Mesoscale sample preparation device and systems for determination and processing of analytes

• US 6,184,029 B1
• Filed: 01/27/1999
• Issued: 02/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Trustees Of The University Of Pennsylvania (University of Pennsylvania)
• Original Assignee: Trustees Of The University Of Pennsylvania (University of Pennsylvania)
• Inventors: Kricka, Larry J., Wilding, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Christopher L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, MINH QUAN K
• Application Number:
  US09/237,532
• Time in Patent Office: 741 Days
• Field of Search: 435/1.2, 435/284.1, 435/287.2, 435/287.1, 435/287.3, 436/501, 422/68.1, 422/73, 422/81
• US Class Current: 435/287.1
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2325/028 Microfluidic pore structures
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/18 Apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 67/003 by selective elimination of components, e.g. by leaching
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 67/0034 by micromachining techniques, e.g. using masking and etching steps, photolithography
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 67/0058 by selective elimination of components, e.g. by leaching
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 67/0062 by micromachining techniques, e.g. using masking and etching steps, photolithography
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 71/02 Inorganic material
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 71/0215 Silicon carbide; Silicon nitride; Silicon oxycarbide
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/41 Mixers of the fractal type
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7182 with means for feeding the material with a fractal or tree-type distribution in a surface
• 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 2219/0059 Sequential processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00722 Nucleotides
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00828 Silicon wafers or plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00873 Heat exchange
• 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 2300/0681 Filter
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0864 comprising only one inlet and multiple receiving wells, e.g. for separation, splitting
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0867 : Multiple inlets and one sample wells, e.g. mixing, dilution
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/087 : Multiple sequential chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0883 : Serpentine channels
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1822 : using Peltier elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1827 : using resistive heater
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1861 : using radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/086 : using baffles or other fixed flow obstructions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502715 : characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502746 : characterised by the means for controlling flow resistance, e.g. flow controllers, baffles B01L3/502738 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502753 : characterised by bulk separation arrangements on lab-on-a-chip devices, e.g. for filtration or centrifugation separation in general B01D; microapparatus for analysis using electrophoresis G01N27/44791; sample preparation G01N1/28
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 7/52 : with provision for submitting samples to a predetermined sequence of different temperatures, e.g. for treating nucleic acid samples amplification or hybridisation processes per se C12Q1/68; controlling sequential reactions for synthesis B01J19/0046
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 7/525 : with physical movement of samples between temperature zones
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/527 : for microfluidic devices, e.g. used for lab-on-a-chip
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 41/46 : of cellular or enzymatic activity or functionality, e.g. cell viability
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/686 : Polymerase chain reaction [PCR]
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 2565/629 : being a microfluidic device
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 40/06 : Libraries containing nucleotides or polynucleotides, or derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 366/03 : Micromixers: variable geometry from the pathway influences mixing/agitation of non-laminar fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/81 : Packaged device or kit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 436/807 : Apparatus included in process claim, e.g. physical support structures

Abstract

A mesoscale sample preparation device capable of providing microvolume test samples, separated into a cell-enriched fraction and a fraction of reduced cell content, for performing various analyses, such as binding assays, determinations involving polynucleotide amplification and the like. Analytical systems including such devices are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A combination, comprising (i) a device for preparing a test sample for analysis, said test sample comprising particulate components, and (ii) an appliance, said device comprising:

a solid substrate fabricated to include;

a flow channel having a sample inlet port and an outlet; and

a particulate separator disposed in a sample flow channel between the sample inlet and the sample outlet, the direction of flow being from the inlet to the outlet, an upstream facing portion of the separator defining a separation zone in which said particulate components are collected said appliance comprising;

a nesting well for receiving the device;

a flow line disposed in the appliance and positioned to communicate with the inlet port of the flow channel in the device when the device is placed into the nesting well; and

a pump connected to the flow line for conveying fluid through the flow channel in the device.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein the appliance further comprises a heating element for controlling a temperature in the device.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein the heating element comprises an electric heating element.

4. The combination of claim 2, wherein the appliance further comprises a cooling element for controlling a temperature in the device.

5. The combination of claim 4, wherein the cooling element comprises a thermoelectric heat pump.

6. The combination of claim 1, wherein the pump is selected from the group consisting of a syringe pump, a diaphragm pump and a volume occlusion pump.