Microfluidic devices
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A microfluidic substrate comprising:
- a) at least one inlet module having at least one inlet channel adapted to carry at least one dispersed phase fluid; and
b) at least one main channel adapted to carry at least one continuous phase fluid, wherein said inlet channel is in fluid communication with said main channel at a junction, wherein said junction comprises a fluidic nozzle designed for flow focusing such that said dispersed phase fluid is immiscible with said continuous phase fluid and forms a plurality of highly uniform, monodisperse droplets in said continuous phase fluid.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides novel microfluidic substrates and methods that are useful for performing biological, chemical and diagnostic assays. The substrates can include a plurality of electrically addressable, channel bearing fluidic modules integrally arranged such that a continuous channel is provided for flow of immiscible fluids.
-
Citations
74 Claims
-
1. A microfluidic substrate comprising:
-
a) at least one inlet module having at least one inlet channel adapted to carry at least one dispersed phase fluid; and
b) at least one main channel adapted to carry at least one continuous phase fluid, wherein said inlet channel is in fluid communication with said main channel at a junction, wherein said junction comprises a fluidic nozzle designed for flow focusing such that said dispersed phase fluid is immiscible with said continuous phase fluid and forms a plurality of highly uniform, monodisperse droplets in said continuous phase fluid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
-
-
46. A microfluidic substrate comprising:
-
a) at least one inlet module having at least one inlet channel adapted to carry at least one dispersed phase fluid;
b) at least one main channel adapted to carry at least one continuous phase fluid, wherein said inlet channel is in fluid communication with said main channel at a junction, wherein said junction comprises a fluidic nozzle designed for flow focusing such that said dispersed phase fluid is immiscible with said continuous phase fluid and forms a plurality of highly uniform, monodisperse droplets in said continuous phase fluid;
c) at least one nanoreactor division module downstream from the inlet module wherein the main channel is divided into at least two division channels and the nanoreactor is split into at least two daughter nanoreactors;
d) at least one second inlet channel adapted to carry at least one second dispersed phase fluid wherein said inlet channel is in fluid communication with at least one of the divisional channels at a junction, wherein said junction comprises a fluidic nozzle designed for flow focusing such that said second dispersed phase fluid is immiscible with said continuous phase fluid and forms a plurality of highly uniform, monodisperse droplets in said continuous phase fluid e) at least one coalescence module downstream from and in fluid communication with said inlet module via the main channel comprising a coalescence apparatus, wherein at least one droplet from step (b) and at least one droplet from step (d) passing there through are coalesced;
f) at least one reorder module downstream from said dividing module such that the daughter nanoreactors from the division channel are reordered in proximity but not coalesced; and
g) at least one detection module downstream from said reorder module, said detection module comprising a detection apparatus for evaluating the contents or characteristics of at least one of nanoreactors or droplets in proximity. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48)
-
-
49. A microfluidic substrate produced by the process of
a) providing a base plate, wherein the base plate comprises a flat surface; -
b) providing a master comprising the pattern of the channels and electrodes of a microfluidic substrate;
c) providing a molding cavity, wherein the molding cavity comprises an opening for molding an elastomeric substrate;
d) assembling the base plate, master and molding cavity, such that said master is placed between the base plate and molding cavity and wherein said master pattern is located directly under and aligned to the opening for molding an elastomeric substrate;
e) providing a top plate containing one or more sliding molding pins used to form one or more fluid and/or electrical interconnects;
f) assembling the top plate onto the molding cavity of step d, such that the sliding molding pins contact points on the pattern of channels and electrodes on the master;
g) introducing a liquid elastomeric polymer into the opening on the molding cavity such that it contacts the master;
h) solidifying the elastomeric polymer within the molding cavity;
i) removing the solidified elastomeric polymer substrate from the top plate, bottom plate and molding cavity assembly; and
j) bonding the solidified elastomeric polymer substrate to compatible polymeric or non-polymeric media, thereby forming a microfluidic substrate with fluidic and/or electrical interconnects. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61)
-
-
62. A method of producing microfluidic substrate comprising
a) providing a base plate, wherein the base plate comprises a flat surface; -
b) providing a master comprising the pattern of the channels and electrodes of a microfluidic substrate;
c) providing a molding cavity, wherein the molding cavity comprises an opening for molding an elastomeric substrate;
d) assembling the base plate, master and molding cavity, such that said master is placed between the base plate and molding cavity and wherein said master pattern is located directly under and aligned to the opening for molding an elastomeric substrate;
e) providing a top plate containing one or more sliding molding pins used to form one or more fluid and/or electrical interconnects;
f) assembling the top plate onto the molding cavity of step d, such that the sliding molding pins contact points on the pattern of channels and electrodes on the master;
g) introducing a liquid elastomeric polymer into the opening on the molding cavity such that it contacts the master;
h) solidifying the elastomeric polymer within the molding cavity;
i) removing the solidified elastomeric polymer substrate from the top plate, bottom plate and molding cavity assembly; and
j) bonding the solidified elastomeric polymer substrate to compatible polymeric or non-polymeric media, thereby producing a microfluidic substrate with fluidic and/or electrical interconnects. - View Dependent Claims (63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74)
-
Specification