Methods and systems for monitoring and controlling fluid flow rates in microfluidic systems
First Claim
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1. A method of monitoring an electroosmotic flow rate of fluid in a microfluidic device having at least first and second intersecting microscale channels disposed therein, the method comprising:
- flowing a first fluid along the first channel by applying a voltage gradient across a length of the first channel;
injecting a detectable amount of a signaling compound into the first channel;
determining the flow rate of the first fluid in the first channel from the rate at which the signaling compound flows from a first point in the first channel to a second point in the first channel;
while the first fluid is disposed in the first channel, flowing a second fluid different from the first fluid along the second channel by applying a voltage gradient across a length of the second channel;
injecting a detectable amount of a signaling compound into the second channel; and
determining the flow rate of the second fluid in the second channel from the rate at which the signaling compound flows from a first point in the second channel to a second point in the second channel.
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Abstract
The present invention generally provides methods and systems for monitoring and controlling electroosmotic flow rates in microfluidic systems. Generally, such methods and systems monitor flow rates in electroosmotically driven microfluidic systems by flowing signaling elements within these channels and measuring the flow rate of these signals. The methods of monitoring flow rates are also applied to methods and systems for continuously monitoring and controlling these flow rates in electroosmotically driven microfluidic systems.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of monitoring an electroosmotic flow rate of fluid in a microfluidic device having at least first and second intersecting microscale channels disposed therein, the method comprising:
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flowing a first fluid along the first channel by applying a voltage gradient across a length of the first channel; injecting a detectable amount of a signaling compound into the first channel; determining the flow rate of the first fluid in the first channel from the rate at which the signaling compound flows from a first point in the first channel to a second point in the first channel; while the first fluid is disposed in the first channel, flowing a second fluid different from the first fluid along the second channel by applying a voltage gradient across a length of the second channel; injecting a detectable amount of a signaling compound into the second channel; and determining the flow rate of the second fluid in the second channel from the rate at which the signaling compound flows from a first point in the second channel to a second point in the second channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. In a microfluidic system employing at least first and second intersecting microscale channels disposed in a body structure, which system is used for analyzing a result of a chemical reaction which result produces a first detectable signal, a method of monitoring a flow rate of a fluid in the first channel, comprising:
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flowing a first fluid in the first channel; injecting into the first channel, a detectable amount of a signaling compound, which signaling compound produces a second detectable signal that is capable of being distinguished from the first detectable signal; detecting the second detectable signal and distinguishing the second detectable signal from the first detectable signal; while the first fluid is disposed in the first channel, flowing a second fluid different from the first fluid in the second channel; injecting into the second channel, a detectable amount of a signaling compound, which signaling compound produces a third detectable signal that is capable of being distinguished from the first detectable signal; detecting the third detectable signal and distinguishing the third detectable signal from the first detectable signal; and
,calculating the flow rate of fluid within the first and second channels from the amount of time between the injecting step and the detecting step in each respective channel. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A method of controlling an electroosmotic flow rate of a fluid in a microfluidic device having at least first and second intersecting microscale channels disposed therein, comprising:
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electroosmotically flowing a first fluid in the first microscale channel by applying a voltage gradient across a length of the first channel; determining an actual flow rate of the fluid in the first channel; comparing the actual flow rate with a desired flow rate; increasing or decreasing the voltage gradient based upon the comparison of the actual flow rate in the first channel to the desired flow rate in the first channel, until the actual flow rate in the first channel is equal to the desired flow rate in the first channel; while the first fluid is disposed in the first channel, electroosmotically flowing a second fluid different from the first fluid along the second channel by applying a voltage gradient across a length of the second channel; determining an actual flow rate in the second channel; comparing the actual flow rate in the second channel to a desired flow rate in the second channel; and
,increasing or decreasing the voltage gradient applied across the length of the second channel until the actual flow rate in the second channel is approximately equal to the desired flow rate in the second channel. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification