Absorbance cell for microfluid devices

• US 6,224,830 B1
• Filed: 01/30/1998
• Issued: 05/01/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Governors of the University of Alberta (University of Alberta)
• Original Assignee: The Governors of the University of Alberta (University of Alberta)
• Inventors: Chiem, Nghia H., McKinnon, Graham H., Jiang, Yutao, Harrison, D. Jed, Ocvirk, Gregor, Salimi-Moosavi, Hossein
• Primary Examiner(s): LUDLOW, JAN M
• Application Number:
  US09/016,142
• Time in Patent Office: 1,187 Days
• Field of Search: 422/82.11, 422/82.09, 422/82.05, 422/81, 356/51, 356/73.1, 356/344, 356/246, 204/452, 204/453, 204/461, 204/603, 204/604, 204/612
• US Class Current: 422/82.11
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/0346 Capillary cells; Microcells
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/03 Cuvette constructions
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/44721 by optical means

Abstract

An improved absorbance or detection cell for a microfluid device, and in accordance with an aspect of the invention, the absorbance cell comprises a bottom plate having a channel bearing surface in which a channel having a fluid inlet and fluid outlet is defined, a top plate having a channel facing surface bound to the channel bearing surface of the bottom plate and first and second reflecting elements formed on opposed sides of the channel to form a waveguide through which the channel extends such that radiation propagating along the waveguide makes multiple passes across the channel, the waveguide having a radiation input end and a radiation output end.

Claims

1. An absorbance cell for a microfluid device, the absorbance cell comprising:

a bottom plate having a channel bearing surface in which a channel is defined, the channel having a fluid inlet and fluid outlet, the channel having a depth of about 10-30 μ

m;

a top plate having a channel facing surface bound to the channel bearing surface of the bottom plate;

first and second reflecting elements formed on opposed sides of the channel to form a waveguide through which the channel extends such that radiation propagating along the waveguide makes multiple passes across the channel, the waveguide having a radiation input end and a radiation output end; and

electrically non-conducting material of one of the top plate and bottom plate being disposed between the first reflecting element and the channel, the electrically non-conducting material being transparent to measuring radiation.

2. The absorbance cell of claim 1 in which electrically non-conducting material of the top plate is disposed between the first reflecting element and the channel.

3. The absorbance cell of claim 2 in which electrically non-conducting material of the bottom plate is disposed between the second reflecting element and the channel, the electrically non-conducting material of the bottom plate being transparent to measuring radiation.

4. The absorbance cell of claim 1 in which the waveguide input end and the waveguide output end are arranged so that measuring radiation enters the waveguide through one of the top plate and the bottom plate and exits the waveguide through the other of the top plate and the bottom plate.

5. The absorbance cell of claim 1 in which the first reflecting element is formed on a first face of a first plate segment, the first face of the first plate segment abuts against a second face of a second plate segment, and together the first and second plate segments form the bottom plate.

6. The absorbance cell of claim 5 in which the fluid inlet comprises:

a flat ended capillary inserted through a first hole in the second plate segment, the fiat ended capillary and the first hole each having a diameter and the flat ended capillary being butted up against a flat surface of the first plate segment in which a second hole is defined, the second hole being in fluid communication with the channel, the channel having a depth, a width and a length longer than the width, the second hole being centered over the width of the channel and the flat ended capillary being centered over the second hole.

7. The absorbance cell of claim 6 in which the first hole and the capillary have equal diameter.

8. The absorbance cell of claim 1 in which the waveguide input end is arranged such that radiation introduced into the waveguide through one of the top plate and bottom plate propagates at an angle α

>

0°

to a normal to the reflecting surfaces as the radiation passes through the one of the top plate and bottom plate.

9. The absorbance cell of claim 8 in which the angle α

is selected so that the number of reflections of radiation propagating along the waveguide is from the range 10 to 30.

10. The absorbance cell of claim 8 in which the angle α

is greater than 2°

.

11. The absorbance cell of claim 1 in which the angle α

is selected so that the number of reflections of radiation propagating along the waveguide is greater than 4.

12. The absorbance cell of claim 1 in which the waveguide input end is arranged such that radiation introduced to the waveguide has a free space mode of propagation.

