Microfluidic systems incorporating varied channel dimensions

• US 5,957,579 A
• Filed: 09/30/1998
• Issued: 09/28/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Caliper Life Sciences Incorporated (Revvity, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Caliper Technologies Corp (Revvity, Inc.)
• Inventors: Parce, John Wallace, Kopf-Sill, Anne R.
• Primary Examiner(s): SOOHOO, TONY GLEN
• Application Number:
  US09/163,709
• Time in Patent Office: 363 Days
• Field of Search: 366/336, 366/337, 366/338, 366/339, 366/340, 366/341, 422/81, 422/100, 436/52, 436/174, 436/179, 436/180, 435/288.4, 435/288.5, 204/450, 204/451, 138/177, 138/138, 138/140, 138/42, 216/2
• US Class Current: 366/340
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/30 Micromixers
• 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 2219/00783 Laminate assemblies, i.e. the reactor comprising a stack of plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0086 Dimensions of the flow channels
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00889 Mixing
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0867 Multiple inlets and one sample wells, e.g. mixing, dilution
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0415 electrical forces, e.g. electrokinetic
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/084 Passive control of flow resistance
• 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 3/502746 characterised by the means for controlling flow resistance, e.g. flow controllers, baffles B01L3/502738 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502776 specially adapted for focusing or laminating flows
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/44791 Microapparatus sample containers with integrated microfluidic structures B01L3/5027
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 366/01 Micromixers: continuous laminar flow with laminar boundary mixing in the linear direction parallel to the fluid propagation with or without conduit geometry influences from the pathway
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 366/02 Micromixers: segmented laminar flow with boundary mixing orthogonal to the direction of fluid propagation with or without geometry influences from the pathway
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 366/03 Micromixers: variable geometry from the pathway influences mixing/agitation of non-laminar fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

The present invention is generally directed to improved microfluidic devices, systems and methods of using same, which incorporate channel profiles that impart significant benefits over previously described systems. In particular, the presently described devices and systems employ channels having, at least in part, depths that are varied over those which have been previously described. These varied channel depths provide numerous beneficial and unexpected results.

Claims

1. A microfluidic device, comprising:

a first substrate layer, having at least a first groove fabricated into a first planar surface thereof;

a second substrate layer having a first planar surface, the first planar surface of the second substrate layer being bonded to the first planar surface of the first substrate layer to seal the groove and define a first channel between the first and second substrate layers, the first planar surface of the second substrate layer defining a top inner surface of the first channel, the top inner surface of the first channel comprising 1/4 or less of a total internal surface area of the first channel.

2. The microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein the first groove is from about 20 μ

m to about 200 μ

m deep.

3. The microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein the first groove is from about 5 μ

m to about 50 μ

m wide.

4. The microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein the first surface of the first substrate layer is thermally bonded to the first surface of the second substrate layer.

5. The microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein the first surface of the first substrate layer is solvent bonded to the first surface of the second substrate layer.

6. The microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein the first surface of the first substrate layer is adhesive bonded to the first surface of the second substrate layer.

7. The microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second substrate layers comprises a plurality of apertures disposed therethrough, the apertures being positioned to be in fluid communication with the at least first channel when the first and second substrate layers are bonded together.

8. A microfluidic device comprising at least a first microscale channel having three interior surfaces defined by a first substrate and a fourth interior surface defined by a second substrate, the fourth interior surface comprising 1/4 or less of a total interior surface area of the channel.

9. The microfluidic device of claim 8, wherein first substrate comprises a first groove fabricated into a surface thereof, the groove defining the three interior surfaces of the channel.

10. The microfluidic device of claim 8, wherein the first channel is from about 20 μ

m to about 200 μ

m deep.

11. The microfluidic device of claim 8, wherein the first channel is from about 5 μ

m to about 50 μ

m wide.