System and method for using electrowetting on dielectric (EWOD) for controlling fluid in a microfluidic circuit

• US 20080264506A1
• Filed: 04/30/2007
• Published: 10/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Beerling, Timothy, Killeen, Kevin P.
• Application Number:
  US11/796,891
• Publication Number:
  US 20080264506A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/831
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0673 Handling of plugs of fluid surrounded by immiscible fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0427 Electrowetting
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502792 for moving individual droplets on a plate, e.g. by locally altering surface tension
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2191 By non-fluid energy field affecting input [e.g., transducer]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2213 Electrically-actuated element [e.g., electro-mechanical transducer]

Abstract

A system for controlling fluid flow in a microfluidic circuit includes at least one microfluidic channel having a first fluid, a switch element coupled to the microfluidic channel, the switch element comprising at least one inlet, at least one outlet and a second fluid, the second fluid being immiscible with respect to the first fluid. The system also includes an actuator configured to alter the position of the second fluid, such that when in a first position, the second fluid allows the first fluid to flow from the at least one inlet to the at least one outlet, and such that when in a second position, the second fluid prevents the first fluid from flowing from the at least one inlet to the at least one outlet.

Claims

1. A system for controlling fluid flow in a microfluidic circuit, comprising:

at least one microfluidic channel having a first fluid;

a switch element coupled to the microfluidic channel, the switch element comprising at least one inlet, at least one outlet and a second fluid, the second fluid being immiscible with respect to the first fluid; and

an actuator configured to alter the position of the second fluid, such that when in a first position, the second fluid allows the first fluid to flow from the at least one inlet to the at least one outlet, and such that when in a second position, the second fluid prevents the first fluid from flowing from the at least one inlet to the at least one outlet.

2. The system of claim 1, in which the actuator further comprises at least one electrode and a voltage source and the position of the second fluid is changed by an electrowetting effect.

3. The system of claim 1, in which the position of the second fluid is altered to maximize the capacitance of the system, under the effect of electrowetting.

4. The system of claim 2, in which the position of the second fluid is changed to move the second fluid between a first position and a second position, wherein the first position allows the first fluid to flow from the at least one inlet to the at least one outlet, and wherein the second position prevents the first fluid from flowing from the at least one inlet to the at least one outlet.

5. The system of claim 1, in which the first fluid is chosen from deionized water, water with a salt, water with a surfactant, water with sodium dodecyl sulfate and the second fluid is chosen from an oil, mercury, gallium, and gallium alloy.

6. The system of claim 1, in which the microfluidic circuit is part of a lab on chip device.

7. The system of claim 4, in which the second fluid translates over a distance.

8. The system of claim 4, in which the profile of the second fluid changes while the second fluid remains stationary.

9. A method for controlling fluid flow in a microfluidic circuit, comprising:

providing at least one microfluidic channel having a first fluid;

providing a switch element coupled to the microfluidic channel, the switch element comprising at least one inlet, at least one outlet and a second fluid, the second fluid being immiscible with respect to the first fluid; and

altering the position of the second fluid, such that when in a first position, the second fluid allows the first fluid to flow from the at least one inlet to the at least one outlet, and such that when in a second position, the second fluid prevents the first fluid from flowing from the at least one inlet to the at least one outlet.

10. The method of claim 9, in which altering further comprises:

providing an actuator comprising at least one electrode and a voltage source; and

changing the position of the second fluid using an electrowetting effect.

11. The method of claim 9, in which the position of the second fluid is altered to maximize the capacitance of the first fluid and the second fluid under the effect of electrowetting.

12. The method of claim 10, in which changing the position of the second fluid moves the second fluid between a first position and a second position, wherein the first position allows the first fluid to flow from the at least one inlet to the at least one outlet, and wherein the second position prevents the first fluid from flowing from the at least one inlet to the at least one outlet.

13. The method of claim 9, in which the first fluid is chosen from deionized water, water with a salt, water with a surfactant, water with sodium dodecyl sulfate and the second fluid is chosen from an oil, mercury, gallium, and gallium alloy.

14. The method of claim 9, in which the microfluidic circuit is part of a lab on chip device.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising translating the second fluid over a distance.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising changing the profile of the second fluid while the second fluid remains stationary.

17. A system for controlling fluid flow in a microfluidic circuit located on a lab-on-chip, comprising:

at least one microfluidic channel having a first fluid;

a switch element coupled to the microfluidic channel, the switch element comprising at least one inlet, at least one outlet and a second fluid, the second fluid being immiscible with respect to the first fluid; and

an actuator configured to alter the position of the second fluid, such that when in a first position, the second fluid allows the first fluid to flow from the at least one inlet to the at least one outlet, and such that when in a second position, the second fluid prevents the first fluid from flowing from the at least one inlet to the at least one outlet.

18. The system of claim 17, in which the actuator further comprises at least one electrode and a voltage source and the position of the second fluid is changed by an electrowetting effect.

19. The system of claim 17, in which the position of the second fluid is altered to maximize the capacitance of the system, under the effect of electrowetting.

20. The system of claim 18, in which the position of the second fluid is changed to move the second fluid between a first position and a second position, wherein the first position allows the first fluid to flow from the at least one inlet to the at least one outlet, and wherein the second position prevents the first fluid from flowing from the at least one inlet to the at least one outlet.

21. The system of claim 20, in which the second fluid translates over a distance.

22. The system of claim 20, in which the profile of the second fluid changes while the second fluid remains stationary.