13. The absorbance cell of claim 1 further comprising a measuring radiation source and a measuring radiation detector, the measuring radiation detector having a detection region, and in which the reflecting elements extend laterally to cover the detection region and form a shield between the measuring radiation source and the measuring radiation detector.

14. The absorbance cell of claim 1 further comprising an input aperture in one of the first and second reflecting elements for introduction of measuring radiation into the waveguide, and an output aperture in the other of the first and second reflecting elements for egress of measuring radiation from the waveguide.

15. The absorbance cell of claim 1 in which the fluid inlet comprises:

a flat ended capillary inserted through a hole in the top plate, with the flat ended capillary butting up against the channel bearing surface of the bottom plate, the channel having a depth, width and length longer than the width and with the flat ended capillary centered over the width of the channel.

16. The absorbance cell of claim 1 in which the channel has a depth from 15 to 25 μ

m.

17. An absorbance cell for a microfluid device, the absorbance cell comprising:

a bottom plate having a channel bearing surface in which a channel is defined, the channel having a fluid inlet and fluid outlet, the channel having a depth of about 10-30 μ

m;

a top plate having a channel facing surface bound to the channel bearing surface of the bottom plate;

first and second reflecting elements formed on opposed sides of the channel to form a waveguide through which the channel extends such that radiation propagating along the waveguide makes multiple passes across the channel, the waveguide having a radiation input end and a radiation output end; and

the waveguide input end and the waveguide output end being arranged so that radiation enters the waveguide through one of the top plate and the bottom plate and exits the waveguide through the other of the top plate and the bottom plate.

18. An absorbance cell for a microfluid device, the absorbance cell comprising:

a bottom plate having a channel bearing surface in which a channel is defined, the channel having a fluid inlet and fluid outlet, the channel having a depth of about 10-30 μ

m;

a top plate having a channel facing surface bound to the channel bearing surface of the bottom plate;

first and second reflecting elements formed on opposed sides of the channel to form a waveguide through which the channel extends such that radiation propagating along the waveguide makes multiple passes across the channel, the waveguide having a radiation input end and a radiation output end; and

an input aperture in one of the first and second reflecting elements for introduction of measuring radiation into the waveguide, and an output aperture in the other of the first and second reflecting elements for egress of measuring radiation from the waveguide.

19. An absorbance cell for a microfluid device, the absorbance cell comprising:

a bottom plate having a channel bearing surface in which a channel is defined, the channel having a fluid inlet and fluid outlet, the channel having a depth of about 10-30 μ

m;

a top plate having a channel facing surface bound to the channel bearing surface of the bottom plate;

first and second reflecting elements formed on opposed sides of the channel to form a waveguide through which the channel extends such that radiation propagating along the waveguide makes multiple passes across the channel, the waveguide having a radiation input end and a radiation output end; and

the waveguide input end being arranged such that radiation introduced into the waveguide through one of the top plate and bottom plate propagates at an angle α

to a normal to the reflecting surfaces as the radiation passes through the one of the top plate and bottom plate.

20. The absorbance cell of claim 19 in which the angle α

is selected so that the number of reflections of radiation propagating along the waveguide is from the range 10 to 30.

21. The absorbance cell of claim 19 in which the angle α

is greater than 2°

.

22. The absorbance cell of claim 19 in which the angle α

is selected so that the number of reflections of radiation propagating along the waveguide is greater than 4.

23. An absorbance cell for a microfluid device, the absorbance cell comprising:

a bottom plate having a channel bearing surface in which a channel is defined, the channel having a fluid inlet and fluid outlet the channel having a depth of about 10-30 μ

m;

a top plate having a channel facing surface bound to the channel bearing surface of the bottom plate;

first and second reflecting elements formed on opposed sides of the channel to form a waveguide through which the channel extends such that radiation propagating along the waveguide makes multiple passes across the channel, the waveguide having a radiation input end and a radiation output end; and

the waveguide input end being arranged such that radiation introduced to the waveguide has a free space mode of propagation.

