Fluid control and processing system

• US 6,374,684 B1
• Filed: 08/25/2000
• Issued: 04/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cepheid (Danaher Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cepheid (Danaher Corporation)
• Inventors: Dority, Douglas B.
• Primary Examiner(s): RAEVIS, ROBERT R
• Application Number:
  US09/648,570
• Time in Patent Office: 606 Days
• Field of Search: 738/648.1, 738/632.3, 738/643.5, 738/63, 738/637.2, 738/637.3, 422/63, 422/67, 422/81, 137/625, 137/625.11, 137/625.12, 137/625.17, 137/625.46, 137/625.47
• US Class Current: 73/864.81
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/16 Reagents, handling or storing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0681 Filter
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0478 pistons
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0487 fluid pressure, pneumatics
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0622 distribution valves, valves having multiple inlets and/or outlets, e.g. metering valves, multi-way valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0644 rotary valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502 with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures centrifugal-type cuvettes G01N21/07; analysis by separation into components G01N30/00; automatic analysers G01N35/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/08 using a stream of discrete samples flowing along a tube system, e.g. flow injection analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1097 characterised by the valves valves in general F16K

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention facilitate processing of a fluid sample according to different protocols using the same apparatus, for instance, to determine the presence or absence of an analyte in the sample. In a specific embodiment, a fluid control and processing system for controlling fluid flow among a plurality of chambers comprises a body including a fluid sample processing region continuously coupled fluidicly with a fluid displacement chamber. The fluid displacement chamber is depressurizable to draw fluid into the fluid displacement chamber and pressurizable to expel fluid from the fluid displacement chamber. The body includes a plurality of external ports. The fluid sample processing region is fluidicly coupled with at least two of the external ports. The fluid displacement chamber is fluidicly coupled with at least one of the external ports. The body is adjustable with respect to the plurality of chambers to place at least one of the external ports selectively in fluidic communication with the plurality of chambers.

Claims

1. A fluid control and processing system comprising:

a housing having a plurality of chambers; and

a valve body including a fluid sample processing region continuously coupled fluidicly with a fluid displacement region, the fluid displacement region being depressurizable to draw fluid into the fluid displacement region and pressurizable to expel fluid from the fluid displacement region, the valve body including a plurality of external ports, the fluid sample processing region including a plurality of fluid processing ports each fluidicly coupled with one of the external ports, the fluid displacement region being fluidicly coupled with at least one of the external ports, and the valve body being adjustable with respect to the housing to allow the external ports to be placed selectively in fluidic communication with the plurality of chambers.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the valve body is adjustable with respect to the housing to place one external port at a time in fluidic communication with one of the plurality of chambers.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the valve body is adjustable with respect to the housing to place at least two of the external ports in fluidic communication with any of the plurality of chambers at a time.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the fluid displacement region is fluidicly coupled to a fluid displacement channel in the valve body and one of the fluid processing ports is fluidicly coupled to a fluid processing channel in the valve body, the fluid displacement channel and the fluid processing channel being fluidicly coupled with one external port.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of fluid processing ports are each continuously coupled fluidicly with at least one of the external ports.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the fluid sample processing region is disposed between the fluid displacement region and at least one external port so that fluid flow between the fluid displacement region and the at least one external port passes through the fluid sample processing region.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the external ports are disposed on one external port surface of the valve body.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the external port surface is generally planar.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the valve body is rotatable around an axis and relative to the plurality of chambers to allow the external ports to be placed selectively in fluidic communication with the plurality of chambers, the axis being perpendicular to the external port surface, and the external ports being spaced from the axis by a common radius.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the fluid displacement region is depressurizable by increasing in volume and is pressurizable by decreasing in volume.

11. The system of claim 10 further comprising a fluid displacement member disposed in the fluid displacement region, the fluid displacement member being movable to adjust the volume of the fluid displacement region.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the fluid displacement member comprises a piston movable in a linear direction in the fluid displacement region.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the fluid displacement member comprises a piston shaft which is connected to a distal portion of a piston rod for driving the piston shaft to move inside the fluid displacement region, the piston shaft being smaller in cross-section than the piston rod.

