Capillary electroflow apparatus and method

• US 6,103,199 A
• Filed: 09/15/1998
• Issued: 08/15/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aclara Biosciences, Inc (Laboratory Corporation Of America Holdings)
• Original Assignee: Aclara Biosciences, Inc (Laboratory Corporation Of America Holdings)
• Inventors: Soane, David S., Bjornson, Torleif Ove, McCormick, Randy M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Jill
• Assistant Examiner(s): STARSIAK, JOHN S
• Application Number:
  US09/153,566
• Time in Patent Office: 700 Days
• Field of Search: 422/100, 422/68.1, 422/70, 435/287.1, 435/287.2, 435/288.4, 435/288.5, 73/863.32, 73/863.31, 73/864, 73/864.01, 204/450, 204/451, 204/452, 204/453, 204/454, 204/455, 204/600, 204/601, 204/602, 204/603, 204/604, 204/605
• US Class Current: 422/503
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/0046 Sequential or parallel reactions, e.g. for the synthesis of polypeptides or polynucleotides; Apparatus and devices for combinatorial chemistry or for making molecular arrays synthesis methods per se C40B50/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/0093 Microreactors, e.g. miniaturised or microfabricated reactors laboratory containers with capillary fluid transport in microfabricated channels or chambers B01L3/5027
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00317 Microwell devices, i.e. having large numbers of wells
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00369 in multiple or parallel arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00783 Laminate assemblies, i.e. the reactor comprising a stack of plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00889 Mixing
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00891 Feeding or evacuation
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/10 Integrating sample preparation and analysis in single entity, e.g. lab-on-a-chip concept
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0829 Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0838 Capillaries
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0883 Serpentine channels
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0406 capillary forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0415 electrical forces, e.g. electrokinetic
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0421 electrophoretic flow
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0442 thermal energy, e.g. vaporisation, bubble jet
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0481 squeezing of channels or chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0268 using pulse dispensing or spraying, eg. inkjet type, piezo actuated ejection of droplets from capillaries
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5025 for parallel transport of multiple samples
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5027 by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip B01L3/5023 takes precedence; micromixers B01F33/30; microreactors for synthesis B01J19/0093; microcapillary devices in general B81B1/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50273 characterised by the means or forces applied to move the fluids micropumps F04B19/006, of the membrane type F04B43/043
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 60/14 : for creating libraries
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2030/285 : electrically driven carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00237 : Handling microquantities of analyte, e.g. microvalves, capillary networks
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/44743 : Introducing samples
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/44791 : Microapparatus sample containers with integrated microfluidic structures B01L3/5027
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/466 : with separation columns in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/6095 : Micromachined or nanomachined, e.g. micro- or nanosize

Abstract

The present invention concerns an apparatus for conducting a microfluidic process. The apparatus comprises integral first and second plates. The first plate comprises an array of sample receiving elements for receiving a plurality of samples from an array of sample containers and dispensing the samples. The second plate comprises a planar array of microfluidic networks of cavity structures and channels for conducting a microfluidic process. Also disclosed is a method for processing an array of samples. At least a portion of each sample in an array of sample wells is simultaneously transferred to a corresponding array of microfluidic networks of cavity structures and channels by means of a corresponding array of sample receiving elements that is in integral fluid communication with the array of microfluidic networks. The samples are then processed. Also disclosed is a device for conducting a microfluidic process wherein the device comprising a planar substrate having a planar array of microfluidic networks of cavity structures and channels for conducting a microfluidic process. A plurality of such devices may be present on a continuous sheet. The invention further includes kits for carrying out microfluidic processes comprising an apparatus as described above.

Claims

1. An apparatus for conducting a microfluidic process, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a first plate comprising an array of sample receiving elements adapted for receiving a plurality of samples from an array of sample containers and dispensing said samples and

(b) a second plate integral with said first plate for receiving said dispensed samples, said second plate comprising a planar array of microfluidic networks of cavity structures and channels for conducting a microfluidic process.

8. A kit comprising in packaged combination:

(a) the apparatus of claim 1 and

(b) reagents, other than reagents within said apparatus, for processing a sample.

9. The kit of claim 8 wherein said reagents are selected from the group consisting of solid phase extraction materials, lysis solutions, wash and elution and buffers, specific binding pair members, labeling solutions, substrates, reporter molecules, sample purification materials.

2. An apparatus for conducting a microfluidic process, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a first plate comprising an array of sample receiving elements adapted for receiving a plurality of samples from an array of sample wells and

(b) a second plate integral with said first plate, said second plate comprising a planar array of microfluidic networks of cavity structures and channels for conducting a microfluidic process wherein each of said microfluidic networks is adapted for fluid communication with a corresponding sample receiving element of said first plate.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein each of said sample receiving elements comprises a sample handling well that is in fluid communication with a corresponding capillary adapted to receive sample from one of said sample wells.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said array of sample wells conforms to the format of a 96, 192, 384 or 1536 well plate.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein each of said microfluidic networks comprises:

(a) a sample receiving cavity structure adapted for receiving sample from said corresponding sample receiving element and

(b) one or more additional cavity structures in fluid communication with said sample receiving cavity structure.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein each of said microfluidic networks comprises:

(a) a sample receiving cavity structure adapted for receiving sample from said corresponding sample receiving element,

(b) one or more waste cavity structures in capillary communication with said sample receiving cavity structure,

(c) one or more buffer containing structures in capillary communication with said sample receiving cavity structure.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein each of said microfluidic networks of cavity structures and channels comprises a tortuous path.

10. A method for processing an array of samples, said method comprising:

(a) simultaneously transferring at least a portion of each sample in an array of sample wells to a corresponding array of sample receiving elements that are part of a first plate comprising an array of sample receiving elements adapted for receiving a plurality of samples from an array of sample wells,

(b) simultaneously transferring at least a portion of each sample from said sample receiving elements to a corresponding array of microfluidic networks that is part of a second plate integral with said first plate, said second plate comprising a planar array of microfluidic networks of cavity structures and channels for conducting a microfluidic process wherein each of said microfluidic networks is adapted for fluid communication with a corresponding sample receiving element, and

(c) processing said array of samples.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said processing comprises conducting an analysis of said samples.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein said processing comprises conducting a chemical synthesis.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein each of said sample receiving elements comprises a sample handling well that is in fluid communication with a corresponding capillary adapted to receive sample from one of said sample wells.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein said array of sample wells conforms to the format of a 96, 192, 384 or 1536 well plate.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein each of said microfluidic networks comprises:

(a) a sample receiving cavity structure adapted for receiving sample from said corresponding sample receiving element and

(b) one or more additional cavity structures in fluid communication with said sample receiving cavity structure.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein each of said microfluidic networks comprises:

(a) a sample receiving cavity structure adapted for receiving sample from said corresponding sample receiving element,

(b) one or more waste cavity structures in capillary communication with said sample receiving cavity structure,

(c) one or more buffer containing structures in capillary communication with said sample receiving cavity structure.

17. The method of claim 10 wherein each of said microfluidic networks of interconnected cavity structures and channels of capillary dimension comprises a tortuous path.