Microfluidic size-exclusion devices, systems, and methods

• US 20070207065A1
• Filed: 04/30/2007
• Published: 09/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Applera Corporation (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Applera Corporation (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Inventors: Fawcett, Adrian, Shigeura, John, Bordenkircher, Gary, Bryning, Zbigniew, Lim, Gary, Freudenthal, Jacob, Desmond, Sean
• Application Number:
  US11/796,783
• Publication Number:
  US 20070207065A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/100
• 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: B01L 2300/0681 Filter
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/069 Absorbents; Gels to retain a fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0809 rectangular shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0861 Configuration of multiple channels and/or chambers in a single devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0877 Flow chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/123 Flexible; Elastomeric
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1805 Conductive heating, heat from thermostatted solids is conducted to receptacles, e.g. heating plates, blocks
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0633 with moving parts
• 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 3/502715 characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502738 characterised by integrated valves microvalves F16K99/0001
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502753 characterised by bulk separation arrangements on lab-on-a-chip devices, e.g. for filtration or centrifugation separation in general B01D; microapparatus for analysis using electrophoresis G01N27/44791; sample preparation G01N1/28
• 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: C12Q 1/6844 Nucleic acid amplification reactions
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/686 Polymerase chain reaction [PCR]
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/0346 Capillary cells; Microcells
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/0303 Optical path conditioning in cuvettes, e.g. windows; adapted optical elements or systems; path modifying or adjustment G01N21/031 - G01N21/15 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 Automated chemical analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/143333 : Saccharide [e.g., DNA, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/17 : Nitrogen containing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/173845 : Amine and quaternary ammonium
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25 : including sample preparation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25125 : Digestion or removing interfering materials
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25375 : Liberation or purification of sample or separation of material from a sample [e.g., filtering, centrifuging, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/255 : including use of a solid sorbent, semipermeable membrane, or liquid extraction
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 : Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

Microfluidic devices, assemblies, and systems are provided, as are methods of manipulating micro-sized samples of fluids. Microfluidic devices having a plurality of specialized processing features are also provided.

Claims

1. A microfluidic device comprising:

a substrate having a first surface, a second surface opposing the first surface, and a thickness;

a plurality of parallel pathways formed in the substrate, each of the pathways comprising

an input opening,

an output opening,

at least one processing chamber located between the input opening and the output opening, wherein the input opening, the at least one processing chamber, and the output opening are arranged linearly;

a first fluid communication between the input opening and the at least one processing chamber, and

a second fluid communication between the at least one processing chamber and the output opening;

wherein each of the plurality of pathways includes at least one valve that is capable of being opened to form a fluid communication.

2. The microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second fluid communications includes a channel formed in the first surface;

and

the other of the first and second fluid communications includes a channel formed in the second surface.

3. The microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein the at least one valve comprises a first deformable material having a first elasticity, and a second deformable material having a second elasticity that differs from the first elasticity.

4. The microfluidic device of claim 3, further comprising a first cover in contact with the first surface of the substrate, and wherein the first cover is the second deformable material.

5. The microfluidic device of claim 1, further comprising a size exclusion filtration material disposed in the at least one processing chamber.

6. The microfluidic device of claim 1, further comprising components for enabling polymerase chain reaction of a nucleic acid sequence, disposed in the at least one processing chamber.

7. The microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processing chamber is shaped as a channel in the first surface of the substrate.

8. The microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein the substrate is rectangular.

9. The microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein the first channel and the first chamber are part of a first pathway at least partially formed in the substrate, and wherein the substrate includes a plurality of pathways, the respective pathway having a respective channel and a respective chamber, and each respective chamber has a respective depth and a teardrop-shaped cross-sectional area when cross-sectioned perpendicular to the depth, and the respective chambers each having a substantially circular first end and a narrower and opposite second end, and the second ends at the respective chambers are in fluid communication with the respective channels.

