APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR MICROFLUIDIC APPLICATIONS

• US 20090022628A1
• Filed: 09/30/2008
• Published: 01/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lab901 Limited (Agilent Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Lab901 Limited (Agilent Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Fearnley, Joel, Roy, Douglas, Polwart, Stuart, Ghazal, Peter
• Application Number:
  US12/242,547
• Publication Number:
  US 20090022628A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/82.20
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00317 Microwell devices, i.e. having large numbers of wells
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00495 Means for heating or cooling the reaction vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00518 in the shape of tapes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00585 Parallel processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00596 Solid-phase processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00605 the compounds being directly bound or immobilised to solid supports
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00659 Two-dimensional arrays
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0074 Biological products
• 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 2200/12 Specific details about manufacturing devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/021 Identification, e.g. bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/042 Caps; Plugs
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/044 pierceable, e.g. films, membranes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0812 Bands; Tapes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/161 Control and use of surface tension forces, e.g. hydrophobic, hydrophilic
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/18 Means for temperature control
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0406 capillary forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0415 electrical forces, e.g. electrokinetic
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0457 passive flow or gravitation
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502707 characterised by the manufacture of the container or its components by shaping or joining plastic parts B29C59/00, B29C65/00; by laminating B32B37/00; manufacture of microstructural devices in general B81C
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/505 : flexible containers not provided for above
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2791/007 : Using fluid under pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 51/00 : Shaping by thermoforming , i.e. shaping sheets or sheet like preforms after heating, e.g. shaping sheets in matched moulds or by deep-drawing; Apparatus therefor blow moulding of tubular preforms B29C49/00, deforming of tubular or hollow preforms B29C67/0014
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 : Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 60/14 : for creating libraries
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/44704 : Details; Accessories
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/44782 : of a plurality of samples
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/44791 : Microapparatus sample containers with integrated microfluidic structures B01L3/5027
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00009 : provided with a sample supporting tape, e.g. with absorbent zones
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1002 : with permanent bending or reshaping or surface deformation of self sustaining lamina
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/494 : Fluidic or fluid actuated device making

Abstract

Non-rigid tape apparatus and fabrication methods for microfluidic processing applications such as gel electrophoresis are provided, where microfluidic processing is performed on selected areas. Parts of the tape are formed by high pressure plastic film forming. Membranes and other structures are self sealing during and after penetration by pipettes and electrical probes. Rigid exoskeleton elements protect the non-rigid parts during processing and facilitate transport of the tape.

Claims

1-73. -73. (canceled)

74. A microfluidic processing apparatus comprising a non-rigid member provided with at least one microfluidic processing area and a support member adapted to extend across the at least one microfluidic processing area, the support member being provided with at least one access zone for loading and/or unloading the microfluidic processing area of the non-rigid member, wherein the support member provides local rigidity proximate to the microfluidic processing area of the non-rigid member.

75. The microfluidic processing apparatus of claim 74 wherein the access zone is penetrable.

76. The microfluidic processing apparatus of claim 74 wherein the access zone is sized to be penetrable by a sample loading probe.

77. The microfluidic processing apparatus of claim 76 wherein the sample loading probe comprises a pipette tip.

78. The microfluidic processing apparatus of claim 74 wherein the at least one access zone is provided with at least one access port.

79. The microfluidic processing apparatus of claim 74 wherein the non-rigid member is formed from a single thin polymer film and provided with shallow channels and deep cavities on the non-rigid member so as to provide microfluidic and macro fluidic capabilities.

80. The microfluidic processing apparatus of claim 74 wherein microfluidic processing can be enabled by incorporating conductive layers directly on to the non-rigid member.

81. The microfluidic processing apparatus of claim 80 wherein the conductive layers are configured to act from one side of the apparatus only, thus allowing the other side of the apparatus to be available for other means of detecting microfluidic reaction processes.

82. The microfluidic processing apparatus of claim 74 wherein the at least one access zone is positioned to provide access to an end of the microfluidic processing area.

83. The microfluidic processing apparatus of claim 74 wherein the at least one access zone is positioned to provide access to an end edge of the microfluidic processing area at one or more positions along its length.

84. The microfluidic processing apparatus of claim 74 wherein the support member is affixed to the non-rigid member by means of a snap-fit connection.

85. The microfluidic processing apparatus of claim 74 wherein the support member is affixed to the non-rigid member by an adhesive.

86. The microfluidic processing apparatus of claim 78 wherein the access port is provided with a replaceable seal.

87. The microfluidic processing apparatus of claim 86 wherein the replaceable seal is a plug.

88. The microfluidic processing apparatus of claim 74 wherein the support member is made from a polymer film.

89. The microfluidic processing apparatus of claim 74 wherein the support member has a thickness between 0.5 mm and 3 mm.

90. The microfluidic processing apparatus of claim 74 comprising a plurality of support members and a plurality of microfluidic processing areas contained on the non-rigid member, wherein one support member extends across one microfluidic processing area.

91. The microfluidic processing apparatus of claim 74 wherein the support member is further provided with coupling means to allow attachment of the support member to a drive means.

92. The microfluidic processing apparatus of claim 91 wherein the coupling means comprises a plurality of apertures adapted for engagement with the drive means.

93. The microfluidic processing apparatus of claim 74 wherein the non-rigid member consists of a layer of deformable tape, the microfluidic processing area thereon being formed by deformation of the layer of deformable tape.

94. The microfluidic processing apparatus of claim 93 wherein the deformable tape is constructed from a polymer film.