24. An absorbance cell for a microfluid device, the absorbance cell comprising:

a bottom plate having a channel bearing surface in which a channel is defined, the channel having a fluid inlet and fluid outlet the channel having a depth of about 10-30 μ

m;

a top plate having a channel facing surface bound to the channel bearing surface of the bottom plate;

first and second reflecting elements formed on opposed sides of the channel to form a waveguide through which the channel extends such that radiation propagating along the waveguide makes multiple passes across the channel, the waveguide having a radiation input end and a radiation output end; and

the reflecting elements extending laterally to form a shield between a measuring radiation source and a measuring radiation detector.

25. An absorbance cell for a microfluid device, the absorbance cell comprising:

a bottom plate having a channel bearing surface in which a channel is defined, the channel having a fluid inlet and fluid outlet the channel having a depth of about 10-30 μ

m;

a top plate having a channel facing surface bound to the channel bearing surface of the bottom plate;

first and second reflecting elements formed on opposed sides of the channel to form a waveguide through which the channel extends such that radiation propagating along the waveguide makes multiple passes across the channel, the waveguide having a radiation input end and a radiation output end; and

electrically non-conducting material being disposed between the first and second reflecting elements and the channel, the electrically non-conducting material being transparent to measuring radiation.

26. The absorbance cell of claim 25 in which the electrically non-conducting material is made of the same material as the top and bottom plates.

27. The absorbance cell of claim 25 in which the waveguide input end and the waveguide output end are arranged so that measuring radiation enters the waveguide through one of the top plate and the bottom plate and exits the waveguide through the other of the top plate and the bottom plate.

28. The absorbance cell of claim 27 in which the first reflecting element is formed on a first face of a first plate segment, the first face of the first plate segment abuts against a second face of a second plate segment, and together the first and second plate segments form the bottom plate.

29. The absorbance cell of claim 28 in which the fluid inlet comprises:

a flat ended capillary inserted through a hole in the second plate segment and butted up against a flat surface of the first plate segment in which a hole is defined, the hole being in fluid communication with the channel, the channel having a depth, a width and a length longer than the width, and the flat ended capillary being centered over the width of the channel.

30. The absorbence cell of claim 28 in which the absorbence cell has been made by the steps of:

forming the first reflecting element on the first plate segment;

bonding the second plate segment to the first plate segment by heat treating the first and second plate segments with the first reflecting element disposed between the first and second plate segments;

forming the channel in the second plate segment;

bonding the top plate to the second plate segment; and

forming the second reflecting element on the top plate.

31. The absorbance cell of claim 25 further comprising an input aperture in one of the first and second reflecting elements for introduction of measuring radiation into the waveguide, and an output aperture in the other of the first and second reflecting elements for egress of measuring radiation from the waveguide.

32. The absorbance cell of claim 25 in which the waveguide input end is arranged such that radiation introduced into the waveguide through one of the top plate and bottom plate propagates at an angle α

>

0°

to a normal to the reflecting surfaces as the radiation passes through the one of the top plate and bottom plate.

33. The absorbance cell of claim 32 in which the angle α

is selected so that the number of reflections of radiation propagating along the waveguide is from the range 10 to 30.

34. The absorbance cell of claim 32 in which the angle α

is greater than 2°

.

35. The absorbance cell of claim 32 in which the angle α

is selected so that the number of reflections of radiation propagating along the waveguide is greater than 4.

36. The absorbance cell of claim 25 in which the waveguide input end is arranged such that radiation introduced to the waveguide has a free space mode of propagation.

37. The absorbance cell of claim 25 in which the reflecting elements extend laterally to form a shield between a measuring radiation source and a measuring radiation detector.

38. The absorbance cell of claim 25 further comprising:

a detector of radiation exiting the radiation output end, the detector having a detection region; and

at least one of the reflecting elements extending laterally to cover the detection region of the detector.

39. The absorbance cell of claim 38 in which the at least one of the reflecting elements extends laterally more than a millimeter.

40. The absorbence cell of claim 38 in which the reflecting elements are square.

41. The absorbance cell of claim 25 in which the channel is coated with polysiloxane.

42. The absorbance cell of claim 25 in which the fluid inlet comprises:

a flat ended capillary inserted through a hole in the top plate, with the flat ended capillary butting up against the channel bearing surface of the bottom plate, the channel having a depth, width and length longer than the width, and with the flat ended capillary centered over the width of the channel.

