System and Method for Bubble Removal

• US 20070267335A1
• Filed: 06/11/2007
• Published: 11/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Affymetrix, Inc. (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Affymetrix, Inc. (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Inventors: Gao, Chuan, Yu, Tianyue
• Granted Patent: US 8,075,852 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/120
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 19/00 Degasification of liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/027 for microfluidic devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/028 Modular arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/04 Exchange or ejection of cartridges, containers or reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0668 Trapping microscopic beads
• 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 2300/021 Identification, e.g. bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0636 Integrated biosensor, microarrays
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• 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 2300/0887 Laminated structure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1827 using resistive heater
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1844 using fans
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1861 using radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/043 magnetic forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0487 fluid pressure, pneumatics
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0655 pinch valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0694 vents used to stop and induce flow, backpressure valves
• 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 3/502738 : characterised by integrated valves microvalves F16K99/0001
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/565 : Seals in general F16L
• 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: B41J 2/175 : Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/19 : for removing air bubbles
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54366 : Apparatus specially adapted for solid-phase testing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 : Automated chemical analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 : Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

In one aspect of the invention, systems, methods, and devices are provided for handling liquid. In some embodiments, such systems, methods, and devices are used to combine fluids while removing gaseous bubbles.

Claims

1. An apparatus for removing a bubble, comprising:

a first substrate having an inner surface that defines a top surface of at least one chamber;

a second substrate having inner surfaces that define the chamber and at least one venting channel there between the first substrate and the second substrate;

a third substrate having inner surfaces that define at least one main channel leading into a bottom entrance of the chamber connected to a bottom surface of the chamber in the second substrate, wherein the bottom surface of the chamber is coated to provide a hydrophobic surface and the bottom surface of the chamber is adapted with a radius to retain a quantity of a first fluid and a second fluid such that the surface tension of the bottom surface maintains the fluids in contact with the bottom surface of the chamber; and

a pressurized gas for moving the fluids wherein a bubble is in between the first fluid and the second fluid, while the fluids are collected in the chamber wherein the bubble is dispelled, resulting in removing the bubble from the fluids.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the radius is in the range of 1 mm to 20 mm.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the radius is in the range of 2 mm to 10 mm.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the radius is in the range of 2 mm to 4 mm.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the chamber further comprises a second radius to further assure the retention of the fluids at the bottom of the chamber while the bubble is being removed.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the second radius is in the range of 1 mm to 20 mm.

7. An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the second radius is in the range of 2 mm to 4 mm.

8. An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the second radius is in the range of 1 mm to 2 mm.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the venting channel is at a different location.

10. A method for removing a bubble, comprising:

providing a first substrate having an inner surface that defines a top surface of at least one chamber;

providing a second substrate having inner surfaces that define the chamber and at least one venting channel there between the first substrate and the second substrate;

providing a third substrate having inner surfaces that define at least one main channel leading into a bottom entrance of the chamber connected to a bottom surface of the chamber in the second substrate, wherein the bottom surface of the chamber is coated to provide a hydrophobic surface and the bottom surface of the chamber is adapted with a radius to retain a quantity of a first fluid and a second fluid such that the surface tension of the bottom surface maintains the fluids in contact with the bottom surface of the chamber;

moving the fluids wherein a bubble is in between the first fluid and the second fluid, with a pressurized gas;

collecting the fluids in the chamber; and

dispelling the bubble resulting in removing the bubble from the fluids.

11. A method according to claim 10 wherein the radius is in the range of 1 mm to 20 mm.

12. A method according to claim 10 wherein the radius is in the range of 2 mm to 10 mm.

13. A method according to claim 10 wherein the radius is in the range of 2 mm to 4 mm.

14. A method according to claim 10 wherein the chamber further comprises a second radius to further retain the fluid at the bottom of the chamber while the bubble is being removed.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the second radius is in the range of 1 mm to 20 mm.

16. A method according to claim 14, wherein the second radius is in the range of 2 mm to 4 mm.

17. A method according to claim 14, wherein the second radius is in the range of 1 mm to 2 mm.

18. An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the venting channel is at a different location.

19. A system for removing a bubble comprising:

a first substrate having an inner surface that defines a top surface of at least one chamber;

a second substrate having inner surfaces that define the chamber and at least one venting channel there between the first substrate and the second substrate;

a third substrate having inner surfaces that define at least one main channel leading into a bottom entrance of the chamber connected to a bottom surface of the chamber in the second substrate, wherein the bottom surface of the chamber is coated to provide a hydrophobic surface and the bottom surface of the chamber is adapted with a radius to retain a quantity of a first fluid and a second fluid such that the surface tension of the bottom surface maintains the fluids in contact with the bottom surface of the chamber;

a pressurized gas for moving the fluids wherein a bubble is in between the first fluid and the second fluid, while the fluids are collected in the chamber wherein the bubble is dispelled, resulting in removing the bubble from the fluids;

a plurality of valve mechanisms and a plurality of gates, wherein the valve mechanisms and plurality of gates are set up at the end of the channels; and

a computer such that a controlling device is attached to the computer, wherein the controlling device controls the valve mechanisms and gates wherein the liquids are introduced into the inlet channel wherein a bubble is in between the first fluid and the second fluid, while the fluids are collected in the chamber wherein the bubble is dispelled, resulting in removing the bubble from the fluids.

20. A system according to claim 19 wherein the radius is in the range of 1 mm to 20 mm.

21. A system according to claim 19 wherein the radius is in the range of 2 mm to 10 mm.

22. A system according to claim 19 wherein the radius is in the range of 2 mm to 4 mm.

23. A system according to claim 19, wherein the chamber further comprises a second radius to further assure the retention of the fluids at the bottom of the chamber while the bubble is being removed.

24. A system according to claim 23, wherein the second radius is in the range of 1 mm to 20 mm.

25. A system according to claim 23, wherein the second radius is in the range of 2 mm to 4 mm.

26. A system according to claim 23, wherein the second radius is in the range of 1 mm to 2 mm.

27. An apparatus according to claim 19 wherein the venting channel is at a different location.