10. The microfluidic device of claim 9, wherein the pathways of the plurality of pathways are parallel to one another.

11. A microfluidic device comprising:

a substrate having a first surface, a second surface opposing the first surface, and a thickness; and

a plurality of parallel pathways formed in the substrate, each of the pathways comprising an input opening, an output opening, at least one processing chamber between the input opening and the output opening, and at least one valve for interrupting or providing fluid communication between the at least one processing chamber and at least one of the input opening and the output opening.

12. The microfluidic device of claim 11, wherein the at least one valve comprises:

a first recess formed in the substrate;

a second recess formed in the substrate;

an intermediate wall interposed between the first recess and the second recess, wherein the intermediate wall portion is formed from a deformable material having a first elasticity; and

an elastically deformable cover layer covering the first recess and having a second elasticity that is greater than the first elasticity, wherein the elastically deformable covered layer contacts the intermediate wall when the intermediate wall is in a non-deformed state, and wherein the elastically deformable cover layer does not contact the intermediate wall when the intermediate wall is in a deformed state thereby forming a fluid communication between the first and second recesses.

13. The microfluidic device of claim 11, wherein each valve comprises:

a first recess formed in the substrate, a first recess including a first recess portion and a second recess portion, the first recess being at least partially defined by opposing wall surface portions, at least one of the opposing wall surface portions comprising

a first deformable material having a first of elasticity, wherein the first recess portion and the second recess portion are in fluid communication with each other when the first deformable material is in a non-deformed state; and

an elastically deformable covered layer having a second elasticity, that is greater than the first elasticity, covering at least the first recess portion, wherein the opposing wall surface portion that comprises the first deformable material is deformable to form a barrier wall interposed between the first recess portion and the second recess portion to prevent fluid communication between the first recess portion and the second recess portion when the barrier wall is in a deformed state.

14. A sample processing assembly comprising:

a sample processing device comprising;

a body that comprises a first side attached to a second side;

a plurality of process arrays formed between the first and second sides, wherein each process array of the plurality of process arrays comprises a loading structure, a main conduit comprising a length, a plurality of process chambers distributed along the main conduit, and a deformable seal located between the loading structure and the plurality of process chambers, wherein the main conduit is in fluid communication with the loading structure and the plurality of process chambers;

a carrier attached to the sample processing device, the carrier comprising;

a first surface facing the sample processing device and a second surface facing away from the sample processing device;

a plurality of main conduit support rails proximate the first surface of the carrier, wherein each main conduit of the plurality of process arrays is aligned with one main conduit support rail of the plurality of main conduit support rails; and

a plurality of openings formed through the first and second surfaces of the carrier, wherein each opening of the plurality of openings is aligned with one process chamber of the plurality of process chambers.

15. An assembly according to claim 14, wherein the carrier further comprises a plurality of compression structures proximate the first surface of the carrier, each compression structure of the plurality of compression structures proximate one process chamber of the plurality of process chambers.

16. An assembly according to claim 14, wherein the carrier further comprises:

a plurality of compression structures proximate the first surface of the carrier, each compression structure of the plurality of compression structures proximate one process chamber of the plurality of process chambers; and

a plurality of force transmission structures, each force transmission structure of the plurality of force transmission structures comprising a discrete landing area proximate the second surface of the carrier, and each force transmission structure of the plurality of force transmission structures being operatively connected to a plurality of the plurality of compression structures, wherein a force applied to the landing surface of each force transmission structure is transmitted to the plurality of compression structures operatively connected to the force transmission structure.

17. An assembly according to claim 14, wherein the carrier further comprises a plurality of collars proximate the first surface of the carrier, each collar of the plurality of collars aligned with and proximate to one process chamber of the plurality of process chambers.

18. An assembly according to claim 14, further comprising a plurality of collars proximate the first surface of the carrier, wherein each opening of the plurality of openings is aligned with one collar of the plurality of collars, and further wherein each collar of the plurality of collars is aligned with one process chamber of the plurality of process chambers.