MICROFLUIDIC FLOW CELL HAVING A STORAGE SPACE THAT HOLDS LIQUID REAGENT MATERIAL AND/OR SAMPLE MATERIAL

• US 20190321822A1
• Filed: 05/24/2017
• Published: 10/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thinxxs Microtechnology GmbH
• Original Assignee: thinXXS Microtechnology AG
• Inventors: WEBER, LUTZ
• Granted Patent: US 11,045,804 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/027 for microfluidic devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/16 Reagents, handling or storing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/044 pierceable, e.g. films, membranes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/047 Additional chamber, reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0867 Multiple inlets and one sample wells, e.g. mixing, dilution
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0877 Flow chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0883 Serpentine channels
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/161 Control and use of surface tension forces, e.g. hydrophobic, hydrophilic
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502715 characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502746 characterised by the means for controlling flow resistance, e.g. flow controllers, baffles B01L3/502738 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/523 with means for closing or opening

Abstract

A microfluidic flow cell, which has a storage space, which holds liquid reagent material and/or sample material and which is connected to an inlet channel for a fluid that transports the reagent material and/or sample material out of the storage space and to an outlet channel for the reagent material and/or sample material and the fluid. The inlet channel and the outlet channel are connected by a bypass that bypasses the storage space.

Claims

1-15. -15. (canceled)

16. A microfluidic flow cell, comprising:

a storage space which receives liquid reagent material and/or sample material;

an inlet channel connected to the storage space for a fluid transporting the reagent material and/or sample material out of the storage space;

an outlet channel connected to the storage space for the reagent material and/or sample material and the fluid; and

a bypass that connects the inlet channel and the outlet channel and bypasses the storage space.

17. The flow cell according to claim 16, wherein the bypass branches off from the inlet channel directly upstream from the storage space in a direction of flow.

18. The flow cell according to claim 16, wherein the storage space forms a channel portion in alignment with the inlet channel and the outlet channel.

19. The flow cell according to claim 16, wherein the storage space has a cross section perpendicular to a direction of flow that corresponds to a cross section of the inlet channel and/or a cross section of the outlet channel.

20. The flow cell according to claim 16, wherein the storage space has a cross section perpendicular to a direction of flow that is smaller or larger than a cross section of the inlet channel and/or a cross section of the outlet channel.

21. The flow cell according to claim 16, wherein the storage space has a cross section perpendicular to a direction of flow that is constant in a direction of flow.

22. The flow cell according to claim 16, wherein the bypass has a flow cross section dimensioned so that a desired fraction of fluid flowing in through the inlet channel flows via the bypass.

23. The flow cell according to claim 16, wherein the bypass has a flow cross section just sufficient to vent the inlet channel in order to prevent reagent material and/or sample material from being transported out of the storage space by air pressure rising in the inlet channel.

24. The flow cell according to claim 16, further comprising a flexible cover film bordering the storage space, wherein the bypass is formed by deflection of the flexible cover film bordering the storage space.

25. The flow cell according to claim 24, wherein the cover film is deflected by air pressure in the inlet channel or by suction pressure generated from outside by an operator device.

26. The flow cell according to claim 16, wherein the inlet channel, the outlet channel and optionally the storage space are formed by recesses in a substrate, and the recesses are closed in a fluid-tight manner by a cover connected to the substrate.

27. The flow cell according to claim 26, wherein the cover is a cover film welded and/or adhesively bonded to a panel face of the substrate.

28. The flow cell according to claim 26, wherein the storage space is adjoined by a carrier element that receives the liquid reagent material and/or sample material and which, in order to close the storage space in a fluid-tight manner, is insertable into an opening in the substrate and is connectable in a fluid-tight manner to the substrate.

29. The flow cell according to claim 28, wherein the storage space is bordered by a receiving region of the carrier element for the reagent material and/or sample material, which receiving region is formed in an endpiece of a plug-like carrier element.