Microfluidic Device for Identification, Quantification, and Authentication of Latent Markers
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a microfluidic cell for authenticating a fluid, the microfluidic cell comprising;
a plurality of channels;
a first inlet coupled to the plurality of channels for receiving the fluid, the fluid comprising markers;
a second inlet coupled to the first inlet for receiving an agent for transferring the markers through the channels; and
an outlet coupled to the plurality of channels for removing the fluid, leaving substantially markers;
a liquid transfer system coupled to the microfluidic cell for providing the fluid to the microfluidic cell; and
a detector coupled to the microfluidic cell for identifying the markers.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Devices and methods for identification, authentication, and quantification of one or more covert markers in a material are disclosed. A device includes a microfluidic cell, a liquid transfer system, and a detector system and is an integrated unit providing an automated, in-line process for identifying one or more materials containing at least one latent marker that may transform into an active form. The microfluidic cell is for receiving a material containing a latent marker and has at least one inlet for receiving one or more liquids and one or more outlets through which liquids exit. The liquid transfer system is operably connected to the microfluidic cell and delivers liquids to the microfluidic cell. The detector system is proximate to the outlets for detecting the active form of the marker. With the device, a number of independent processing and analytic steps are combined onto a single, portable unit.
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Citations
43 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a microfluidic cell for authenticating a fluid, the microfluidic cell comprising; a plurality of channels; a first inlet coupled to the plurality of channels for receiving the fluid, the fluid comprising markers; a second inlet coupled to the first inlet for receiving an agent for transferring the markers through the channels; and an outlet coupled to the plurality of channels for removing the fluid, leaving substantially markers; a liquid transfer system coupled to the microfluidic cell for providing the fluid to the microfluidic cell; and a detector coupled to the microfluidic cell for identifying the markers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system comprising:
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a portable microfluidic cell for authenticating a fluid, the microfluidic cell comprising; a first and second channel for providing a two phase laminar flow, the first channel for transporting a fluid comprising markers and the second channel for transporting a first agent for transferring the markers; an outlet coupled to the first channel for removing the fluid leaving substantially markers; and an inlet coupled to the first channel for providing a second agent to the markers; a mixer coupled to the first and second channels for mixing components of the first and second channel yielding a mixture; a third channel coupled to the mixer for transporting the mixture; and a detector system coupled to the microfluidic cell for analyzing optical characteristics of the mixture, the detector system determining the authenticity of the fluid. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A method comprising:
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providing a portable microfluidic cell for authenticating a fluid, the microfluidic cell comprising a plurality of channels; providing a fluid comprising markers to a first inlet coupled to the plurality of channels of the microfluidic cell; providing an agent to a second inlet coupled to the plurality of channels of the microfluidic cell; transferring the markers; removing the fluid through an outlet of the microfluidic cell, leaving substantially markers in the microfluidic cell; and identifying and quantifying the marker for authenticating the fluid. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method comprising:
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providing a microfluidic cell for authenticating a fluid; providing a first two phase laminar flow through the microfluidic cell comprising a fluid including markers and a first agent for transforming the markers; removing the fluid yielding substantially markers and the first agent; adding a second agent to the markers; providing a second two phase laminar flow through the microfluidic cell comprising flowing the second agent, the markers and the first agent; mixing the second agent and markers with the first agent yielding a mixture comprising transformed markers; detecting the optical characteristics of the transformed markers; and determining the authenticity of the fluid. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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31. A device comprising:
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a microfluidic cell for receiving a material comprising one or more markers, the microfluidic cell comprising a plurality of inlets and outlets; a liquid transfer system coupled to the microfluidic cell for delivering the material to the microfluidic cell and for delivering an agent to the microfluidic cell, the agent configured to transform the one or more markers; and a detector system comprising an electromagnetic radiation source and a sensor for detecting and quantifying the transformed markers. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A method for identifying, authenticating, and quantifying latent markers in a material, the method comprising:
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providing a microfluidic cell comprising a plurality of inlets and outlets; providing the material comprising at least one marker to the microfluidic cell; providing one or more liquids for transforming a portion of the at least one marker; transforming the at least one marker to at least one active marker; detecting the active form of the at least one active marker using an electromagnetic radiation source; identifying and quantifying the at least one active marker; and authenticating the material. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification