Electrical current for controlling fluid parameters in microchannels
First Claim
1. A method of elevating temperature in at least a portion of a fluid-filled channel disposed in a substrate, to a selected elevated temperature, comprising:
- applying a selectable current through a fluid in the at least a portion of the fluid-filled channel, the portion of the fluid-filled channel having a electrical resistance;
controlling at least one of the selectable current or the electrical resistance to elevate the temperature in the portion of the channel to the selected elevated temperature.
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Abstract
A novel method and device for transporting and/or monitoring a fluid in a multi-port device 400, 800, 1000 used in a microfluidic system is provided. The multi-port device includes a substrate having a novel channel configuration. A first channel region 413 having a first port and a second port for transporting fluid therebetween is defined in the substrate. A second channel region 421 having a first port and a second port for applying electric current for heating fluid or for monitoring a fluid parameter therebetween is also defined in the substrate. In some embodiments, the first channel intersects 407 with the second channel. The heating or monitoring aspect of the invention can be used with a variety of biological reactions such as PCR, LCR, and others.
429 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A method of elevating temperature in at least a portion of a fluid-filled channel disposed in a substrate, to a selected elevated temperature, comprising:
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applying a selectable current through a fluid in the at least a portion of the fluid-filled channel, the portion of the fluid-filled channel having a electrical resistance; controlling at least one of the selectable current or the electrical resistance to elevate the temperature in the portion of the channel to the selected elevated temperature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of heating fluid in a microfluidic system, said method comprising steps of;
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providing a channel having a first end, a second end, and a region defined therebetween, said channel being disposed in a substrate; providing fluid in said region of said channel; applying an electric current through said fluid to heat said fluid at said region; wherein said electric current selectively heats said fluid in said region of said channel while preventing substantial heating of said fluid outside said region. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method of controlling temperature of fluid in a channel defined in a substrate of a microfluidic system, said method comprising steps of:
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applying an electrical energy source to begin heating said fluid in said channel; and adjusting a first parameter applied from said electrical energy source to said fluid to provide a relatively constant second parameter in said fluid, wherein said first parameter is current, voltage, power or a combination thereof, and the second parameter is resistance and conductivity; and wherein said fluid is heated without substantially increasing a temperature of said substrate. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification