MICROFLUIDIC METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR FLUID MIXING AND VALVING

• US 20090145485A1
• Filed: 08/10/2006
• Published: 06/11/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: AB Sciex LLC (Danaher Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Eksigent Technologies LLC
• Inventors: Thrall, Sara, Bevan, Christopher David, Smith, Gregory Fenton, Tew, David G., Patel, Mehul, Schmidt, Dawn M., Crenshaw, Hugh C., Pollack, Michael G., Votaw, Gregory A., Junge, Kelly
• Application Number:
  US11/719,521
• Publication Number:
  US 20090145485A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/2
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/433 Mixing tubes wherein the shape of the tube influences the mixing, e.g. mixing tubes with varying cross-section or provided with inwardly extending profiles
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/4331 Mixers with bended, curved, coiled, wounded mixing tubes or comprising elements for bending the flow
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/4336 Mixers with a diverging cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/30 Micromixers
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/81 Forming mixtures with changing ratios or gradients
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/027 for microfluidic devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0867 Multiple inlets and one sample wells, e.g. mixing, dilution
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1894 Cooling means; Cryo cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0487 fluid pressure, pneumatics
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0677 phase change valves; Meltable, freezing, dissolvable plugs; Destructible barriers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502715 characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50273 characterised by the means or forces applied to move the fluids micropumps F04B19/006, of the membrane type F04B43/043
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502738 characterised by integrated valves microvalves F16K99/0001
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/565 Seals in general F16L
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 2099/0084 Chemistry or biology, e.g. "lab-on-a-chip" technology
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0001 Microvalves microdevices B81B1/00; manufacture or treatment of devices or systems in or on a substrate B81C1/00; microfluidic structures B01L3/5027; micropumps F04B19/006
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0032 using phase transition or influencing viscosity
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0044 using thermo-electric means
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/6095 Micromachined or nanomachined, e.g. micro- or nanosize
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1097 : characterised by the valves valves in general F16K
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0324 : With control of flow by a condition or characteristic of a fluid
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0329 : Mixing of plural fluids of diverse characteristics or conditions
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0391 : Affecting flow by the addition of material or energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/218 : Means to regulate or vary operation of device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2196 : Acoustical or thermal energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86131 : Plural
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87652 : With means to promote mixing or combining of plural fluids

Abstract

According to one embodiment, an apparatus and method for delivering one or more fluids to a microfluidic channel is provided. A microfluidic channel is provided in communication with a first conduit for delivering fluids to the microfluidic channel. Further, the apparatus and method can include a first fluid freeze valve connected to the first conduit and operable to reduce the temperature of the first conduit for freezing fluid in the first conduit such that fluid is prevented from advancing through the first conduit.

Claims

1. An apparatus for delivering one or more fluids to a microfluidic channel, comprising:

(a) a microfluidic channel;

(b) a first conduit communicating with the microfluidic channel for delivering fluids to the microfluidic channel; and

(c) a first fluid freeze valve connected to the first conduit and operable to reduce the temperature of the first conduit for freezing fluid in the first conduit such that fluid is prevented from advancing through the first conduit.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 comprising a second conduit communicating with the microfluidic channel for advancing fluids out of the microfluidic channel.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 comprising a second fluid freeze valve connected to the second conduit and operable to lower the temperature of the second conduit for freezing fluid in the second conduit such that fluid is prevented from advancing through the second conduit.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the microfluidic channel comprises an aging loop.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 comprising an injection loop comprising a first and second end, the first end communicating with the microfluidic channel and the second end communicating with the first conduit for receiving different fluids from the first conduit to advance to the microfluidic channel.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the injection loop comprises a microchannel etched in a microfluidic chip.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the injection loop comprises a volume between about 0.1 and 2.0 microliters.

8. The apparatus according to claim 5 comprising a first pump communicating with the injection loop for advancing fluid in the injection loop to the microfluidic channel.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the first pump is operable to advance the fluid at a controlled, variable flow rate.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8 comprising a second pump communicating with the first end of the injection loop and operable to receive fluid advanced from the injection loop.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the second pump is operable to advance fluid from the injection loop at a controlled, variable flow rate through the first input channel to the microfluidic channel.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10 comprising a third pump communicating with the second end of the injection loop for advancing fluid through the injection loop.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the third pump is operable to advance fluid from the injection loop at a controlled, variable flow rate through the first input channel to the microfluidic channel.

14. The apparatus according to claim 5 comprising a first waste unit communicating with the first end of the injection loop for receiving fluid from the microfluidic channel.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the first waste unit is operable to receive fluid from the injection loop.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15 comprising a second conduit communicating with the microfluidic channel for advancing fluids in the microfluidic channel out of the microfluidic channel.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16 comprising a second fluid freeze valve connected to the second conduit and operable to lower the temperature of the second conduit for freezing fluid in the second conduit such that fluid is prevented from advancing through the second conduit.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the microfluidic channel comprises an aging loop.

19. The apparatus according to claim 5 comprising a vacuum communicating with the first end of the injection loop for advancing a fluid through the injection loop.

20. The apparatus according to claim 16 comprising a second conduit for communicating fluid from the injection loop to the vacuum.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20 comprising a second fluid freeze valve connected to the second conduit and operable to lower the temperature of the second conduit for freezing the fluid in the second conduit such that fluid is prevented from communicating through the second conduit.

22-83. -83. (canceled)

84. A method for mixing different fluids, the method comprising:

(a) providing a microfluidic chip comprising a first and second input channel fluidly communicating at a merge location, and a mixing channel communicating with the first and second input channels at the merge location;

(b) providing a first conduit communicating with the merge location for delivering fluids to the merge location; and

(c) reducing the temperature of the first conduit for freezing fluid in the first conduit such that fluid is prevented from advancing through the first conduit.

85-118. -118. (canceled)

119. A method for mixing different fluids, the method comprising:

(a) providing a microfluidic chip comprising a first and second input channel fluidly communicating at a merge location, and a mixing channel communicating with the first and second input channels at the merge location;

(b) providing an injection loop comprising a microchannel etched in the microfluidic chip and communicating with at least one of the first and second input channels for providing different fluids to one of first and second pumps for subsequent advancement through one of the first and second input channels; and

(c) changing the temperature of the injection loop for maintaining fluid in the injection loop at a different temperature than a temperature of the fluid in the first or second input channels.

120-152. -152. (canceled)