MICROFLUIDIC VALVE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME

• US 20100173393A1
• Filed: 11/14/2007
• Published: 07/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HandyLab Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: HandyLab Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Haley, Cecelia, Handique, Kalyan, Parunak, Gene
• Granted Patent: US 8,765,076 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/287.200
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0684 Venting, avoiding backpressure, avoid gas bubbles
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/142 Preventing evaporation
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0803 Disc shape
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0867 Multiple inlets and one sample wells, e.g. mixing, dilution
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/087 Multiple sequential chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0887 Laminated structure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/14 Means for pressure control
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1827 using resistive heater
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1844 using fans
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0406 capillary forces
• 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 2400/0694 vents used to stop and induce flow, backpressure valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5025 for parallel transport of multiple samples
• 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 3/502723 characterised by venting arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502738 characterised by integrated valves microvalves F16K99/0001
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 7/52 with provision for submitting samples to a predetermined sequence of different temperatures, e.g. for treating nucleic acid samples amplification or hybridisation processes per se C12Q1/68; controlling sequential reactions for synthesis B01J19/0046
• CPC Class Codes: B81C 1/00087 Holes
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/6806 Preparing nucleic acids for analysis, e.g. for polymerase chain reaction [PCR] assay C12Q1/6804 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/686 : Polymerase chain reaction [PCR]
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 2099/008 : Multi-layer fabrications
• 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

Abstract

The present technology provides for a microfluidic substrate configured to carry out PCR on a number of polynucleotide-containing samples in parallel. The substrate can be a single-layer substrate in a microfluidic cartridge. Also provided are a method of making a microfluidic cartridge comprising such a substrate. Still further disclosed are a microfluidic valve suitable for use in isolating a PCR chamber in a microfluidic substrate, and a method of making such a valve.

Claims

1-17. -17. (canceled)

18. A method of making a microfluidic valve, the method of comprising:

directing a dispensing head over an inlet hole in a microfluidic substrate;

propelling a quantity of thermally responsive substance from the dispensing head into the inlet hole; and

maintaining a temperature of the microfluidic substrate so that the thermally responsive substance flows by capillary action from the inlet hole into a microfluidic channel in communication with the inlet hole.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the quantity is 75±

15 nl.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the propelling utilizes compressed air.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the thermally responsive substance is wax.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein a shoulder is disposed between the inlet hole and the microfluidic channel.

23. The method of claim 18, further comprising maintaining a temperature of the thermally responsive substance in the dispensing head so that the thermally responsive substance is dispensed in molten form into the inlet.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein the volume of the microfluidic channel does not exceed a maximum volume of thermally responsive substance.

25. The method of claim 18, wherein the directing is automatically controlled.

26. The method of claim 18, wherein the quantity of thermally responsive substance is dispensed as a stream comprising a succession of dots.

27. The method of claim 18, wherein the quantity of thermally responsive substance is dispensed as a dots.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the dot has one dimension of around 100 μ

m.

29. A microfluidic valve made by the method of claim 18.

30. A microfluidic substrate comprising one or more microfluidic valves made by the method of claim 18.