Method and system for inhibiting cross-contamination in fluids of combinatorial chemistry device
First Claim
1. A device for separately and selectively distributing liquids from each of one or more liquid sources to a plurality of sectors located on a common surface of a distribution substrate, the device comprising:
- the distribution substrate;
at least a first liquid source;
a network of microchannels connecting the at least one liquid source to a plurality of the sectors, wherein the microchannels form outlets at the sectors; and
a plurality of micropumps each comprising at least two electrodes, wherein the micropumps move liquids by means of the electrodes, the micropumps located in the substrate to provide selective pumping of liquid out of the outlets.
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Abstract
A system and method for accomplishing a plurality of combinatorial processes in parallel comprising a microelectronic and fluidic array (device array) having micron-sized reservoirs, connecting microchannels and reaction cells etched into a substrate. The device array is supported by a station which serves to interface and perform electro-optic measurements of material in the reaction cells of the device array. The device array incorporates a modular configuration with three distinct layers or plates. The device array comprises a top feedthru plate, a center distribution plate and a bottom cell plate. The three plates are stacked vertically and coupled together to form a liquid-tight seal. Reservoirs, microchannels and reactions cells are controllably etched onto the plates using traditional semiconductor fabrication techniques. The top feedthru plate serves as a cover for the device array and contains apertures selectively positioned above the reservoirs located in the center distribution plate. The center distribution plate comprises a plurality of micron sized reservoirs, microchannels, reservoir feeds, cell feeds and overflow feeds for the distribution of reagent fluids to the reaction cells located in the bottom cell plate. The detachable bottom cell plate serves as a microlaboratory tray of reaction cells. Once the proper reagents or other materials are introduced into the reaction cells, the bottom cell plate is decoupled from the device array and removed for incubation or analysis.
290 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A device for separately and selectively distributing liquids from each of one or more liquid sources to a plurality of sectors located on a common surface of a distribution substrate, the device comprising:
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the distribution substrate; at least a first liquid source; a network of microchannels connecting the at least one liquid source to a plurality of the sectors, wherein the microchannels form outlets at the sectors; and a plurality of micropumps each comprising at least two electrodes, wherein the micropumps move liquids by means of the electrodes, the micropumps located in the substrate to provide selective pumping of liquid out of the outlets. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A device for separately and selectively distributing liquids from each of one or more liquid sources to a plurality of sectors arrayed on a surface of a substrate, the device comprising the substrate comprising two or more plates each having at least one junction to another such plate at which junction a surface of the plate is bonded to a surface of the other such plate, and further comprising within the substrate:
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at least a first liquid source; for each liquid source, a microchannel connected to the liquid source, wherein portions of the microchannel has at least one outlet to one of the sectors, wherein portions of the microchannels are formed as trenches in plate surfaces found at said junctions; for each outlet, a barrier to flow is interposed between the liquid source and the outlet for inhibiting flow out of the outlet; a plurality of micropumps embedded within the substrate; and a plurality of electrical conduits for directing electrical power to the micropumps, wherein the micropumps each comprise at least two electrodes contacting a microchannel from the electrical conduits, each micropump for selectively pumping liquid past at least one of the barriers, wherein liquid flows past each of the barriers when the corresponding micropumps are activated. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. The liquid distribution system for directing two or more liquids to each of two or more sectors, the liquid distribution system comprising a substrate that comprises a series of plates bonded top to bottom, each plate formed of material susceptible to microfabrication methods for forming microchannels on the surface of the plate, the plates comprising:
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the first liquid source and at least one additional liquid source; at least one first feeder microchannel segment connected to each of the liquid sources, each first feeder microchannel segment formed along a first junction between two of the plates; and at least one distribution microchannel and having an outlet at one or more of said sectors, connected to each feeder microchannel segment and formed along a second junction, distinct from the first, of two plates; wherein filling each first source with a liquid results in filling the connected first feeder microchannel segments and connected distribution microchannels, and wherein distribution microchannels connected to one first feeder microchannel segment avoid intersecting with other first feeder microchannel segments due to being formed along the second junction instead of along the first junction where the first feeder microchannel segments are formed. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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Specification