DROPLET-BASED DIGITAL MICRODIALYSIS
First Claim
1. A microdialysis probe, comprising,(a) a flow-through microchannel having a first end, a second end distal to the first end, and a U-turn site between the first end and the second end, wherein the cross-sectional area of the microchannel is not greater than 1,000 μ
- m2;
(b) a perfusate reservoir and a first pressure source connected to the first end;
(b) a nozzle and a second pressure source connected to the second end;
(c) an aperture located at the U-turn site; and
(d) a microdialysis membrane disposed over the aperture located at the U-turn site.
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Abstract
The invention relates to a droplet-based digital microdialysis method that utilizes discrete perfusate droplets marched through a microchannel in an intermittent manner. The droplets sequentially reside on a microdialysis membrane that is in contact with the test fluid, e.g., fluid in an extracellular space. The droplets remain stationary at the membrane site for a period of time for rapid equilibration with the test fluid, and is then marched to an outlet port for processing. The invention further relates to microdialysis probes and methods based on the droplet-based digital microdialysis.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A microdialysis probe, comprising,
(a) a flow-through microchannel having a first end, a second end distal to the first end, and a U-turn site between the first end and the second end, wherein the cross-sectional area of the microchannel is not greater than 1,000 μ - m2;
(b) a perfusate reservoir and a first pressure source connected to the first end; (b) a nozzle and a second pressure source connected to the second end; (c) an aperture located at the U-turn site; and (d) a microdialysis membrane disposed over the aperture located at the U-turn site. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 13)
- m2;
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7. A microdialysis probe, comprising,
(a) a flow-through and U-turned microchannel having a first end, a second end distal to the first end, and a U-turn site between the first end and the second end, wherein an array of electrodes are embedded along the microchannel to provide electrical control of electrowetting energy; -
(b) a perfusate reservoir connected to the first end; (c) a nozzle connected to the second end; and (d) an aperture located at the U-turn site, wherein the aperture is covered by a microdialysis membrane. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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14. A digital microdialysis device, comprising,
(a) a reservoir containing perfusate; -
(b) an elongated probe comprising a microchannel having an aperture, wherein the aperture is covered with a microdialysis membrane; (c) means for forming a plurality of discrete droplets of the perfusate from the reservoir; and (d) means for moving one of the discrete droplets to the aperture, retaining the moved droplet at the aperture for a predetermined period, and removing the moved droplet off the aperture. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification