FLUIDIC UNITS AND CARTRIDGES FOR MULTI-ANALYTE ANALYSIS

• US 20160361715A1
• Filed: 06/08/2016
• Published: 12/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cytochip Inc.
• Original Assignee: Cytochip Inc.
• Inventors: Ding, Yuzhe, Shi, Wendian
• Granted Patent: US 10,022,720 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0096 Casings for storing test samples A61B10/0038 and A61B10/0045 take precedence; preservation of living parts of the human or animal body A01N1/02; containers for retaining a material to be analysed B01L3/50; containers for enzymology or microbiology C12M1/16; swab-sampler being part of enzymology or microbiology container C12M1/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150022 for capillary blood or interstitial fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/141 Preventing contamination, tampering
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/143 Quality control, feedback systems
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0627 Sensor or part of a sensor is integrated
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0645 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0681 Filter
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0861 Configuration of multiple channels and/or chambers in a single devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0864 comprising only one inlet and multiple receiving wells, e.g. for separation, splitting
• 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 2400/0406 capillary forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0409 centrifugal forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0457 passive flow or gravitation
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0487 fluid pressure, pneumatics
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0688 surface tension valves, capillary stop, capillary break
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/088 by specific surface properties
• 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

Abstract

A fluidic device for a cartridge for testing biological samples is disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the fluidic device includes a fluidic chamber, at least one microfluidic channel in fluid communication with the fluidic chamber, a venting port configured to apply a pneumatic force to the fluidic chamber, at least one passive valve located within the at least one microfluidic channel and configured to allow or stop fluid flow through the at least one microfluidic channel based on a pressure difference, and a controller configured to control the pneumatic force applied to the fluidic chamber via the venting port.

Claims

1. A fluidic device comprising:

a fluidic chamber;

at least one microfluidic channel in fluid communication with the fluidic chamber;

a venting port configured to apply a pneumatic force to the fluidic chamber;

at least one passive valve located within the at least one microfluidic channel and configured to allow or stop fluid flow through the at least one microfluidic channel based on a pressure difference; and

a controller configured to control the pneumatic force applied to the fluidic chamber via the venting port.

2. The fluidic device of claim 1, wherein the fluidic chamber is located within a disposable cartridge configured to be held in a vertical position by a housing of the fluidic device.

3. The fluidic device of claim 2, wherein the venting port is located at a top portion of the fluidic chamber when the fluidic chamber is held in the vertical position.

4. The fluidic device of claim 2, wherein the at least one microfluidic channel is located a height below the venting port when the fluidic chamber is held in the vertical position.

5. The fluidic device of claim 2, wherein the at least one microfluidic channel includes a first microfluidic channel and a second microfluidic channel, the first microfluidic channel located a height above the second microfluidic channel with the fluidic chamber held in the vertical position.

6. The fluidic device of claim 1, wherein the at least one passive valve includes at least one of:

(i) a hydrophobic patch;

(ii) a hydrophilic patch;

(iii) a sudden diameter enlargement of a hydrophobic channel; and

(iv) a sudden diameter shrink of a hydrophobic channel.

7. The fluidic device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control the pneumatic force applied to the fluidic chamber via the venting port based on (i) a pressure (P₀) associated with the venting port, and (ii) a pressure (P₁) associated with the at least one microfluidic channel.

8. The fluidic device of claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to store fluid in the fluidic chamber by controlling the pneumatic force applied to the fluidic chamber via the venting port according to the following equations:

−

Δ

P_in−

ρ

gh≦

P₀−

P₁≦

Δ

P_out−

ρ

gh, if h≧

0; and

P₁−

P₀≦

Δ

P_in, if h<

0,

wherein (i) Δ

P_in is a first threshold pressure associated with a first direction of fluid entering the fluidic chamber, (ii) Δ

P_out is a second threshold pressure associated with a second direction of fluid leaving the fluidic chamber, and (iii) ρ

gh is the hydraulic pressure of the fluid.

9. The fluidic device of claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to transfer fluid into the fluidic chamber by controlling the pneumatic force applied to the fluidic chamber via the venting port according to the following equations:

P₁−

P₀>

Δ

P_in+ρ

gh, if h≧

0; and

P₁−

P₀>

Δ

P_in, if h<

0,

wherein (i) Δ

P_in is a threshold pressure associated with a direction of fluid entering the fluidic chamber, and (ii) ρ

gh is the hydraulic pressure of the fluid.

10. The fluidic device of claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to transfer fluid out of the fluidic chamber by controlling the pneumatic force applied to the fluidic chamber via the venting port according to the following equation:

P₀−

P₁>

Δ

P_out−

ρ

gh,

wherein (i) Δ

P_out is a threshold pressure associated with a direction of fluid leaving the fluidic chamber, and (ii) ρ

gh is the hydraulic pressure of the fluid.

11. The fluidic device of claim 1, wherein the fluidic chamber includes at least one filter membrane with a pore size smaller than known particles in the fluid.

12. The fluidic device of claim 1, which includes a plurality of fluidic chambers, and wherein the controller controls the pneumatic pressure applied to respective venting ports of the plurality of fluidic chambers independently of each other.

13. The fluidic device of claim 12, wherein the plurality of fluidic chambers includes a first fluidic chamber and a second fluidic chamber, the first fluidic chamber and the second fluidic chamber in fluid communication via only one microchannel.

14. A fluid testing system comprising:

a device including a pneumatic source and a controller configured to control the pneumatic source;

a fluidic cartridge configured to be inserted into the device, the fluidic cartridge including

an inlet port configured to receive a fluid sample,

a sample retaining chamber configured to receive the fluid sample from the inlet port,

a first fluidic chamber configure to store or receive a reagent, the first fluidic chamber in fluid communication with the sample retaining chamber, and

a second fluidic structure in fluid communication with the sample retaining chamber.

15. The fluid testing system of claim 14, wherein the controller is configured to mix the fluid sample with the reagent in the second fluidic structure by activating the pneumatic source to cause the reagent from the first fluidic chamber to flush the fluid sample into second fluidic structure.

16. The fluid testing system of claim 14, wherein the second fluidic structure includes a sensing structure, and wherein the controller is configured to push the fluid sample first and the reagent second through the sensing structure.

17. The fluid testing system of claim 14, wherein the second fluidic chamber includes a filter membrane with a pore size smaller than target cells in the fluid sample.

18. The fluid testing system of claim 14, wherein the sample retaining chamber is positioned and arranged to draw the fluid sample through the inlet port by capillary force.

19. A fluidic device comprising:

a fluidic chamber;

at least one microfluidic channel in fluid communication with the fluidic chamber;

a tilt sensor configured to sense a tilt angle of the fluidic chamber; and

a controller configured to determine a volume of fluid to be pumped into or out of the fluidic chamber via the at least one microfluidic channel based on the tilt angle sensed by the tilt sensor.

20. The fluidic device of claim 19, which includes a venting port configured to apply a pneumatic force to the fluidic chamber, and wherein the controller is configured to control the pneumatic force applied to the fluidic chamber via the venting port to expel the volume of fluid from the fluidic chamber.

21. The fluidic device of claim 19, wherein the controller is configured to determine the volume of fluid based on a shape of the fluidic chamber and the tilt angle sensed by the tilt sensor.