Fluid delivery system for a microfluidic device using a pressure pulse

• US 6,395,232 B1
• Filed: 07/09/1999
• Issued: 05/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Laboratory Corporation Of America Holdings
• Original Assignee: Orchid Biosciences Incorporated (Laboratory Corporation Of America Holdings)
• Inventors: McBride, Sterling Eduard
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Jill
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sines, Brian J.
• Application Number:
  US09/351,206
• Time in Patent Office: 1,054 Days
• Field of Search: 422/102,100 204/603,269 435/286.5 347/12,13 436/173,514
• US Class Current: 422/504
• 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 2219/00409 Solenoids in combination with valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00418 using pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00585 Parallel processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00783 Laminate assemblies, i.e. the reactor comprising a stack of plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00853 Employing electrode arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00891 Feeding or evacuation
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0605 Metering of fluids
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0673 Handling of plugs of fluid surrounded by immiscible fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0829 Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0864 comprising only one inlet and multiple receiving wells, e.g. for separation, splitting
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0487 fluid pressure, pneumatics
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0688 surface tension valves, capillary stop, capillary break
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0293 for liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50273 characterised by the means or forces applied to move the fluids micropumps F04B19/006, of the membrane type F04B43/043
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502738 characterised by integrated valves microvalves F16K99/0001
• 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: C40B 60/14 for creating libraries
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00148 : Test cards, e.g. Biomerieux or McDonnel multiwell test cards
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1095 : for supplying the samples to flow-through analysers for a specific analyser see relevant groups, e.g. under G01N15/00, G01N21/00, G01N27/00, G01N30/00, H01J49/00

Abstract

A microfluidic fluid delivery system includes a microfluidic device having a fluid input. A fluid reservoir is fluidically coupled to the fluid input. A gas delivery system has a pulse generator that generates an electric pulse. An electrically operated valve is coupled to the pulse generator and the gas pressure source. The valve controls the gas pressure pulse in response to said electric pulse. The gas pressure pulse displaces fluid from the fluid reservoir into the plurality of capillaries.

Claims

1. A microfluidic fluid delivery system comprising:

a microfluidic device having,

a fluid input;

a fluid reservoir coupled to said fluid input; and

a pulse generator generating an electrical pulse; and

a gas pressure delivery source coupled to said pulse generator and said fluid reservoir, said gas pressure delivery source controlling a gas pressure pulse in response to said electrical pulse, said gas pressure pulse displacing fluid from said fluid reservoir into said fluid input.

2. A microfluidic fluid delivery system as recited in claim 1 wherein said gas delivery pressure delivery source comprises a high-pressure subsystem and a low-pressure subsystem.

3. A microfluidic fluid delivery system as recited in claim 2 wherein said high pressure subsystem comprises a first pressure regulator coupled to a gas input.

4. A microfluidic fluid delivery system as recited in claim 3 wherein said first pressure regulator comprises a programmable pressure regulator.

5. A microfluidic fluid delivery system as recited in claim 1 wherein said low pressure subsystem comprises a second pressure regulator coupled to a gas input.

6. A microfluidic fluid delivery system as recited in claim 3 wherein said second pressure regulator comprises a programmable pressure regulator.

7. A microfluidic fluid delivery system as recited in claim 1 wherein said pressure delivery source comprises a solenoid valve.

8. A microfluidic fluid delivery system as recited in claim 1 wherein said microfluidic device further comprising a main channel coupled to said fluid input, said main channel having a plurality of branches extending therefrom.

9. A microfluidic fluid delivery system as recited in claim 8 wherein each of said branches have a channel feed, a capillary break and a reaction well.

10. A microfluidic fluid delivery system as recited in claim 1 wherein said microfluidic device comprises a second fluid input coupled to said fluid reservoir.

11. A microfluidic fluid delivery system as recited in claim 8 wherein said main channel has a first end and a second end, said plurality of branches disposed between said first end and said second end.

12. A microfluidic fluid delivery system as recited in claim 1 wherein said gas pressure delivery source comprises a piezoelectric device.

13. A microfluidic system comprising:

a fluid reservoir;

a microfluidic chip having a first fluid input channel coupled to the fluid reservoir and a plurality of wells coupled to said first fluid input channel;

a gas input fluidically coupled to said fluid reservoir;

a low-pressure distribution system coupled to said gas input providing a low-pressure to said fluid reservoir;

a high-pressure distribution system coupled to said gas input to provide a pulsed high pressure to said fluid reservoir;

a first pulse generator generating a first electrical pulse;

a first valve electrically coupled to said first pressure generator, and fluidically coupled to said high-pressure distribution system and said gas input, said first valve operated in response to said first electrical pulse;

a controller coupled to said first valve and said second valve, said controller selectively coupling said second valve to said low-pressure fluid distribution system to supply fluid to fill said first fluid input channel of said microfluidic chip and selectively coupling said second valve to said high-pressure fluid distribution system to supply, by said high-pressure gas pulse, fluid to fill said plurality of wells of said microfluidic chip.

14. A microfluidic fluid delivery system as recited in claim 13 wherein said high pressure distribution system comprises a first pressure regulator coupled to said gas input.

15. A microfluidic fluid delivery system as recited in claim 14 wherein said high pressure distribution system comprises a first pressure sensor electrically coupled to said controller and fluidically coupled between said first regulator and said second valve.

16. A microfluidic fluid delivery system as recited in claim 13 wherein said low pressure distribution system comprises a second pressure regulator coupled to said gas input.

17. A microfluidic fluid delivery system as recited in claim 16 wherein said low pressure distribution system comprises a second pressure sensor electrically coupled to said controller and fluidically coupled between said second regulator and said second valve.

18. A microfluidic fluid delivery system as recited in claim 13 wherein said first valve comprises a solenoid valve.

19. A microfluidic fluid delivery system as recited in claim 13 wherein said microfluidic device comprises a second fluid input coupled to said reservoir.