PASSIVE MICROFLUIDIC METERING DEVICE

• US 20150147777A1
• Filed: 11/22/2013
• Published: 05/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sharp Life Science (EU) Limited (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Dothie, Pamela Ann
• Granted Patent: US 9,283,560 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/39
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0605 Metering of fluids
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0626 using levitated droplets
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0627 Sensor or part of a sensor is integrated
• 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 2400/0478 pistons
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0487 fluid pressure, pneumatics
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0622 distribution valves, valves having multiple inlets and/or outlets, e.g. metering valves, multi-way valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0683 mechanically breaking a wall or membrane within a channel or chamber
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0694 vents used to stop and induce flow, backpressure valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/086 using baffles or other fixed flow obstructions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502715 characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502723 characterised by venting arrangements
• 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: G01N 15/1404 Handling flow, e.g. hydrodynamic focusing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

An integrated fluidic device comprising includes an input chamber that provides an input of a sample fluid, and a first overspill chamber in fluid communication with the input chamber. A metering conduit is in fluid communication with the fluid input chamber and the first overspill chamber. The metering conduit meters a first metered volume of fluid from the sample fluid, and the first overspill chamber receives fluid in excess of the first metered volume of fluid. A second overspill chamber is in fluid communication with the metering conduit. The metering conduit meters a second metered volume of fluid from the first metered volume of fluid, and the second overspill chamber receives fluid from the first metered volume of fluid in excess of the second metered volume of fluid. The second overspill chamber has a fluid actuated closable valve for controlling the metering of the second metered volume of fluid.

Claims

1. An integrated fluidic device comprising:

a sample fluid input chamber that provides an input of a sample fluid;

a first overspill chamber in fluid communication with the fluid input chamber;

a metering conduit in fluid communication with the fluid input chamber and the first overspill chamber, wherein the metering conduit meters a first metered volume of fluid from the sample fluid, and the first overspill chamber receives fluid from the sample fluid in excess of the first metered volume of fluid; and

a second overspill chamber in fluid communication with the metering conduit, wherein the metering conduit meters a second metered volume of fluid from the first metered volume of fluid, and the second overspill chamber receives fluid from the first metered volume of fluid in excess of the second metered volume of fluid.

2. The integrated fluidic device of claim 1, wherein the second overspill chamber has a fluid actuated closable valve for controlling the metering of the second metered volume of fluid.

3. The integrated fluidic device of claim 2, wherein the first overspill chamber includes a first absorbent pad for absorbing the fluid in excess of the first metered volume of fluid, and the fluid actuated closeable valve includes a second absorbent pad for absorbing the fluid in excess of the second metered volume of fluid.

4. The integrated fluidic device of claim 1, wherein the first overspill chamber is in fluid communication with the metering conduit via a first overspill conduit, and the first overspill conduit is offset from the metering conduit.

5. The integrated fluidic device of any of claims 1-4claim 1, further comprising a blind fluidic conduit to split the second metered volume of fluid from the first metered volume of fluid.

6. The integrated fluidic device of claim 1, further comprising an optical sensor device that measures a length of the second metered volume of fluid to validate the volume of the second metered volume of fluid.

7. The integrated fluidic device of claim 1, further comprising:

a capillary stop at an end of the metering conduit opposite the fluid input chamber; and

a mixing chamber in fluid communication with the capillary stop, wherein the mixing chamber receives the second metered volume of fluid from the metering conduit through the capillary stop.

8. The integrated fluidic device of claim 7, wherein the mixing chamber has a magnetic flea, and an aspect ratio of a length of the magnetic flea to a diameter of the mixing chamber is at least 0.5.

9. The integrated fluidic device of claim 7, further comprising a closeable lid, and the first overspill chamber includes a vent hole, wherein the closeable lid closes over the vent hole to seal the sample fluid input chamber and force at least a portion of the second metered volume of fluid into the mixing chamber.

10. The integrated fluidic device of claim 7, further comprising at least one further fluid input chamber in fluid communication with the metering conduit, wherein the mixing chamber receives a further fluid from the at least one further fluid input chamber through the metering conduit and the capillary stop.

11. The integrated fluidic device of claim 10, wherein the at least one further fluid chamber includes a pressure displacement mechanism for transferring the further fluid from the at least one further fluid chamber into the metering conduit.

12. The integrated fluidic device of claim 11, wherein the at least one further fluid chamber has first and second frangible seals, and the pressure displacement mechanism is a moveable piston;

and

wherein the moveable piston has a needle that pierces the first and second frangible seals to transfer the further fluid from the at least one further fluid chamber into the metering conduit.

13. The integrated fluidic device of claim 10, wherein the integrated fluidic device has n further fluid input chambers, where n is greater than or equal to two.

14. The integrated fluidic device of claim 1, further comprising:

an output conduit in fluid communication with the mixing chamber; and

a cell counter in fluid communication with the output conduit;

wherein fluid is transferred to the cell counter from the mixing chamber via the output conduit, and the center counter counts cells that are present in the fluid transferred from the mixing chamber.

15. The integrated fluidic device of claim 14, further wherein the cell counter comprises at least one of a white blood cell counter or a hemoglobin measurement chamber.

16. A method of metering a fluid in an integrated fluidic device comprising the steps of:

inputting a sample fluid from an input fluid sample chamber into a metering conduit;

providing a first overspill chamber in fluid communication with the sample fluid input chamber and the metering conduit;

passively metering a first metered volume of fluid with the metering conduit from the sample fluid, wherein the first overspill chamber receives fluid from the sample fluid in excess of the first metered volume of fluid;

providing a second overspill chamber in fluid communication with the metering conduit; and

passively metering a second metered volume of fluid with the metering conduit, wherein the second overspill chamber receives fluid from the first metered volume of fluid in excess of the second metered volume of fluid.

17. The method of metering a fluid of claim 16, further comprising:

producing an air gap between the second metered volume of fluid in the metering conduit and the sample input chamber and second overspill conduit, thereby isolating the second metered volume of fluid from the sample fluid.

18. The method of metering a fluid of claim 16, further comprising transferring the second metered volume of fluid into a mixing chamber;

and

performing at least one fluidic operation in the mixing chamber.

19. The method of metering a fluid of claim 18, further comprising:

providing at least one further fluid input chamber in fluid communication with the metering conduit; and

transferring a further fluid from the at least one further fluid input chamber through the metering conduit and into the mixing chamber.

20. The method of metering a fluid of claim 19, further comprising:

outputting fluid from the mixing chamber;

transferring the outputted fluid to a cell counter, the center counter counts cells that are present in the fluid transferred from the mixing chamber.