14. The system of claim 1 further comprising an energy transmitting member operatively coupled with the fluid sample processing region for transmitting energy thereto to process fluid contained therein.

15. The system of claim 14 further comprising a cover disposed between the fluid sample processing region and the energy transmitting member.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the cover comprises a flexible film.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the energy transmitting member comprises a sonic member for contacting the cover to transmit sonic energy through the cover into the fluid sample processing region.

18. The system of claim 1 wherein the valve body includes a crossover channel, the valve body being adjustable with respect to the housing to place the crossover channel in fluidic communication with an aspiration chamber and a source chamber to permit aspiration of a fluid from the source chamber through the crossover channel to the aspiration chamber.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the external ports are disposed on a generally planar external port surface which is perpendicular to an axis, the external ports being rotatable around the axis relative to the plurality of chambers to place the external ports selectively in fluidic communication with the plurality of chambers, and wherein the crossover channel comprises a crossover groove on the external port surface.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the external ports are disposed within a range of external port radii from the axis and the crossover groove is disposed within a range of crossover groove radii from the axis, the range of external port radii and the range of crossover groove radii being non-overlapping.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the crossover groove is a circular arc lying on a common crossover groove radius from the axis.

22. The system of claim 20 wherein the external ports are spaced from the axis by a common radius.

23. The system of claim 1 wherein the external ports are disposed on an external port surface that is generally conical relative to a longitudinal axis of rotation of the valve body, the external ports including a first external port angularly spaced from a second external port about the longitudinal axis.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the valve body is rotatable around the longitudinal axis and relative to the plurality of chambers to allow the external ports to be placed selectively in fluidic communication with the plurality of chambers, wherein the first external port lies on a first transverse plane which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and which is longitudinally offset in the direction of the longitudinal axis from a second transverse plane which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, wherein the second external port lies on the second plane.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein the valve body includes a crossover groove disposed on the external port surface.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein the crossover groove extends longitudinally between the first transverse plane and the second transverse plane.

27. The system of claim 1 wherein the fluid sample processing region comprises an active member selected from the group consisting of a microfluidic chip, a solid phase material, a filter, a filter stack, an affinity matrix, a magnetic separation matrix, a size exclusion column, and a capillary tube.

28. The system of claim 1 wherein at least two of the plurality of chambers are separated by a flexible wall to permit change-over of chamber volumes between the chambers.

29. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of chambers comprise a side chamber including an inlet port, an outlet port, and a filter disposed at the inlet port.

30. A fluid control and processing system comprising:

a housing having a plurality of chambers; and

a valve body including a fluid sample processing region continuously coupled fluidicly with a fluid displacement region, the fluid displacement region being depressurizable to draw fluid into the fluid displacement region and pressurizable to expel fluid from the fluid displacement region, the valve body including a plurality of external ports, the fluid sample processing region being fluidicly coupled with at least two of the external ports, the fluid displacement region being fluidicly coupled with at least one of the external ports, and the valve body being adjustable with respect to the housing to place at least one of the external ports selectively in fluidic communication with the plurality of chambers.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein the valve body is adjustable with respect to the housing to place at most one external port at a time in fluidic communication with one of the plurality of chambers.

32. The system of claim 30 wherein the valve body is adjustable with respect to the housing to close the external ports so that the fluid displacement region and the processing region are fluidicly isolated from the chambers.

33. The system of claim 30 wherein the fluid sample processing region comprises a trapping member for trapping components of a fluid sample.

42. The system of claim 30 wherein the fluid displacement region is fluidicly coupled to a fluid displacement channel in the valve body and one of the fluid processing ports is fluidicly coupled to a fluid processing channel in the valve body, the fluid displacement channel and the fluid processing channel being fluidicly coupled with one external port.

