Capillary microvalve

• US 6,143,248 A
• Filed: 08/12/1997
• Issued: 11/07/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tecan Trading AG (Tecan Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Gamera Bioscience Corporation (Tecan Group AG)
• Inventors: Mian, Alec, Kellogg, Gregory, Kieffer-Higgins, Stephen G.
• Primary Examiner(s): LUDLOW, JAN M
• Application Number:
  US08/910,726
• Time in Patent Office: 1,183 Days
• Field of Search: 422/64, 422/67, 422/72, 422/103, 436/45
• US Class Current: 422/72
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/23 Mixing of laboratory samples e.g. in preparation of analysing or testing properties of materials
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/31 in conduits or tubes through which the main component flows
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/00 Other mixers; Mixing plants; Combinations of mixers
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/30 Micromixers
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/71725 using centrifugal forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/71805 using valves, gates, orifices or openings
• 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 2219/00891 Feeding or evacuation
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0097 Optical sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0605 Metering of fluids
• 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 2300/0806 Standardised forms, e.g. compact disc [CD] format
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/087 Multiple sequential chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/165 Specific details about hydrophobic, oleophobic surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0409 centrifugal forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0688 surface tension valves, capillary stop, capillary break
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502715 characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502738 characterised by integrated valves microvalves F16K99/0001
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 59/14 by plasma treatment plasma tubes per se H01J
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 59/142 of profiled articles, e.g. hollow or tubular articles
• CPC Class Codes: F15C 1/005 : for measurement techniques, e.g. measuring from a distance; for detection devices, e.g. for presence detection; for sorting measured properties (testing); for gyrometers; for analysis; for chromatography fluid information or impulse transducers F15B5/00; postal sorting according to size B07C1/10; dial gauges, spherometers G01B3/22, G01B5/22; gyroscopic apparatus G01C19/00; viscosimeters G01N11/00; speed measurement, flowmeters G01P
• CPC Class Codes: F15C 5/00 : Manufacture of fluid circuit elements; Manufacture of assemblages of such elements integrated circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 2099/0074 : using photolithography, e.g. etching
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 2099/0078 : using moulding or stamping
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 2099/0084 : Chemistry or biology, e.g. "lab-on-a-chip" technology
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0001 : Microvalves microdevices B81B1/00; manufacture or treatment of devices or systems in or on a substrate B81C1/00; microfluidic structures B01L3/5027; micropumps F04B19/006
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0017 : Capillary or surface tension valves, e.g. using electro-wetting or electro-capillarity effects
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0057 : the fluid being the circulating fluid itself, e.g. check valves
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2030/326 : pumps
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00782 : reprogrammmable code
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/07 : Centrifugal type cuvettes G01N21/09 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/44704 : Details; Accessories
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/44791 : Microapparatus sample containers with integrated microfluidic structures B01L3/5027
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/20 : using a sampling valve
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/6095 : Micromachined or nanomachined, e.g. micro- or nanosize
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00069 : whereby the sample substrate is of the bio-disk type, i.e. having the format of an optical disk
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00732 : Identification of carriers, materials or components in automatic analysers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00871 : Communications between instruments or with remote terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/111666 : Utilizing a centrifuge or compartmented rotor

Abstract

The invention provides microvalves for controlling fluid flow from microreservoirs into transfer channels using capillary valving mechanisms for use in apparatus useful for performing microanalytic and microsynthetic analyses and procedures, such as microminiaturization of genetic, biochemical and chemical processes related to analysis, synthesis and purification of biological, chemical, environmental and other compounds.

Claims

1. In a centripetally-motivated fluid micromanipulation apparatus, a microsystem platform comprising

a) a rotatable platform, comprising a substrate having a first flat, planar surface and a second flat, planar surface opposite thereto, each surface comprising a center about which the platform is rotated, wherein the first surface comprises in combination

b) an entry port comprising a depression in the first surface having a volumetric capacity of about 1 to about 150 μ

L, that is in direct fluid communication with

c) a first metering capillary and a second overflow capillary, each being indirect fluid communication with the entry port, wherein each capillary defines a cross-sectional dimension of about 0.02 mm to about 1 mm, and wherein each capillary extends radially from the center of the platform and defines a first end proximally arrayed towards the center of the platform and a second end distally arrayed from the center of the platform, wherein the proximal end of each capillary defines a curved opening;

wherein the first metering capillary defines a volume of the fluid and wherein the first metering capillary is fluidly connected with

d) a first fluid chamber having a depth in the first surface of the platform equal to or greater than the metering capillary and positioned radially more distant from the center of the platform than the entry port, and the second overflow capillary is fluidly connected with

e) an overflow chamber having a depth in the surface of the platform equal to or greater than the overflow capillary and positioned radially more distant from the center of the platform than the first fluid chamber and the entry port,

wherein a capillary junction is formed between each of the metering capillary and the first fluid chamber and the overflow capillary and the overflow chamber, whereby fluid placed onto the disk at the entry port flows by capillary action to the junction of the metering capillary and the first fluid chamber, and excess fluid flows by capillary action to the junction of the overflow capillary and the overflow chamber; and

wherein rotation of the platform at a first rotation speed motivates fluid displacement in the overflow capillary into the overflow chamber but not fluid displacement in the metering capillary, whereby rotation of the platform at the first rotational speed drains the fluid from the entry port into the overflow chamber; and

wherein rotation of the platform at a second rotation speed that is greater than the first rotational speed motivates fluid displacement of the volume of the fluid in the metering capillary into the first fluid chamber; and

wherein each of the first and overflow chambers also comprise air displacement channels whereby air displaced by fluid movement is vented to the first surface of the platform.

2. A method for moving a fluid in a microsystem platform according to claim 1, the method comprising the steps of

a) applying an amount of a fluid sample comprising a volume of about 1 to about 100 μ

L to the entry port of the rotatable microsystem platform;

b) rotating the platform at a first rotation speed for a time sufficient to displace the fluid in the entry port and the overflow capillary into the overflow chamber;

c) rotating the platform at a second rotation speed that is greater than the first rotational speed displace a volume of the fluid in the metering capillary into the first fluid chamber.