Multi-layer microfluidic devices

• US 6,321,791 B1
• Filed: 10/04/2000
• Issued: 11/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Caliper Technologies Corp (Revvity, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Caliper Technologies Corp (Revvity, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chow, Calvin Y. H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chambers, A. Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCSHANE, THOMAS
• Application Number:
  US09/679,479
• Time in Patent Office: 419 Days
• Field of Search: 137/833, 137/827
• US Class Current: 137/833
• 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 2219/00351 Means for dispensing and evacuation of reagents
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00587 High throughput processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00702 Processes involving means for analysing and characterising the products
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00783 Laminate assemblies, i.e. the reactor comprising a stack of plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/16 Reagents, handling or storing thereof
• 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 2300/0874 Three dimensional network
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0887 Laminated structure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0415 electrical forces, e.g. electrokinetic
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0418 electro-osmotic flow [EOF]
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0487 fluid pressure, pneumatics
• 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 3/502707 characterised by the manufacture of the container or its components by shaping or joining plastic parts B29C59/00, B29C65/00; by laminating B32B37/00; manufacture of microstructural devices in general B81C
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502715 characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 2201/047 Optical MEMS not provided for in B81B2201/042 - B81B2201/045
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 2201/058 Microfluidics not provided for in B81B2201/051 - B81B2201/054
• CPC Class Codes: B81C 1/00119 : Arrangement of basic structures like cavities or channels, e.g. suitable for microfluidic systems
• CPC Class Codes: B81C 2201/019 : Bonding or gluing multiple substrate layers
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 60/14 : for creating libraries
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/44791 : Microapparatus sample containers with integrated microfluidic structures B01L3/5027
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 366/03 : Micromixers: variable geometry from the pathway influences mixing/agitation of non-laminar fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2191 : By non-fluid energy field affecting input [e.g., transducer]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2224 : Structure of body of device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7897 : Vacuum relief type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8158 : With indicator, register, recorder, alarm or inspection means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8326 : Fluid pressure responsive indicator, recorder or alarm
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8359 : Inspection means

Abstract

The present invention provides multi-layer microfluidic systems, by providing additional substrate layers, e.g., third, fourth, fifth and more substrate layers, mated with the typically described first and second layers. Microfabricated elements, e.g., grooves, wells and the like, are manufactured into the surfaces between the various substrate layers. These microfabricated elements define the various microfluidic aspects or structures of the overall device, e.g., channels, chambers and the like. In preferred aspects, a separate microscale channel network is provided between each of the substrate layers.

Claims

1. A microfluidic system comprising:

a body structure having a plurality of substrate layers wherein each of the substrate layers has at least one surface disposed on top of a surface of another substrate layer;

a plurality of channel networks disposed within said body structure wherein, at least one of the plurality of channel networks is disposed within at least two of the plurality of substrate layers, the channel networks comprising at least two intersecting microchannels;

a plurality of ports disposed within said body structure, each of the plurality of ports being in fluid communication with at least one of said channel networks; and

a material transport system operably linked to each of the plurality of ports for selectively controlling movement of material in the plurality of channel networks.

2. The microfluidic system of claim 1, wherein, each of the channel networks is in fluid communication with at least two ports of said plurality of ports disposed in the body structure.

3. The microfluidic system of claim 1, wherein at least one detection window is disposed over at least one of the channel networks.

4. The microfluidic system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of substrate layers each comprise a top and a bottom planar surface.

5. The microfluidic system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of substrate layers is independently selected from the group of glass, silicon and polymeric substrates.

6. The microfluidic system of claim 1, wherein the material transport system comprises a pressure source for applying a pressure differential between at least two of the plurality of ports.

7. The microfluidic system of claim 3, wherein the at least one detection window is disposed over two channel networks of said plurality of channel networks for transmitting an optical signal from each of the two channel networks, and wherein a detector comprising an optical detector is disposed adjacent to the at least one detection window for receiving the optical signal.

8. The microfluidic system of claim 7, wherein the detector is in sensory communication with at least one of said plurality of channel networks.

9. The microfluidic system of claim 1, comprising a sample material disposed in a first port of said plurality of ports, a first reactant disposed in a second port of said plurality of ports and a second reactant disposed in a third port of said plurality of ports.

10. The microfluidic system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of channel networks comprises at least three intersecting microchannels.

11. The microfluidic system of claim 1, further comprising at least first and second detection windows, the first detection window disposed over a microchannel in a first channel network of said plurality of channel networks and the second detection window disposed over a microchannel in a second channel network of said plurality of channel networks.