43. The system of claim 30 wherein the fluid sample processing region includes a plurality of fluid processing ports each continuously coupled fluidicly with at least one of the external ports.

44. The system of claim 30 wherein the fluid sample processing region is disposed between the fluid displacement region and at least one external port so that fluid flow between the fluid displacement region and the at least one external port passes through the fluid sample processing region.

45. The system of claim 30 wherein the external ports are disposed on one external port surface of the valve body.

46. The system of claim 45 wherein the external port surface is generally planar.

47. The system of claim 46 wherein the valve body is rotatable around an axis and relative to the plurality of chambers to allow the external ports to be placed selectively in fluidic communication with the plurality of chambers, the axis being perpendicular to the external port surface, and the external ports being spaced from the axis by a common radius.

48. The system of claim 30 wherein the fluid displacement region is depressurizable by increasing in volume and is pressurizable by decreasing in volume.

49. The system of claim 48 further comprising a fluid displacement member disposed in the fluid displacement region, the fluid displacement member being movable to adjust the volume of the fluid displacement region.

50. The system of claim 49 wherein the fluid displacement member comprises a piston movable in a linear direction in the fluid displacement region.

51. The system of claim 49 wherein the fluid displacement member comprises a piston shaft which is connected to a distal portion of a piston rod for driving the piston shaft to move inside the fluid displacement region, the piston shaft being smaller in cross-section than the piston rod.

52. The system of claim 30 further comprising an energy transmitting member operatively coupled with the fluid sample processing region for transmitting energy thereto to process fluid contained therein.

53. The system of claim 52 further comprising a cover disposed between the fluid sample processing region and the energy transmitting member.

54. The system of claim 53 wherein the cover comprises a flexible film.

55. The system of claim 54 wherein the energy transmitting member comprises a sonic member for contacting the cover to transmit sonic energy through the cover into the fluid sample processing region.

56. The system of claim 30 wherein the valve body includes a crossover channel, the valve body being adjustable with respect to the housing to place the crossover channel in fluidic communication with an aspiration chamber and a source chamber to permit aspiration of a fluid from the source chamber through the crossover channel to the aspiration chamber.

57. The system of claim 56 wherein the external ports are disposed on a generally planar external port surface which is perpendicular to an axis, the external ports being rotatable around the axis relative to the plurality of chambers to place the external ports selectively in fluidic communication with the plurality of chambers, and wherein the crossover channel comprises a crossover groove on the external port surface.

58. The system of claim 57 wherein the external ports are disposed within a range of external port radii from the axis and the crossover groove is disposed within a range of crossover groove radii from the axis, the range of external port radii and the range of crossover groove radii being non-overlapping.

59. The system of claim 58 wherein the crossover groove is a circular arc lying on a common crossover groove radius from the axis.

60. The system of claim 58 wherein the external ports are spaced from the axis by a common radius.

61. The system of claim 30 wherein the external ports are disposed on an external port surface that is generally conical relative to a longitudinal axis of rotation of the valve body, the external ports including a first external port angularly spaced from a second external port about the longitudinal axis.

62. The system of claim 61 wherein the valve body is rotatable around the longitudinal axis and relative to the plurality of chambers to allow the external ports to be placed selectively in fluidic communication with the plurality of chambers, wherein the first external port lies on a first transverse plane which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and which is longitudinally offset in the direction of the longitudinal axis from a second transverse plane which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, wherein the second external port lies on the second plane.

63. The system of claim 62 wherein the valve body includes a crossover groove disposed on the external port surface.

64. The system of claim 63 wherein the crossover groove extends longitudinally between the first transverse plane and the second transverse plane.

65. The system of claim 30 wherein the fluid sample processing region comprises an active member selected from the group consisting of a microfluidic chip, a solid phase material, a filter, a filter stack, an affinity matrix, a magnetic separation matrix, a size exclusion column, and a capillary tube.

66. The system of claim 30 wherein at least two of the plurality of chambers are separated by a flexible wall to permit change-over of chamber volumes between the chambers.

