Apportioning system

• US 5,879,632 A
• Filed: 04/09/1996
• Issued: 03/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sarnoff Corporation (SRI International, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sarnoff Corporation (SRI International, Inc.)
• Inventors: Demers, Robert Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Soderquist, Arlen
• Application Number:
  US08/630,047
• Time in Patent Office: 1,064 Days
• Field of Search: 422/100, 204/269, 204/450, 204/600, 137/487.5, 137/551, 137/597
• US Class Current: 422/501
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/0046 Sequential or parallel reactions, e.g. for the synthesis of polypeptides or polynucleotides; Apparatus and devices for combinatorial chemistry or for making molecular arrays synthesis methods per se C40B50/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/0093 Microreactors, e.g. miniaturised or microfabricated reactors laboratory containers with capillary fluid transport in microfabricated channels or chambers B01L3/5027
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00317 Microwell devices, i.e. having large numbers of wells
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00353 Pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00783 Laminate assemblies, i.e. the reactor comprising a stack of plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00826 Quartz
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00828 Silicon wafers or plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00831 Glass
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00833 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00853 Employing electrode arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00873 Heat exchange
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00889 Mixing micromixers B01F33/30
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00891 Feeding or evacuation
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00952 Sensing operations
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0689 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0819 Microarrays; Biochips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0864 comprising only one inlet and multiple receiving wells, e.g. for separation, splitting
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1827 using resistive heater
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0415 electrical forces, e.g. electrokinetic
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0688 : surface tension valves, capillary stop, capillary break
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0241 : Drop counters; Drop formers making arrays for combinatorial libraries B01J19/0046; automation of dispensing for analysis G01N35/10
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0268 : using pulse dispensing or spraying, eg. inkjet type, piezo actuated ejection of droplets from capillaries
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5027 : by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip B01L3/5023 takes precedence; micromixers B01F33/30; microreactors for synthesis B01J19/0093; microcapillary devices in general B81B1/00
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 60/14 : for creating libraries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7761 : Electrically actuated valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8158 : With indicator, register, recorder, alarm or inspection means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87249 : Multiple inlet with multiple outlet

Abstract

The invention provides an apportioning system comprising a first apportioning chamber having a first outlet and fillable with liquid to a first defined level such that if liquid is added to fill the first apportioning chamber above the first defined level, then the extra fluid drains through the first outlet, an inlet channel that distributes liquid to the first apportioning chamber, and a first electrode-based pump for moving liquid in the first apportioning chamber out the first outlet.

Claims

1. An apportioning system for apportioning liquid from a source substrate having one or more wells to one or more receiving substrates each having one or more wells, the apportioning system comprising in an apportioning substrate:

(a) a first apportioning chamber having a first outlet from the apportioning substrate for delivering liquid to wells of a receiving substrate and fillable with liquid from a first well of the source substrate,

(b) a second apportioning chamber having a second outlet from the apportioning substrate for delivering liquid to wells of receiving substrates and fillable with liquid from the first well of the source substrate,

(c) an inlet channel for distributing the liquid from the source substrate to the first apportioning chamber and the second apportioning chamber,

(d) a first pump for pumping liquid in the first apportioning chamber out the first outlet by means of electrodes contacting liquid distributed to the first apportioning chamber,

(e) a second pump for pumping liquid in the second apportioning chamber out the second outlet by means of electrodes contacting liquid distributed to the second apportioning chamber,

wherein the inlet channel distributes liquid from the source substrate to both the first apportioning chamber and the second apportioning chamber so that liquid from the inlet channel can be apportioned to the first or second outlet, and

wherein the apportioning substrate is adapted to reversibly and sealably dock with the source substrate to join an outlet from the first well to the inlet channel and adapted to reversibly and sealably dock with receiving substrates.

2. The apportioning system of claim 1, wherein the apportioning substrate is fabricated from at least two planar substrates that are sealed together.

3. The apportioning system of claim 2, comprising a first planar substrate in which the inlet is formed and through which electrical leads to the pumps are formed.

4. The apportioning system of claim 3, comprising a second planar substrate in which the apportioning chambers are formed.

5. The apportioning system of claim 4, wherein each of the outlets from the apportionment chambers comprise a sluice formed in the lower surface of the first planar substrate and a channel formed through the second planar substrate.

6. The apportioning system of claim 2, wherein the planar substrates are formed of glass.

7. The apportioning system of claim 1, wherein, when the first apportioning chamber is filled with a selected liquid, the operation of the first pump pumps a first aliquot amount, with a reproducibility of within plus or minus about 10% of the first aliquot amount.

8. The apportioning system of claim 1, comprising at least four apportioning chambers and corresponding pumps for pumping liquids by means of electrodes.

9. The apportioning system of claim 1, comprising at least eight apportioning chambers and corresponding pumps for pumping liquids by means of electrodes.

10. An apportionment cassette comprising:

a plurality of apportioning systems of claim 1, the apportionment cassette designed to operate with a receiving tray having a plurality of uniformly sized receiving wells formed in the upper surface of the receiving tray, wherein the density of the receiving wells is at least about 10 cells per cm²,

wherein the receiving tray and the apportioning cassette can be aligned so that the first outlets from said apportioning systems or the second outlets from said apportioning systems align with inlets of all or a subset of the wells.

11. The apportionment cassette of claim 10, further comprising a first marker on an edge of the cassette, wherein the marker is for orienting the cassette relative to the receiving tray.

12. The apportionment cassette according to claim 10, further comprising a top surface adapted to engage with an electrical housing comprising electrical circuitry for selectively operating the pumps.

13. The apportioning system of claim 1 wherein the first apportioning chamber is fillable with liquid to a first fill amount such that if liquid is added to fill the first apportioning chamber above the first fill amount, then the extra fluid drains through the first outlet.

14. The apportioning system of claim 1 wherein the second apportioning chamber is fillable with liquid to a second fill amount such that if liquid is added to fill the second apportioning chamber above the second fill amount, then the extra fluid drains through the second outlet.

15. The apportioning system of claim 1 further comprising a capillary barrier to provide impedance to fluid flow from the first apportioning chamber towards the first outlet or from the second apportioning chamber towards the second outlet.