Device and method for performing a high throughput assay

• US 20060263241A1
• Filed: 05/09/2005
• Published: 11/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (University of Wisconsin System)
• Original Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (University of Wisconsin System)
• Inventors: Beebe, David J., Meyvantsson, Ivar
• Granted Patent: US 8,168,133 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/57
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/027 for microfluidic devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0642 Filling fluids into wells by specific techniques
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0829 Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0406 capillary forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0487 fluid pressure, pneumatics
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5025 for parallel transport of multiple samples
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502715 characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50273 characterised by the means or forces applied to move the fluids micropumps F04B19/006, of the membrane type F04B43/043
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

A device and method is provided for performing a high throughput assay. The device includes a plate structure having a plate and a plurality of microfluidic structures positioned thereon. Each microfluidic structure defines a channel having an input and an output. At least one of the input and the output of the channel of each of the plurality of mircofluidic structures includes a first plurality of ports. In operation, the channels are filled with fluid and pressure gradients are generated between the fluids at the inputs and the fluids at the outputs of the channels. As a result, fluid flows through the channels toward the outputs.

Claims

1. A device for performing an assay, comprising:

a plate structure having a channel therein, the channel having an input and an output; and

a plurality of ports in the input of the channel.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the plate structure includes a plate having an upper surface and wherein the channel is provided in a first microfluidic structure positioned on the upper surface of the plate.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the first microfluidic structure includes an upper surface, the upper surface being hydrophobic.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein the plate structure includes a second microfludic structure positioned on the upper surface of the plate.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein the second microfluidic structure defines a channel having an input and an output, the input of the channel of the second microfluidic structure having a plurality of ports.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein the output of the channel of the second microfluidic structure has a plurality of output ports.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein output of the channel includes a plurality of output ports.

8. The device of claim 1 further comprising a liquid dispensing instrument extending along an axis and wherein the input of the channel is axially aligned with the pipette.

9. A device for performing an assay, comprising:

a plate; and

a plurality of microfluidic structures positioned on the plate, each microfluidic structure defining a channel having an input and an output;

wherein at least one of the inputs and the outputs of the channels of the plurality of mircofluidic structures includes a first plurality of ports.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein the each of the plurality of microfluidic structures includes an upper surface, each upper surface being hydrophobic.

11. The device of claim 9 wherein the plurality of microfluidic structures are removable from plate.

12. The device of claim 9 wherein the other of the inputs and the outputs of the channels of the plurality of microfluidic structures include a second plurality of ports.

13. The device of claim 9 further comprising a liquid dispensing instrument for depositing drops along a plurality of generally parallel axis, each axis extending through a corresponding input of the channels of the plurality of microfluidic structures.

14. A method of pumping fluid, comprising the steps of:

providing a microfluidic device having a channel therethough, the channel having a plurality of input ports and an output;

filing the channel with fluid; and

generating a pressure gradient between the fluid at the input ports and the fluid at the output such that the fluid flows through the channel towards the output.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of generating the pressure gradient includes the steps of:

depositing a reservoir drop of fluid over the output of the channel of sufficient dimension to overlap the output; and

sequentially depositing pumping drops of fluid at the input ports of the channel.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein:

the channel has a resistance;

each of the pumping drops has a radius and a surface free energy; and

the reservoir drop has a height and a density such that the fluid flows through the channel at a rate according to the expression;

$\frac{d<br><br>V}{d<br><br>t}=\frac{1}{Z}<br><br>\left(\mathrm{\rho <br><br>}<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>\mathrm{gh}-\frac{2<br><br>\mathrm{\gamma <br><br>}}{R}\right)$

wherein;

dV/dt is the rate of fluid flowing through the channel;

Z is the resistance of the channel;

ρ

is the density of the reservoir drop;

g is gravity;

h is the height of the reservoir drop;

γ

is the surface free energy of the pumping drops; and

R is the radius of the pumping drops.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein each of the pumping drops has a predetermined radius.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the reservoir drop has a radius greater than the radii of the pumping drops.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein the output port has a radius and wherein the reservoir drop has a radius greater than the predetermined radius of the output of the channel.

20. The method of claim 14 wherein the output of the channel includes a plurality of output ports.