67. The system of claim 30 wherein the plurality of chambers comprise a side chamber including an inlet port, an outlet port, and a filter disposed at the inlet port.

34. A method for controlling fluid flow between a valve and a plurality of chambers, the valve including a plurality of external ports and a fluid displacement region continuously coupled fluidicly with a fluid sample processing region which is fluidicly coupled with at least two of the external ports, the method comprising:

adjusting the valve with respect to the plurality of chambers to place the external ports selectively in fluidic communication with the plurality of chambers.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein the valve is adjusted to close the external ports so that the valve is fluidicly isolated from the chambers.

36. The method of claim 35 further comprising pressurizing the fluidic displacement region and the fluid sample processing region.

37. The method of claim 34 wherein the valve is adjusted to place one external port In fluidic communication with one of the chambers, and further comprising depressurizing the fluid displacement region to aspirate fluid from the chamber into the valve.

38. The method of claim 34 wherein the valve is adjusted to place one external port in fluidic communication with one of the chambers, and further comprising pressurizing the fluid displacement region to expel fluid from the valve into the, chamber.

39. The method of claim 34 wherein the valve includes a crossover channel, and wherein the valve is adjusted to place one external port in fluidic communication with a first chamber and to place the crossover channel in fluidic communication with the first chamber and a second chamber.

40. The method of claim 39 further comprising depressurizing the fluid displacement region to aspirate fluid from the second chamber through the crossover channel to the first chamber.

41. The method of claim 34 further comprising transmitting energy into the fluid sample processing region.

68. A fluid control and processing system for controlling fluid flow among a plurality of chambers, the system comprising:

a body including a fluid sample processing region continuously coupled fluidicly with a fluid displacement region, the fluid displacement region being depressurizable to draw fluid into the fluid displacement region and pressurizable to expel fluid from the fluid displacement region, the body including a plurality of external ports, the fluid sample processing region including a plurality of fluid processing ports each fluidicly coupled with one of the external ports, the fluid displacement region being fluidicly coupled with at least one of the external ports, and the body being rotatably adjustable around an axis and relative to the plurality of chamber to allow the external ports to be placed selectively in fluidic communication with the plurality of chambers.

69. The system of claim 68 wherein the body is adjustable with respect to the plurality of chambers to place one external port at a time in fluidic communication with one of the plurality of chambers.

70. The system of claim 68 wherein the body is adjustable with respect to the plurality of chambers to place at least two of the external ports in fluidic communication with any of the plurality of chambers at a time.

71. The system of claim 68 wherein:

the fluid displacement region is fluidicly coupled to a fluid displacement channel in the body and one of the fluid processing ports is fluidicly coupled to a fluid processing channel in the body, the fluid displacement channel and the fluid processing channel being fluidicly coupled with one external port.

72. The system of claim 68 wherein the plurality of fluid processing ports are each continuously coupled fluidicly with at least one of the external ports.

73. The system of claim 68 wherein the fluid sample processing region is disposed between the fluid displacement region and at least one external port so that fluid flow between the fluid displacement region and the at least one external port passes through the fluid sample processing region.

74. The system of claim 68 wherein the external ports are disposed on one external port surface of the body.

75. The system of claim 74 wherein the external port surface is generally planar.

76. The system of claim 75 wherein the axis is perpendicular to the external port surface, and wherein the external ports are spaced from the axis by a common radius.

77. The system of claim 68 wherein the fluid displacement region is depressurizable by increasing in volume and is pressurizable by decreasing in volume.

78. The system of claim 77 further comprising a fluid displacement member disposed in the fluid displacement region, the fluid displacement member being movable to adjust the volume of the fluid displacement region.

79. The system of claim 78 wherein the fluid displacement member comprises a piston movable in a linear direction in the fluid displacement region.

