revolving movement with respect to a revolving axis in particular extending perpendicular to the contacted surfaces.

11. A software program or product, preferably stored on a data carrier, for controlling or executing the method of claim 9, when run on a data processing system such as a computer.