43. The absorbance cell of claim 25 in which the channel has a depth from 15 to 25 μ

m.

44. The absorbance cell of claim 25 in which the first reflecting element is formed on the channel bearing surface of the bottom plate.

45. The absorbence cell of claim 44 in which the first reflecting element is coated with the electrically non-conducting material.

46. The absorbence cell of claim 44 in which the second reflecting element is formed on the channel facing surface of the top plate.

47. The absorbence cell of claim 46 in which the second reflecting element is coated with the electrically non-conducting material.

48. An absorbance cell for a microfluid device, the absorbance cell comprising:

a bottom plate having a channel bearing surface in which a channel is defined, the channel having a fluid inlet and fluid outlet;

a top plate having a channel facing surface bound to the channel bearing surface of the bottom plate;

first and second reflecting elements formed on opposed sides of the channel to form a waveguide through which the channel extends such that radiation propagating along the waveguide makes multiple passes across the channel, the waveguide having a radiation input end and a radiation output end;

the first reflecting element being formed on a first face of a first plate segment, the first face of the first plate segment abutting against a second face of a second plate segment, and together the first and second plate segments forming the bottom plate;

electrically non-conducting material of one of the top plate and bottom plate being disposed between the first reflecting element and the channel, the electrically non-conducting material being transparent to measuring radiation; and

the fluid inlet comprising a flat ended capillary inserted through a first hole in the second plate segment, the flat ended capillary and the first hole each having a diameter and the flat ended capillary being butted up against a flat surface of the first plate segment in which a second hole is defined, the second hole being in fluid communication with the channel, the channel having a depth, a width and a length longer than the width, the second hole being centered over the width of the channel and the flat ended capillary being centered over the second hole.

49. The absorbance cell of claim 48 in which the first hole and the capillary have equal diameter.

50. An absorbance cell for a microfluid device, the absorbance cell comprising:

a bottom plate having a channel bearing surface in which a channel is defined, the channel having a fluid inlet and fluid outlet;

a top plate having a channel facing surface bound to the channel bearing surface of the bottom plate;

first and second reflecting elements formed on opposed sides of the channel to form a waveguide through which the channel extends such that radiation propagating along the waveguide makes multiple passes across the channel, the waveguide having a radiation input end and a radiation output end;

a flat ended capillary inserted through a hole in the top plate, with the flat ended capillary butting up against the channel bearing surface of the bottom plate, the channel having a depth, width and length longer than the width and with the flat ended capillary centered over the width of the channel; and

electrically non-conducting material of one of the top plate and bottom plate being disposed between the first reflecting element and the channel, the electrically non-conducting material being transparent to measuring radiation.

51. An absorbance cell for a microfluid device, the absorbance cell comprising:

a bottom plate having a channel bearing surface in which a channel is defined, the channel having a fluid inlet and fluid outlet;

a top plate having a channel facing surface bound to the channel bearing surface of the bottom plate;

first and second reflecting elements formed on opposed sides of the channel to form a waveguide through which the channel extends such that radiation propagating along the waveguide makes multiple passes across the channel, the waveguide having a radiation input end and a radiation output end;

electrically non-conducting material being disposed between the first and second reflecting elements and the channel, the electrically non-conducting material being transparent to measuring radiation;

the waveguide input end and the waveguide output end being arranged so that measuring radiation enters the waveguide through one of the top plate and the bottom plate and exits the waveguide through the other of the top plate and the bottom plate;

the first reflecting element being formed on a first face of a first plate segment, the first face of the first plate segment abutting against a second face of a second plate segment, and together the first and second plate segments forming the bottom plate; and

a flat ended capillary inserted through a hole in the second plate segment and butted up against a flat surface of the first plate segment in which a hole is defined, the hole being in fluid communication with the channel, the channel having a depth, a width and a length longer than the width, and the flat ended capillary being centered over the width of the channel.