80. The system of claim 78 wherein the fluid displacement member comprises a piston shaft which is connected to a distal portion of a piston rod for driving the piston shaft to move inside the fluid displacement region, the piston shaft being smaller in cross-section than the piston rod.

81. The system of claim 68 further comprising an energy transmitting member operatively coupled with the fluid sample processing region for transmitting energy thereto to process fluid contained therein.

82. The system of claim 81 further comprising a cover disposed between the fluid sample processing region and the energy transmitting member.

83. The system of claim 82 wherein the cover comprises a flexible film.

84. The system of claim 83 wherein the energy transmitting member comprises a sonic member for contacting the cover to transmit sonic energy through the cover into the fluid sample processing region.

85. The system of claim 68 wherein the body includes a crossover channel, the body being adjustable with respect to the plurality of chambers to place the crossover channel in fluidic communication with an aspiration chamber and a source chamber to permit aspiration of a fluid from the source chamber through the crossover channel to the aspiration chamber.

86. The system of claim 85 wherein the external ports are disposed on a generally planar external port surface which is perpendicular to the axis, the external ports being rotatable around the axis relative to the plurality of chambers to place the external ports selectively in fluidic communication with the plurality of chambers, and wherein the crossover channel comprises a crossover groove on the external port surface.

87. The system of claim 86 wherein the external ports are disposed within a range of external port radii from the axis and the crossover groove is disposed within a range of crossover groove radii from the axis, the range of external port radii and the range of crossover groove radii being non-overlapping.

88. The system of claim 87 wherein the crossover groove is a circular arc lying on a common crossover groove radius from the axis.

89. The system of claim 87 wherein the external ports are spaced from the axis by a common radius.

90. The system of claim 68 wherein the external ports are disposed on an external port surface that is generally conical relative to the axis of rotation of the body, the external ports including a first external port angularly spaced from a second external port about the axis.

91. The system of claim 90 wherein the first external port lies on a first transverse plane which is perpendicular to the axis and which is longitudinally offset in the direction of the axis from a second transverse plane which is perpendicular to the axis, wherein the second external port lies on the second plane.

92. The system of claim 91 wherein the body includes a crossover groove disposed on the external port surface.

93. The system of claim 92 wherein the crossover groove extends longitudinally between the first transverse plane and the second transverse plane.

94. The system of claim 68 wherein the fluid sample processing region comprises an active member selected from the group consisting of a microfluidic chip, a solid phase material, a filter, a filter stack, an affinity matrix, a magnetic separation matrix, a size exclusion column, and a capillary tube.

95. The system of claim 68 wherein at least two of the plurality of chambers are separated by a flexible wall to permit change-over of chamber volumes between the chambers.

96. The system of claim 68 wherein the plurality of chambers comprise a side chamber including an inlet port, an outlet port, and a filter disposed at the inlet port.

97. A fluid control and processing system for controlling fluid flow among a plurality of chambers, the system comprising:

a body including a fluid sample processing region continuously coupled fluidicly with a fluid displacement region, the fluid displacement region being depressurizable to draw fluid into the fluid displacement region and pressurizable to expel fluid from the fluid displacement region, the body including a plurality of external ports, the fluid sample processing region being fluidicly coupled with at least two of the external ports, the fluid displacement region being fluidicly coupled with at least one of the external ports, and the body being rotatobly adjustable around an axis and relative to the plurality of chambers to place at least one of the external ports selectively in fluidic communication with the plurality of chambers.

98. The system of claim 97 wherein the body is adjustable with respect to the plurality of chambers to place at most one external port at a time in fluidic communication with one of the plurality of chambers.

99. The system of claim 97 wherein the body is adjustable with respect to the plurality of chambers to close the external ports so that the fluid displacement region and the processing region are fluidicly isolated from the chambers.

100. The system of claim 97 wherein the fluid sample processing region comprises a trapping member for trapping components of a fluid sample.

101. The system of claim 97 wherein the fluid displacement region is fluidicly coupled to a fluid displacement channel in the body and one of the fluid processing ports is fluidicly coupled to a fluid processing channel in the body, the fluid displacement channel and the fluid processing channel being fluidicly coupled with one external port.

