ARTICLE, DEVICE, AND METHOD

• US 20090044603A1
• Filed: 03/10/2008
• Published: 02/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BL Technologies Inc. (Ashland Global Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Morris, William Guy, Xiao, Caibin, Potyrailo, Radislav Alexandrovich, Miller, Peter, Boyette, Scott Martell, Johnson, Glenn Alfred, Wroczynski, Ronald James, Leach, Andrew Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,977,660 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/53.10
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/025 Align devices or objects to ensure defined positions relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/141 Preventing contamination, tampering
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/143 Quality control, feedback systems
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/021 Identification, e.g. bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0864 comprising only one inlet and multiple receiving wells, e.g. for separation, splitting
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/168 Specific optical properties, e.g. reflective coatings
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5027 by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip B01L3/5023 takes precedence; micromixers B01F33/30; microreactors for synthesis B01J19/0093; microcapillary devices in general B81B1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/0325 Cells for testing reactions, e.g. containing reagents
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/0346 Capillary cells; Microcells
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/0382 Frustoconical, tapered cell
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/03 Cuvette constructions

Abstract

An article includes a substrate assembly for use in a detector system. The substrate assembly includes a substrate; a sample reception structure secured to the substrate; a test window extending through the substrate; and a fluid channel defined by a surface of the substrate and extending from the sample reception structure to the test window.

Claims

1. An article comprising a substrate assembly for use in a detector system, comprising:

a substrate configured for use in the detector system;

a sample reception structure secured to the substrate or formed integrally from a portion of the substrate;

an optically transmissive test window extending through the substrate; and

a fluid channel defined by a surface of the substrate and extending from the sample reception structure to the test window.

2. The article as defined in claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises a material that is greater than 90 percent transparent to ultraviolet radiation.

3. The article as defined in claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises quartz material.

4. The article as defined in claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises a polymeric material selected from the group consisting of polyolefin, siloxane, polycarbonate, and polyetherimide.

5. The article as defined in claim 1, wherein the substrate is a polyolefin selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, and halogenated derivatives thereof.

6. The article as defined in claim 1, wherein the substrate has a polygonal cross-sectional profile defining three or more corners, and at least one corner is configured to guide alignment of the substrate assembly in the detector system.

7. The article as defined in claim 1, wherein the substrate has a surface that defines one or more apertures capable of registering the location of the substrate assembly within the detector system.

8. The article as defined in claim 1, wherein the sample reception structure has a oblate cross-sectional profile.

9. The article as defined in claim 1, wherein the sample reception structure has a circular cross-sectional profile or a polygonal cross-sectional profile.

10. The article as defined in claim 1, wherein the sample reception structure has an inner surface that defines a plurality of fluid egress ports coupled to the flow path.

11. The article as defined in claim 1, wherein the inner surface defines an inverted frusto-conical shape.

12. The article as defined in claim 1, wherein the test window is transparent to electromagnetic radiation of a determined wavelength.

13. The article as defined in claim 12, wherein the test window has a transparency of greater than about 90 percent for light having a wavelength of about 463 nanometer, 525 nanometers, 630 nanometers, or 780 nanometers.

17. The article as defined in claim 1, wherein the test window comprises a functionalized surface having a hydroxyl, silanol, amine, or aldehyde pendant group.

18. The article as defined in claim 1, further comprising a hydrogel secured to the functionalized surface.

43. The article as defined in claim 1, wherein the fluid channel has a height, a width, and a length, and the height and the width are selected to control a flow rate of a fluid therethrough, and the fluid has a viscosity and surface tension in a determined range within a set of determined operating conditions.

44. The article as defined in claim 1, wherein the fluid channel comprises a material that is selected such that the fluid channel inner surface can control a flow rate of a fluid therethrough, and the fluid has a viscosity and surface tension in a determined range within a set of determined operating conditions.

45. The article as defined in claim 1, wherein the fluid channel is one of a plurality of flow channels, and each flow channel of the plurality has a length that is selected to determine a flow time of a fluid from the sample reception structure to the test window, and the fluid has a viscosity and surface tension in a determined range within a set of determined operating conditions.

47. The article as defined in claim 1, wherein the fluid channel defines a flow path that makes arcuate turns.

48. The article as defined in claim 1, wherein the fluid channel defines at least one root flow path and at least two sub flow paths, and the sub flow paths each have a flow volume that is a fraction of the flow volume of the root flow path, and each sub flow path flow volume is selected to provide a determined amount of sample to the test window.

49. The article as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one sub flow path differs in flow volume from at least one other sub flow path for a single root flow path.

50. The article as defined in claim 1, wherein the fluid moves in the channel due to capillary action only.

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46. (canceled)

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