52. An absorbance cell for a microfluid device, the absorbance cell comprising:

a bottom plate having a channel bearing surface in which a channel is defined, the channel having a fluid inlet and fluid outlet;

a top plate having a channel facing surface bound to the channel bearing surface of the bottom plate;

first and second reflecting elements formed on opposed sides of the channel to form a waveguide through which the channel extends such that radiation propagating along the waveguide makes multiple passes across the channel, the waveguide having a radiation input end and a radiation output end;

electrically non-conducting material being disposed between the first and second reflecting elements and the channel, the electrically non-conducting material being transparent to measuring radiation; and

a flat ended capillary inserted through a hole in the top plate, with the flat ended capillary butting up against the channel bearing surface of the bottom plate, the channel having a depth, width and length longer than the width, and with the flat ended capillary centered over the width of the channel.

53. An absorbance cell for a microfluid device, the absorbance cell comprising:

a bottom plate having a channel bearing surface in which a channel is defined, the channel having a fluid inlet and fluid outlet, the channel having a width and a depth, and the width of the channel being about 20-100 μ

m;

a top plate having a channel facing surface bound to the channel bearing surface of the bottom plate;

first and second reflecting elements formed on opposed sides of the channel to form a waveguide through which the channel extends such that radiation propagating along the waveguide makes multiple passes across the channel, the waveguide having a radiation input end and a radiation output end; and

electrically non-conducting material of one of the top plate and bottom plate being disposed between the first reflecting element and the channel, the electrically non-conducting material being transparent to measuring radiation.

54. The absorbance cell of claim 53 in which electrically non-conducting material of the top plate is disposed between the first reflecting element and the channel.

55. The absorbance cell of claim 54 in which electrically non-conducting material of the bottom plate is disposed between the second reflecting element and the channel, the electrically non-conducting material of the bottom plate being transparent to measuring radiation.

56. The absorbance cell of claim 53 in which the waveguide input end and the waveguide output end are arranged so that measuring radiation enters the waveguide through one of the top plate and the bottom plate and exits the waveguide through the other of the top plate and the bottom plate.

57. The absorbance cell of claim 53 in which the first reflecting element is formed on a first face of a first plate segment, the first face of the first plate segment abuts against a second face of a second plate segment, and together the first and second plate segments form the bottom plate.

58. The absorbance cell of claim 57 in which the fluid inlet comprises:

a flat ended capillary inserted through a first hole in the second plate segment, the flat ended capillary and the hole each having a diameter and the flat ended capillary being butted up against a flat surface of the first plate segment in which a second hole is defined, the second hole being in fluid communication with the channel, the channel having a depth, a width and a length longer than the width, the second hole being centered over the width of the channel and the flat ended capillary being centered over the second hole.

59. The absorbance cell of claim 58 in which the first hole and the capillary have equal diameter.

60. The absorbance cell of claim 53 further comprising an input aperture in one of the first and second reflecting elements for introduction of measuring radiation into the waveguide, and an output aperture in the other of the first and second reflecting elements for egress of measuring radiation from the waveguide.

61. The absorbance cell of claim 53 in which the waveguide input end is arranged such that radiation introduced into the waveguide through one of the top plate and bottom plate propagates at an angle α

>

0°

to a normal to the reflecting surfaces as the radiation passes through the one of the top plate and bottom plate.

62. The absorbance cell of claim 61 in which the angle α

is selected so that the number of reflections of radiation propagating along the waveguide is from the range 10 to 30.

63. The absorbance cell of claim 61 in which the angle α

is greater than 2°

.

64. The absorbance cell of claim 61 in which the angle α

is selected so that the number of reflections of radiation propagating along the waveguide is greater than 4.

65. The absorbance cell of claim 53 in which the waveguide input end is arranged such that radiation introduced to the waveguide has a free space mode of propagation.

66. The absorbance cell of claim 53 further comprising a measuring radiation source and a measuring radiation detector, the measuring radiation detector having a detection region, and in which the reflecting elements extend laterally to cover the detection region and form a shield between the measuring radiation source and the measuring radiation detector.

67. The absorbance cell of claim 53 in which the fluid inlet comprises:

a flat ended capillary inserted through a hole in the top plate, with the flat ended capillary butting up against the channel bearing surface of the bottom plate, the channel having a depth, width and length longer than the width and with the flat ended capillary centered over the width of the channel.

68. The absorbance cell of claim 53 in which the channel has a depth from 10 to 30 μ

m.

