Microfluidic devices incorporating improved channel geometries
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A microfluidic system, comprising:
- a planar substrate having a first surface;
an analysis channel disposed in said substrate;
a sample loading channel disposed in said substrate and in fluid communication and crossing said analysis channel at a first intersection;
a plurality of separate sample sources in fluid communication with said sample loading channel, whereby there is at least one of said plurality of separate sample sources in fluid communication with said sample loading channel on each side of said first intersection; and
first and second load/waste channels disposed in said substrate, each of said first and second load/waste channels intersecting said sample loading channel at second and third intersections, respectively, said second and third intersections being on different sides of said first intersection.
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Abstract
The present invention generally provides microfluidic devices which incorporate improved channel and reservoir geometries, as well as methods of using these devices in the analysis, preparation, or other manipulation of fluid borne materials, to achieve higher throughputs of such materials through these devices, with lower cost, material and/or space requirements.
486 Citations
81 Claims
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1. A microfluidic system, comprising:
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a planar substrate having a first surface; an analysis channel disposed in said substrate; a sample loading channel disposed in said substrate and in fluid communication and crossing said analysis channel at a first intersection; a plurality of separate sample sources in fluid communication with said sample loading channel, whereby there is at least one of said plurality of separate sample sources in fluid communication with said sample loading channel on each side of said first intersection; and first and second load/waste channels disposed in said substrate, each of said first and second load/waste channels intersecting said sample loading channel at second and third intersections, respectively, said second and third intersections being on different sides of said first intersection. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A microfluidic system, comprising:
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a planar substrate having a first surface; an analysis channel disposed in said substrate; a sample loading channel disposed in said substrate and in fluid communication and crossing said analysis channel at a first intersection; at least six separate sample sources in fluid communication with said sample loading channel, whereby there is at least one of said at least six sample sources in fluid communication with said sample loading channel on each side of said first intersection; and first and second load/waste channels disposed in said substrate, each of said first and second load/waste channels intersecting said sample loading channel at second and third intersections, respectively, said second and third intersections being on different sides of said first intersection. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A microfluidic system, comprising:
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a planar substrate having a first surface; an analysis channel disposed in said substrate; a sample loading channel disposed in said substrate and in fluid communication and crossing said analysis channel at a first intersection; a plurality of separate sample fluid reservoirs disposed in said substrate and in fluid communication with said sample loading channel, whereby there is at least one of said plurality of sample sources in fluid communication with said sample loading channel on each side of said first intersection, and wherein a distance from each of said sample fluid reservoirs to said first intersection via said loading channel is less than two centimeters; and first and second load/waste channels disposed in said substrate, each of said first and second load/waste channels intersecting said sample loading channel at second and third intersections, respectively, said second and third intersections being on different sides of said first intersection. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A microfluidic system, comprising:
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a planar substrate having a first surface; an analysis channel disposed in said substrate; a sample loading channel disposed in said substrate and in fluid communication and crossing said analysis channel at a first intersection; a plurality of separate sample sources in fluid communication with said sample loading channel, whereby there is at least one of said plurality of sample sources in fluid communication with said sample loading channel on each side of said first intersection; and first and second load/waste channels disposed in said substrate, each of said first and second load/waste channels intersecting said sample loading channel at second and third intersections, respectively, said second and third intersections being on different sides of said first intersection; wherein said analysis channel comprises a buffer reservoir in fluid communication with a first terminus of said analysis channel, first and second waste reservoirs disposed at termini of the first and second load/waste channels, respectively, and a third waste reservoir in fluid communication with a second terminus of said analysis channel; and a material direction system for transporting a sample material from each of said plurality of sample through said sample loading channel and into one of said first and second waste reservoirs. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A microfluidic system, comprising:
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a planar substrate; an analysis channel disposed in said substrate; a sample loading channel disposed in said substrate and in fluid communication and crossing said analysis channel at a first intersection; a plurality of separate sample sources in fluid communication with said sample loading channel, whereby there is at least one of said plurality of sample sources in fluid communication with said sample loading channel on each side of said first intersection; and first and second load/waste channels disposed in said substrate, each of said first and second load/waste channels intersecting said sample loading channel at second and third intersections, respectively, said second and third intersections being on different sides of said first intersection; and a material direction system for transporting sample material from each of said plurality of sample sources and injecting at least a portion of said sample material into said analysis channel. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A microfluidic system, comprising:
