MICROFLUIDIC CARTRIDGE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME

• US 20140323357A1
• Filed: 04/28/2014
• Published: 10/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HandyLab Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: HandyLab Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Handique, Kalyan
• Granted Patent: US 9,815,057 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 506/26
• 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 isolating a plurality of polynucleotide-containing samples on a microfluidic cartridge, the method comprising:

providing a first reaction chamber;

providing a second reaction chamber;

providing a first inlet port, the first inlet port in fluid communication with the first reaction chamber;

providing a second inlet port, the second inlet port in fluid communication with the second reaction chamber;

providing a first outlet in fluid communication with the first reaction chamber;

providing a second outlet in fluid communication with the second reaction chamber;

providing a first set of microfluidic valves;

providing a second set of microfluidic valves;

actuating the first set of microfluidic valves to isolate the first reaction chamber from the first inlet port and the first outlet; and

independent of the actuation of the first set of microfluidic valves, actuating the second set of microfluidic valves to isolate the second reaction chamber from the second inlet port and the second outlet, the isolation effected by the first and the second set of microfluidic valves preventing movement of fluid into and out of the first and the second reaction chambers.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein actuating the first set of microfluidic valves comprises actuating a first microfluidic valve spatially separated from the first inlet port and actuating a second microfluidic valve spatially separated from the first outlet, and wherein actuating the second set of microfluidic valves comprises actuating a first microfluidic valve spatially separated from the second inlet port and actuating a second microfluidic valve spatially separated from the second outlet.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising amplifying one or more polynucleotides in the first reaction chamber independently of amplifying one or more polynucleotides in the second reaction chamber.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising simultaneous loading samples from a multiple-pipette head dispenser into the first inlet port and the second inlet port.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein, prior to actuating the first set of microfluidic valves, the first set of microfluidic valves are initially open and in fluid communication with the first reaction chamber and wherein, prior to actuating the second set of microfluidic valves, the second set of microfluidic valves are initially open and in fluid communication with the second reaction chamber.

23. A method of isolating a plurality of polynucleotide-containing samples, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of sample lanes, wherein each of the plurality of sample lanes comprises a microfluidic network having, in fluid communication with one another;

an inlet and an outlet;

a first valve and a second valve;

a reaction chamber,

a first channel leading from the inlet, via the first valve, to the reaction chamber; and

a second channel leading from the reaction chamber, via the second valve, to the outlet,

isolating the reaction chamber in at least two of the plurality of sample lanes from the inlet and the outlet to prevent movement of fluid into or out of the reaction chamber by closing the first valve and the second valve, the first valve in at least one of the plurality of sample lanes closed independently of another first valve.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the first valve is spatially separated from the first inlet and the second valve is spatially separated from the outlet.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising amplifying one or more polynucleotides in the first reaction chamber independently of amplifying one or more polynucleotides in the second reaction chamber.

26. The method of claim 23, further comprising simultaneous loading of samples from a multiple-pipette head dispenser into the first inlet port and the second inlet port.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein the first valve and the second valve are both initially open and in fluid communication with the reaction chamber.

28. The method of claim 23, further comprising introducing a first sample into a first lane of the plurality of sample lanes and introducing a second sample into a second lane of the plurality of sample lanes, wherein the first sample flows into a first reaction chamber and the second sample flows into a second reaction chamber.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein isolating the reaction chamber in at least two of the plurality of sample lanes comprises closing the first and second valves in the first lane independent of closing the first and second valves in the second lane.

30. The method of claim 23, wherein a microfluidic cartridge comprises the plurality of sample lanes.

31. A method of isolating a plurality of polynucleotide-containing samples, the method comprising:

introducing a first sample into a first inlet port, wherein the first sample flows from the first inlet port through a first valve spaced from the first inlet port into a first amplification chamber and toward a second valve spaced from the first amplification chamber;

introducing a second sample into a second inlet port, wherein the second sample flows from the second inlet port through a third valve spaced from the second inlet port into a second amplification chamber and toward a fourth valve spaced from the second amplification chamber;

closing the first valve and the second valve to isolate the first sample in the first amplification chamber;

independent of the closing of the first valve and the second valve, closing the third valve and the fourth valve in order to isolate the second sample in the second amplification chamber independent of the isolation of the first sample in the first amplification chamber.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the first valve is spatially separated from the first inlet port, and wherein the third valve is spatially separated from the second inlet port.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein closing the first and the second valves prevents movement of the first sample into and out of the first amplification chamber.

34. The method of claim 31, further comprising amplifying one or more polynucleotides in the first reaction chamber independently of amplifying one or more polynucleotides in the second reaction chamber.

35. The method of claim 31, further comprising simultaneous loading of samples from a multiple-pipette head dispenser into the first inlet port and the second inlet port.

36. The method of claim 31, wherein, prior to closing the first and second valves, the first valve and the second valve are both initially open and in fluid communication with the first amplification chamber, and wherein, prior to closing the third and fourth valves, the third valve and the fourth valve are both initially open and in fluid communication with the second amplification chamber.

37. The method of claim 31, wherein a microfluidic cartridge comprises the plurality of sample lanes, wherein the first lane comprises the first inlet port, the first valve, the first amplification chamber and the second valve, and wherein the second lane comprises the second inlet port, the third valve, the second amplification chamber and the fourth valve.