Diffusion-aided loading system for microfluidic devices

• US 20090000690A1
• Filed: 06/03/2008
• Published: 01/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Applied Biosystems LLC (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Applera Corporation (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Inventors: Oldham, Mark F., Harding, Ian A., Bodner, Kevin S.
• Application Number:
  US12/156,584
• Publication Number:
  US 20090000690A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 141/4
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/027 for microfluidic devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0684 Venting, avoiding backpressure, avoid gas bubbles
• 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 2300/087 Multiple sequential chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0887 Laminated structure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0406 capillary forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/049 vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/06 Valves, specific forms thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502723 characterised by venting arrangements

Abstract

Microfluidic devices having a diffusion-aided system for loading samples into the microfluidic device are provided. Methods of gas-venting a microfluidic device through a non-porous, gas permeable material sealing cover layer, for example, during liquid sample loading, are also provided. The non-porous, gas-permeable material can be, for example, a polysiloxane, for example, polydimethylsiloxane.

Claims

1. A method for venting a gas from a microfluidic device comprising:

providing a microfluidic device, the microfluidic device comprising;

at least one sample-containment region capable of containing a sample;

at least one non-porous, gas-permeable sample sealing plug at least partially defining the at least one sample-containment region, and comprising a non-porous, gas-permeable material;

an input opening in fluid communication with the sample-containment region;

loading a liquid into the microfluidic device; and

venting a gas from the microfluidic device through the at least one non-porous, gas-permeable sample sealing plug.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-porous, gas-permeable material comprises a material having a permeability coefficient at about 35°

C. relative to O₂ of at least about 8×

10¹⁵.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-porous, gas-permeable material comprises a polysiloxane material.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-porous, gas-permeable material comprises at least one member selected from polydimethylsiloxane materials, polydiethylsiloxane materials, polydiphenylsiloxane materials, polymethylethylsiloxane materials, polymethylphenylsiloxane materials, and combinations thereof.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-porous, gas-permeable material comprises a polydialkylsiloxane material.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-porous, gas-permeable material comprises a polydimethylsiloxane material.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising applying a gas-impermeable membrane to the at least one non-porous, gas-permeable sample sealing plug.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the microfluidic device includes a channel in fluid communication with the sample-containment region, and the method further includes interrupting fluid communication through the channel.

9. A method for venting a gas from a microfluidic device comprising:

providing a microfluidic device, the microfluidic device comprising;

at least one sample-containment region capable of containing a sample;

at least one non-porous, gas-permeable sample sealing cover layer at least partially defining the at least one sample-containment region, and comprising a non-porous, gas-permeable material;

an input opening in fluid communication with the sample-containment region;

loading a liquid into the microfluidic device; and

venting a gas from the microfluidic device through the at least one non-porous, gas-permeable sample sealing cover layer.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the non-porous, gas-permeable material comprises a material having a permeability coefficient at about 35°

C. relative to O₂ of at least about 8×

10¹⁵.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the non-porous, gas-permeable material comprises polysiloxane material.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the non-porous, gas-permeable material comprises at least one member selected from polydimethylsiloxane materials, polydiethylsiloxane materials, polydiphenylsiloxane materials, polymethylethylsiloxane materials, polymethylphenylsiloxane materials, and combinations thereof.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the non-porous, gas-permeable material comprises a polydialkylsiloxane material.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the non-porous, gas-permeable material comprises a polydimethylsiloxane material.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising applying a gas-impermeable membrane to the at least one non-porous, gas-permeable sample sealing cover layer.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the microfluidic device includes a channel in fluid communication with the sample-containment region, and the method further includes interrupting fluid communication through the channel.

17. A method comprising:

providing a microfluidic device including a plurality of sample-containment regions;

loading the plurality of sample-containment regions with a sample to form loaded sample-containment regions; and

sealing the loaded sample-containment regions with a non-porous, gas-permeable material cover layer.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

loading a nucleic acid sequence probe or a nucleic acid sequence primer into selected sample-containment regions.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the nucleic acid sequence probe or the nucleic acid sequence primer is loaded into the loaded sample-containment regions.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the nucleic acid sequence probe or the nucleic acid sequence primer is loaded prior to loading the plurality of sample-containment regions with the sample.