MICROFLUIDIC DEVICES WITH SEPARABLE ACTUATION AND FLUID-BEARING MODULES

• US 20110100495A1
• Filed: 07/19/2010
• Published: 05/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aerospace Corporation
• Original Assignee: Aerospace Corporation
• Inventors: Welle, Richard P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,245,731 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/827
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1822 using Peltier elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0677 phase change valves; Meltable, freezing, dissolvable plugs; Destructible barriers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502738 characterised by integrated valves microvalves F16K99/0001
• CPC Class Codes: F15C 5/00 Manufacture of fluid circuit elements; Manufacture of assemblages of such elements integrated circuits
• 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 99/0003 Constructional types of microvalves; Details of the cutting-off member
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0021 No-moving-parts valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0044 using thermo-electric means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2191 By non-fluid energy field affecting input [e.g., transducer]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2196 Acoustical or thermal energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2213 Electrically-actuated element [e.g., electro-mechanical transducer]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2224 Structure of body of device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/5283 Units interchangeable between alternate locations

Abstract

A fluid transport/containment apparatus includes a fluid-bearing module and an actuation module. The fluid-bearing module includes a substrate and fluid transport/containment elements distributed therein, with one or more of the fluid transport/containment elements having microfluidic dimensions. The actuation module is detachably secured to the fluid-bearing module such that the actuation elements are operatively interfaced with the fluid transport/containment elements.

Claims

1. A fluid transport/containment apparatus comprising:

a fluid-bearing module including a substrate and fluid transport/containment elements therein, wherein at least one of the fluid transport/containment elements has a predefined microfluidic dimension; and

an actuation module including actuation elements, the actuation module being detachably secured to the fluid-bearing module such that the actuation elements are operatively interfaced with the fluid transport/containment elements,

the actuation module remaining an integral unit when detached from the fluid-bearing module.

2. The fluid transport/containment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises a polymeric material.

3. The fluid transport/containment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS).

4. The fluid transport/containment apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a fluid-impermeable layer disposed between the substrate and the actuation module.

5. The fluid transport/containment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one fluid transport/containment element has a predefined depth of less than 25 microns.

6. The fluid transport/containment apparatus of claim 4, wherein the fluid-impermeable layer comprises stainless steel.

7. The fluid transport/containment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fluid bearing module and the actuation module are secured together with a clamp mechanism.

8. The fluid transport/containment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transport/containment elements include one or more flow channels.

9. The fluid transport/containment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transport/containment elements include one or more inlet ports and one or more outlet ports.

10. The fluid transport/containment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transport/containment elements include one or more reservoirs.

11. The fluid transport/containment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the actuation elements include one or more electromechanical actuator mechanisms.

12. The fluid transport/containment apparatus of claim 11, wherein the electromechanical actuator mechanism includes a plunger member and a drive mechanism.

13. The fluid transport/containment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the actuation elements include one or more electromagnetic actuation mechanisms.

14. The fluid transport/containment apparatus of claim 13, wherein the electromagnetic actuation mechanism includes an electromagnetic coil.

15. The fluid transport/containment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the actuation elements include one or more thermal actuation mechanisms.

16. The fluid transport/containment apparatus of claim 15, wherein the thermal actuation mechanism includes a Peltier heater/cooler.

17. The fluid transport/containment apparatus of claim 15, wherein the thermal actuation mechanism includes an ohmic heater.

18. The fluid transport/containment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the actuation module includes one or more sensor elements.

19. The fluid transport/containment apparatus of claim 18, wherein the sensor element comprises an optical sensor.

20. The fluid transport/containment apparatus of claim 18, wherein the sensor element comprises a thermal sensor.

21. The fluid transport/containment apparatus of claim 18, wherein the sensor element comprises an electrical sensor.

22. The fluid transport/containment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fluid transport/containment elements comprise a thermal control volume element recessed into the substrate, the thermal control volume element having microfluidic dimensions;

and

wherein the actuation elements comprise a heating/cooling element disposed in the actuation module such that the heating/cooling element is thermally coupled to the thermal control volume element.

23. The fluid transport/containment apparatus of claim 22, wherein the thermal control volume element has a depth of less than 25 microns.

24. The fluid transport/containment apparatus of claim 22, wherein the heating/cooling element comprises a thermoelectric device.

25. The fluid transport/containment apparatus of claim 22, wherein the heating/cooling element comprises a Peltier device.

26. The fluid transport/containment apparatus of claim 22, wherein the actuation module includes a heat sink element thermally coupled to the heating/cooling element.

27. The fluid transport/containment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fluid transport/containment elements comprise a flow channel recessed into the substrate, the flow channel having microfluidic dimensions;

and

wherein the actuation elements comprise a Peltier device disposed in the actuation module such that the Peltier device is thermally coupled to the flow channel.

28. The fluid transport/containment apparatus of claim 27, wherein the Peltier device comprises a four-layer structure that includes two semiconductor thermoelectric material layers providing a Peltier junction adjacent to the flow channel, and two conductive layers between which the two semiconductor thermoelectric material layers are sandwiched.

29. The fluid transport/containment apparatus of claim 27, wherein the Peltier device comprises a five-layer structure that includes a conductive layer adjacent to the flow channel, two semiconductor thermoelectric material layers between which the conductive layer is sandwiched, and two additional conductive layers between which the two semiconductor thermoelectric material layers are sandwiched.

