Controller/detector interfaces for microfluidic systems
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An electrically controlled microfluidic system, comprising:
- a microfluidic device comprising a body structure having an interior portion and at least a first exterior surface, a plurality of microscale channels disposed in the interior portion of the body structure, and a plurality of ports disposed in the body structure, communicating the exterior surface with the interior portion, each of the ports being in fluid communication with at least one of the plurality of channels;
an electrical control system comprising a plurality of electrical leads, each of the leads being operably coupled to a power source, the electrical control system concomitantly delivering a voltage to each of the plurality of electrical leads;
an electrical interface array comprising;
a cover having at least a first surface, and a plurality of electrode pins mounted thereon, the electrode pins being oriented to be removably inserted into the plurality of ports, each of the electrode pins being electrically coupled to a separate one of the electrical leads the electrical interface array separately and removably coupling each of the electrical leads with each of the plurality of ports, wherein an edge of the cover is attached to the base by a hinge, whereby the cover is capable of being rotatably closed over the microfluidic device mounted on the base, to insert the plurality of pins into the plurality of ports whereupon each of the leads is in electrical communication with a fluid disposed in each of the ports.
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Abstract
The present invention is generally directed to improved methods, structures and systems for interfacing microfluidic devices with ancillary systems that are used in conjunction with such devices. These systems typically include control and monitoring systems for controlling the performance of the processes carried out within the device, e.g., controlling internal fluid transport and direction, monitoring and controlling environmental conditions and monitoring results of the processes performed, e.g., detection.
479 Citations
36 Claims
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1. An electrically controlled microfluidic system, comprising:
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a microfluidic device comprising a body structure having an interior portion and at least a first exterior surface, a plurality of microscale channels disposed in the interior portion of the body structure, and a plurality of ports disposed in the body structure, communicating the exterior surface with the interior portion, each of the ports being in fluid communication with at least one of the plurality of channels; an electrical control system comprising a plurality of electrical leads, each of the leads being operably coupled to a power source, the electrical control system concomitantly delivering a voltage to each of the plurality of electrical leads; an electrical interface array comprising; a cover having at least a first surface, and a plurality of electrode pins mounted thereon, the electrode pins being oriented to be removably inserted into the plurality of ports, each of the electrode pins being electrically coupled to a separate one of the electrical leads the electrical interface array separately and removably coupling each of the electrical leads with each of the plurality of ports, wherein an edge of the cover is attached to the base by a hinge, whereby the cover is capable of being rotatably closed over the microfluidic device mounted on the base, to insert the plurality of pins into the plurality of ports whereupon each of the leads is in electrical communication with a fluid disposed in each of the ports. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An electrically controlled microfluidic system, comprising:
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a microfluidic device comprising a body structure having an interior portion and at least a first exterior surface, a plurality of microscale channels disposed in the interior portion of the body structure, and a plurality of parts disposed in the body structure, communicating the exterior surface with the interior portion, each of the ports being in fluid communication with at least one of the plurality of channels, wherein the body structure is planar, has at least one edge and comprises a plurality of electrical contact pads disposed along the at least one edge of the microfluidic device, each of the electrical contact pads being electrically coupled to at least one of the plurality of ports; and an electrical control system comprising a plurality of electrical leads, each of the leads being operably coupled to a power source, the electrical control system concomitantly delivering a voltage to each of the plurality of electrical leads; an electrical interface array comprising; a cover having at least a first surface, and a plurality of electrical contacts mounted thereon the electrical contacts being oriented to contact the plurality of electrical contact pads disposed along the at least one edge of the body structure, each of the electrical contacts being electrically coupled to a separate one of the electrical leads, and wherein an edge of the cover is attached to the base by a hinge, whereby the cover is capable of being rotatably closed over the microfluidic device mounted on the base, to contact the electrical contacts on the cover with the electrical contact pads disposed along the edge of the body structure. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A microfluidic system, comprising:
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a clam shell comprising; a base having at least one edge and at least an upper surface, the upper surface being adapted for receiving a microfluidic device; and the cover having at least a lower surface and at least one edge, the edge of the cover being connected to the edge of the base by a hinge, and the lower surface having at least a first electrical interface component; and a microfluidic device mounted on the upper surface of the base, the microfluidic device comprising a body structure having an exterior surface, an interior portion defining a plurality of microscale channels, and a second electrical interface component disposed on the exterior surface and providing a plurality of separate electrical connections between the second electrical interface component and a plurality of separate points in the plurality of intersecting microscale channels, the second electrical interface component being complementary to the first electrical interface component and oriented to contact the first electrical interface component when the cover is closed over the microfluidic device. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A microfluidic system comprising:
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a base unit having a mounting surface configured to receive a microfluidic device, and a first electrical interface array component comprising a cover that is attached to the base by a hinge, whereby the cover is capable of being rotatably closed over the microfluidic device mounted on the mounting surface, the first electrical interface array component providing a plurality of electrical contacts disposed on the cover, each of the electrical contacts being separately coupled to a different electrical lead from an electrical controller; a microfluidic device mounted on the mounting surface, the microfluidic device comprising a body structure having an exterior surface, an interior portion defining a plurality of microscale channels, and a second electrical interface component disposed on the exterior surface and providing a plurality of separate electrical connections between the second electrical interface component and a plurality of separate points in the plurality of intersecting microscale channels, the second electrical interface component being complementary to the first electrical interface component and oriented to contact the first electrical interface component when the cover is rotatably closed over microfluidic device mounted on the mounting surface.
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25. A microfluidic system comprising:
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a microfluidic device comprising a body structure having at least first and second separate channel networks disposed therein, each channel network comprising a plurality of intersecting microscale channels, a first interface component on the body structure capable of delivering energy to the first channel network, and a second interface component on the body structure capable of delivering energy to the second channel network; and a controller, comprising an energy source and a first surface adapted for mounting the body structure thereon in at least first and second fixed orientations, and including at least a third interface component operably coupled to the energy source, the third interface component being capable of transmitting energy from the energy source to the first interface component when the body structure is mounted on the mounting surface in the first orientation, and from the energy source to the second interface component when the body structure is mounted on the mounting surface in the second orientation. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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27. A microfluidic system comprising:
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a microfluidic device comprising a body structure having at least first and second separate channel networks disposed therein, each channel network comprising a plurality of intersecting microscale channels, a first interface component on the body structure capable of transmitting energy from the first channel network, and a second interface component on the body structure capable of transmitting energy from the second channel network; and a detection system, comprising an energy detector and a first surface adapted for mounting the body structure thereon in at least first and second fixed orientations, and including at least a third interface component operably coupled to the energy detector, the third interface component being capable of transmitting energy from the first interface component to the detector when the body structure is mounted on the mounting surface in the first orientation, and from the second interface component to the detector when the body structure is mounted on the mounting surface in the second orientation. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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29. An electrically controlled microfluidic system comprising:
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a microfluidic device having an exterior portion and an interior portion defining a plurality of ports disposed at unintersected termini of a plurality of microscale channels, each port being electrically coupled to a different one of a plurality of electrical contacts on the exterior portion of the microfluidic device via an electrical conduit disposed with the interior portion of the microfluidic device which comprises; a thickness less than 1500 Å
;at least a first metal component selected from the group of tungsten, palladium, ruthenium, iridium, osmium and rhodium; and wherein the electrode does not substantially degrade at a metal/fluid interface under applied current densities greater than 10 μ
A/cm2;a power source comprising a plurality of electrical leads, the power source being capable of delivering a different voltage to each of the leads; and an electrical interface component, for reversibly electrically coupling each of the leads to at least one of the plurality of electrical contacts. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification