Mesoscale detection structures

• US 20070172389A1
• Filed: 04/04/2007
• Published: 07/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/1992
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jay Zemel, Larry Kricka, Peter Wilding
• Original Assignee: Jay Zemel, Larry Kricka, Peter Wilding
• Inventors: Zemel, Jay, Kricka, Larry, Wilding, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 7,771,985 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/58
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/41 Mixers of the fractal type
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7182 with means for feeding the material with a fractal or tree-type distribution in a surface
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/0093 Microreactors, e.g. miniaturised or microfabricated reactors laboratory containers with capillary fluid transport in microfabricated channels or chambers B01L3/5027
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0059 Sequential processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00722 Nucleotides
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/027 for microfluidic devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0647 Handling flowable solids, e.g. microscopic beads, cells, particles
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0689 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/10 Integrating sample preparation and analysis in single entity, e.g. lab-on-a-chip concept
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/146 Employing pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0627 Sensor or part of a sensor is integrated
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0636 Integrated biosensor, microarrays
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0645 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0681 Filter
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0822 Slides
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0861 Configuration of multiple channels and/or chambers in a single devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0864 comprising only one inlet and multiple receiving wells, e.g. for separation, splitting
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0867 Multiple inlets and one sample wells, e.g. mixing, dilution
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/087 Multiple sequential chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0883 : Serpentine channels
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0887 : Laminated structure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1827 : using resistive heater
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1861 : using radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0406 : capillary forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/043 : magnetic forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0487 : fluid pressure, pneumatics
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/086 : using baffles or other fixed flow obstructions
• 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: 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: 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: B01L 3/502746 : characterised by the means for controlling flow resistance, e.g. flow controllers, baffles B01L3/502738 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502761 : specially adapted for handling suspended solids or molecules independently from the bulk fluid flow, e.g. for trapping or sorting beads, for physically stretching molecules investigating characteristics of particles G01N15/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 7/52 : with provision for submitting samples to a predetermined sequence of different temperatures, e.g. for treating nucleic acid samples amplification or hybridisation processes per se C12Q1/68; controlling sequential reactions for synthesis B01J19/0046
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 7/525 : with physical movement of samples between temperature zones
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/527 : for microfluidic devices, e.g. used for lab-on-a-chip
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/686 : Polymerase chain reaction [PCR]
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 2565/629 : being a microfluidic device
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 40/06 : Libraries containing nucleotides or polynucleotides, or derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 366/03 : Micromixers: variable geometry from the pathway influences mixing/agitation of non-laminar fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/81 : Packaged device or kit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/97 : Test strip or test slide
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 436/805 : Optical property
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 436/806 : Electrical property or magnetic property
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 436/807 : Apparatus included in process claim, e.g. physical support structures
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 436/809 : Multifield plates or multicontainer arrays
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/923 : Cell culture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/953 : Detector using nanostructure

Abstract

Disclosed are devices for detecting the presence of a preselected analyte in a fluid sample. The devices comprise a substrate microfabricated to define a sample inlet port, and a mesoscale flow system that includes a sample flow channel extending from the inlet port. The mesoscale flow system further includes an analyte detection region in fluid communication with the flow channel comprised of a binding moiety for specifically binding the analyte. The detection region is constructed with a mesoscale dimension sufficiently small to enhance binding of the binding moiety and the analyte. The binding moiety may be immobilized in the detection region. The mesoscale detection systems of the invention may be used in a wide range of applications, including the detection of cells or macromolecules, or for monitoring reactions or cell culture growth.

Claims

1. An analytical system comprising:

a device comprising a mesoscale flow system and an inlet port communicating with the flow system; and

an appliance comprising a nesting site holding the device, a flow line mating with the inlet port of the device, a pump connected to the flow line that when actuated forces fluid through the flow system of the device, and a sensor that detects properties of fluid within the flow system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a solid substrate.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the solid substrate is approximately 0.2 to 2.0 centimeters square.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the device further comprises a cover.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the cover is a transparent cover.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the solid substrate comprises silicon.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the solid substrate comprises a polymer.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the mesoscale flow system comprises a flow channel extending from the inlet port and in fluid communication with an analyte detection region.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the analyte detection region contains a binding moiety for specifically binding an analyte.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the binding moiety is immobilized within the detection region.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the device comprises two or more different detection regions containing binding moieties for different analytes.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is capable of detecting changes in optical properties of fluid within the flow system.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the sensor is a spectrophotometer.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the sensor comprises a video camera.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a pressure detector.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is an electrical conductivity sensor.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the appliance comprises a magnetic source.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the appliance comprises electrical contacts in the nesting site, the device comprises electrical contacts, and the electrical contacts in the appliance mate with electrical contacts on the device when the device is placed in the nesting site.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the appliance is configured to transmit electrical energy to the device.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the appliance is configured to receive electrical signals from the device.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the nesting site comprises a heating element.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the nesting site comprises a cooling element.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein the device comprises multiple inlet ports.