69. An absorbance cell for a microfluid device, the absorbance cell comprising:

a bottom plate having a channel bearing surface in which a channel is defined, the channel having a fluid inlet and fluid outlet, the channel having a width and a depth, and the width of the channel being about 20-100 μ

m;

a top plate having a channel facing surface bound to the channel bearing surface of the bottom plate;

first and second reflecting elements formed on opposed sides of the channel to form a waveguide through which the channel extends such that radiation propagating along the waveguide makes multiple passes across the channel, the waveguide having a radiation input end and a radiation output end; and

electrically non-conducting material being disposed between the first and second reflecting elements and the channel, the electrically non-conducting material being transparent to measuring radiation.

70. The absorbance cell of claim 69 in which the electrically non-conducting material is made of the same material as the top and bottom plates.

71. The absorbance cell of claim 69 in which the waveguide input end and the waveguide output end are arranged so that measuring radiation enters the waveguide through one of the top plate and the bottom plate and exits the waveguide through the other of the top plate and the bottom plate.

72. The absorbance cell of claim 71 in which the first reflecting element is formed on a first face of a first plate segment, the first face of the first plate segment abuts against a second face of a second plate segment, and together the first and second plate segments form the bottom plate.

73. The absorbance cell of claim 72 in which the fluid inlet comprises:

a flat ended capillary inserted through a hole in the second plate segment and butted up against a flat surface of the first plate segment in which a hole is defined, the hole being in fluid communication with the channel, the channel having a depth, a width and a length longer than the width, and the flat ended capillary being centered over the width of the channel.

74. The absorbance cell of claim 72 in which the absorbance cell has been made by the steps of:

forming a first reflecting element on the first plate segment;

bonding the second plate segment to the first plate segment by heat treating the first and second plate segments with the first reflecting element disposed between the first and second plate segments;

forming the channel in the second plate segment;

bonding the top plate to the second plate segment; and

forming the second reflecting element on the top plate.

75. The absorbance cell of claim 69 further comprising an input aperture in one of the first and second reflecting elements for introduction of measuring radiation into the waveguide, and an output aperture in the other of the first and second reflecting elements for egress of measuring radiation from the waveguide.

76. The absorbance cell of claim 69 in which the waveguide input end is arranged such that radiation introduced into the waveguide through one of the top plate and bottom plate propagates at an angle α

>

0°

to a normal to the reflecting surfaces as the radiation passes through the one of the top plate and bottom plate.

77. The absorbance cell of claim 76 in which the angle α

is selected so that the number of reflections of radiation propagating along the waveguide is from the range 10 to 30.

78. The absorbance cell of claim 76 in which the angle α

is greater than 2°

.

79. The absorbance cell of claim 78 in which the first reflecting element is coated with the electrically non-conducting material.

80. The absorbance cell of claim 78 in which the second reflecting element is formed on the channel facing surface of the top plate.

81. The absorbance cell of claim 80 in which the second reflecting element is coated with the electrically non-conducting material.

82. The absorbance cell of claim 76 in which the angle α

is selected so that the number of reflections of radiation propagating along the waveguide is greater than 4.

83. The absorbance cell of claim 69 in which the waveguide input end is arranged such that radiation introduced to the waveguide has a free space mode of propagation.

84. The absorbance cell of claim 69 in which the reflecting elements extend laterally to form a shield between a measuring radiation source and a measuring radiation detector.

85. The absorbance cell of claim 69 further comprising:

a detector of radiation exiting the radiation output end, the detector having a detection region; and

at least one of the reflecting elements extending laterally to cover the detection region of the detector.

86. The absorbance cell of claim 85 in which the at least one of the reflecting elements extends laterally more than a millimeter.

87. The absorbance cell of claim 85 in which the reflecting elements are square.

88. The absorbance cell of claim 69 in which the channel is coated with polysiloxane.

89. The absorbance cell of claim 69 in which the fluid inlet comprises:

a flat ended capillary inserted through a hole in the top plate, with the flat ended capillary butting up against the channel bearing surface of the bottom plate, the channel having a depth, width and length longer than the width, and with the flat ended capillary centered over the width of the channel.

90. The absorbance cell of claim 69 in which the channel has a depth from 10 to 30 μ

m.

91. The absorbance cell of claim 69 in which the first reflecting element is formed on the channel bearing surface of the bottom plate.