30. The fluid transport/containment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fluid transport/containment elements comprise a main flow channel and a variable volume cell that meet at a junction, at least one of the main flow channel and the variable volume cell having microfluidic dimensions;

and

wherein the actuation elements comprise a pair of valves positioned adjacent to the main flow channel at opposite sides of the junction, the valves of the pair being selectably controllable to open and close the main flow channel at the opposite sides of the junction, the actuation module including means for changing a volume of the variable volume cell such that, in conjunction with selectively controlling the valves of the pair, a pump is provided.

31. The fluid transport/containment apparatus of claim 30, wherein the valves comprise a Peltier-actuated valve.

32. The fluid transport/containment apparatus of claim 30, wherein the means for changing the volume includes an electromechanical actuation mechanism adjacent to the variable volume cell.

33. The fluid transport/containment apparatus of claim 32, wherein the fluid-bearing module includes a flexible membrane facing the electromechanical actuation mechanism.

34. The fluid transport/containment apparatus of claim 30, wherein the fluid-bearing module includes a flexible membrane enclosing the variable volume cell.

35. The fluid transport/containment apparatus of claim 34, wherein the flexible membrane is spring-loaded.

36. The fluid transport/containment apparatus of claim 33, wherein the electromechanical actuation mechanism includes a plunger member and a drive mechanism.

37. The fluid transport/containment apparatus of claim 30, wherein the means for changing the volume includes an electromagnetic actuation mechanism adjacent to the variable volume cell.

38. The fluid transport/containment apparatus of claim 37, wherein the electromagnetic actuation mechanism includes an electromagnetic coil, and the fluid-bearing module includes a magnet mechanically coupled to the variable volume cell.

39. The fluid transport/containment apparatus of claim 30, wherein the means for changing the volume includes a thermal actuation mechanism adjacent to the variable volume cell.

40. The fluid transport/containment apparatus of claim 39, wherein the thermal actuation mechanism comprises a Peltier heating/cooling element.

41. The fluid transport/containment apparatus of claim 30, wherein the fluid-bearing module includes one or more control fluids within the variable volume cell.

42. The fluid transport/containment apparatus of claim 30, wherein the fluid-bearing module includes one or more bi-phase materials within the variable volume cell.

47. The fluid transport/containment apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an additional fluid-bearing module including a second substrate and a second pattern of fluid transport/containment elements distributed therein, the actuation module being reusable with and detachably secured to the additional fluid-bearing module after use with and detachment from the fluid-bearing module.

48. The fluid transport/containment apparatus of claim 47, wherein the additional fluid-bearing modules each include a fluid impermeable layer sealing the fluid transport/containment elements distributed in that module to prevent fluid in that module from contaminating the actuation module.

49. The fluid transport/containment apparatus of claim 47, wherein the second pattern of fluid transport/containment elements and the actuation elements are arranged such that each actuation element interfaces with a corresponding fluid transport/containment element of the second pattern of fluid transport/containment elements.

50. The fluid transport/containment apparatus of claim 47, wherein the second pattern of fluid transport/containment elements and the actuation elements are arranged such that not all actuation elements interface with a corresponding fluid transport/containment element of the second pattern of fluid transport elements but instead interface only with the second substrate.

51. The fluid transport/containment apparatus of claim 47, wherein the fluid-bearing module and the additional fluid-bearing module each include registration markers for use in respectively aligning the pattern of fluid transport/containment elements and the second pattern of fluid transport/containment elements with the actuation elements.

52. The fluid transport/containment apparatus of claim 47, wherein the pattern of fluid transport/containment elements has a different layout than does the second pattern of fluid transport/containment elements.

53. The fluid transport/containment apparatus of claim 47, wherein the pattern of fluid transport/containment elements has the same layout as the second pattern of fluid transport/containment elements.

54. The fluid transport/containment apparatus of claim 4, wherein the fluid impermeable layer is electrically insulative.

55. The fluid transport/containment apparatus of claim 4, wherein the fluid impermeable layer provides a substantially flat interface between the fluid-bearing module and the actuation module.

43. A fluid transport/containment apparatus comprising:

a replaceable fluid-bearing module including a substrate and a pattern of fluid transport/containment elements distributed therein, wherein at least one of the fluid transport/containment elements has a predefined microfluidic dimension; and

a reusable actuation module including actuation elements, the actuation module being detachably secured to the replaceable fluid-bearing module such that only certain of the actuation elements are operatively interfaced with the fluid transport/containment elements,

the actuation module remaining an integral unit when detached from the fluid-bearing module.

44. The fluid transport/containment apparatus of claim 43, wherein when the actuation module is reused with a subsequent replaceable fluid-bearing module having a substrate and a different pattern of fluid transport/containment elements distributed therein, the fluid transport/containment elements of the subsequent fluid bearing module interface with at least some actuation elements other than the certain actuation elements.

45. The fluid transport/containment apparatus of claim 43, wherein when the actuation module is reused with a subsequent fluid bearing module having a substrate and the pattern of fluid transport/containment elements distributed therein, the fluid transport/containment elements of the subsequent fluid bearing module interface with the certain actuation elements.

46. The fluid transport/containment apparatus of claim 43, further comprising a fluid impermeable layer disposed between the substrate and the reusable actuation module.