102. The system of claim 97 wherein the plurality of fluid processing ports are each continuously coupled fluidicly with at least one of the external ports.

103. The system of claim 97 wherein the fluid sample processing region is disposed between the fluid displacement region and at least one external port so that fluid flow between the fluid displacement region and the at least one external port passes through the fluid sample processing region.

104. The system of claim 97 wherein the external ports are disposed on one external port surface of the body.

105. The system of claim 104 wherein the external port surface is generally planar.

106. The system of claim 105 wherein the axis is perpendicular to the external port surface, and wherein the external ports are spaced from the axis by a common radius.

107. The system of claim 97 wherein the fluid displacement region is depressurizable by increasing in volume and is pressurizable by decreasing in volume.

108. The system of claim 107 further comprising a fluid displacement member disposed in the fluid displacement region, the fluid displacement member being movable to adjust the volume of the fluid displacement region.

109. The system of claim 108 wherein the fluid displacement member comprises a piston movable in a linear direction in the fluid displacement region.

110. The system of claim 108 wherein the fluid displacement member comprises a piston shaft which is connected to a distal portion of a piston rod for driving the piston shaft to move inside the fluid displacement region, the piston shaft being smaller in cross-section than the piston rod.

111. The system of claim 97 further comprising an energy transmitting member operatively coupled with the fluid sample processing region for transmitting energy thereto to process fluid contained therein.

112. The system of claim 111 further comprising a cover disposed between the fluid sample processing region and the energy transmitting member.

113. The system of claim 112 wherein the cover comprises a flexible film.

114. The system of claim 113 wherein the energy transmitting member comprises a sonic member for contacting the cover to transmit sonic energy through the cover into the fluid sample processing region.

115. The system of claim 97 wherein the body includes a crossover channel, the body being adjustable with respect to the plurality of chambers to place the crossover channel in fluidic communication with an aspiration chamber and a source chamber to permit aspiration of a fluid from the source chamber through the crossover channel to the aspiration chamber.

116. The system of claim 115 wherein the external ports are disposed on a generally planar external port surface which is perpendicular to the axis, the external ports being rotatable around the axis relative to the plurality of chambers to place the external ports selectively in fluidic communication with the plurality of chambers, and wherein the crossover channel comprises a crossover groove on the external port surface.

117. The system of claim 116 wherein the external ports are disposed within a range of external port radii from the axis and the crossover groove is disposed within a range of crossover groove radii from the axis, the range of external port radii and the range of crossover groove radii being non-overlapping.

118. The system of claim 117 wherein the crossover groove is a circular arc lying on a common crossover groove radius from the axis.

119. The system of claim 117 wherein the external ports are spaced from the axis by a common radius.

120. The system of claim 97 wherein the external ports are disposed on an external port surface that is generally conical relative to the axis of rotation of the body, the external ports including a first external port angularly spaced from a second external port about the axis.

121. The system of claim 120 wherein the first external port lies on a first transverse plane which is perpendicular to the axis and which is longitudinally offset in the direction of the axis from a second transverse plane which is perpendicular to the axis, wherein the second external port lies on the second plane.

122. The system of claim 121 wherein the body includes a crossover groove disposed on the external port surface.

123. The system of claim 122 wherein the crossover groove extends longitudinally between the first transverse plane and the second transverse plane.

124. The system of claim 97 wherein the fluid sample processing region comprises an active member selected from the group consisting of a microfluidic chip, a solid phase material, a filter, a filter stack, an affinity matrix, a magnetic separation matrix, a size exclusion column, and a capillary tube.

125. The system of claim 97 wherein at least two of the plurality of chambers are separated by a flexible wall to permit change-over of chamber volumes between the chambers.

126. The system of claim 97 wherein the plurality of chambers comprise a side chamber including an inlet port, an outlet port, and a filter disposed at the inlet port.