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a planar substrate having a first surface; an analysis channel disposed in said substrate; a sample loading channel disposed in said surface on a first side of said analysis channel, and intersecting said analysis channel at a first intersection; a plurality of sample reservoirs in fluid communication with said sample loading channel on said first side of said analysis channel; a waste channel disposed in said substrate on a second side of said analysis channel, and intersecting said analysis channel at a second intersection; and a waste reservoir in fluid communication with said waste channel on said second side of said analysis channel; and wherein said plurality of sample reservoirs comprises at least four separate sample reservoirs. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A microfluidic system, comprising:
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a planar substrate having a first surface; an analysis channel disposed in said substrate; first and second transverse channels, said first transverse channel being disposed in said substrate on a first side of said analysis channel, and intersecting said analysis channel at a first intersection, and said second transverse channel being disposed in said substrate on a second side of said analysis channel, and intersecting said analysis channel at a second intersection; a first sample source in fluid communication with said first transverse channel; at least a second sample source in fluid communication with said second transverse channel; a first waste channel intersecting said first transverse channel at a third intersection; at least a second waste channel intersecting said second transverse channel at a fourth intersection; and a material direction system for individually transporting a sample from each of said first and second sample sources to said first and second waste channels via said first and second transverse channels, respectively, and selectively injecting said samples into said analysis channel. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
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58. A microfluidic system, comprising:
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a planar substrate having a first surface; an analysis channel disposed in said substrate; first and second transverse channels, said first transverse channel being disposed in said substrate on a first side of said analysis channel, and intersecting said analysis channel at a first intersection, and said second transverse channel being disposed in said surface on a second side of said analysis channel, and intersecting said analysis channel at a second intersection; a plurality of sample sources in fluid communication with said first transverse channel; a first waste channel intersecting said first transverse channel at a third intersection; at least a second waste channel intersecting said second transverse channel at a fourth intersection; and a material direction system for individually transporting a sample from each of said plurality of sample sources to said first and second waste channels via said first and second transverse channels, respectively, and selectively injecting said samples into said analysis channel. - View Dependent Claims (59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69)
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70. A method of analyzing a plurality of different sample materials, comprising:
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providing a microfluidic device which comprises; a planar substrate having a first surface; an analysis channel disposed in said substrate; a sample loading channel disposed in said substrate and intersecting said analysis channel at a first intersection, wherein said sample loading channel crosses said analysis channel; and at least first and second sample sources in fluid communication with said sample loading channel; a waste reservoir in fluid communication on a same side of said first intersection as said second sample source; transporting a first sample from a first of said plurality of sample sources, through said sample loading channel to said first intersection; injecting a portion of said first sample into said analysis channel; analyzing said first sample in said analysis channel; transporting said second sample through said sample loading channel and into said waste reservoir; and injecting a portion of said second sample into said analysis channel. - View Dependent Claims (71, 72, 73, 74, 75)
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76. A method of performing analysis on a plurality of different sample materials, comprising:
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providing a microfluidic device which comprises; a planar substrate having a first surface; an analysis channel disposed in said substrate; a sample loading channel disposed in said substrate and intersecting said analysis channel at a first intersection; and a sample preloading module which comprises at least first and second sample reservoirs and a waste reservoir, wherein each of said plurality of sample reservoirs and said waste reservoir are in fluid communication with said sample loading channel; transporting a first sample from said first sample reservoir to said first intersection; injecting a portion of said first sample into said analysis channel; concurrently analyzing said portion of said first sample in said analysis channel and transporting a second sample from said second sample reservoir into said loading channel and then to said waste reservoir; transporting said second sample from said loading channel to said intersection; injecting a portion of said second sample into said analysis channel; and analyzing said portion of said second sample in said analysis channel. - View Dependent Claims (77, 78, 79, 80, 81)
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Specification