Apparatus, and method for propelling fluids

• US 6,453,928 B1
• Filed: 01/08/2001
• Issued: 09/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nanolab, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nanolab, Inc.
• Inventors: Kaplan, Shay, Shacham, Amit
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAMBERS, A MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US09/755,154
• Publication Number:
  US 20020124879A1
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 137/833, 137/827, 137/828, 137/807, 137/806, 137/252, 137/14, 422/82, 422/103
• US Class Current: 137/14
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/049 vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0677 phase change valves; Meltable, freezing, dissolvable plugs; Destructible barriers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0683 mechanically breaking a wall or membrane within a channel or chamber
• 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: F04B 19/006 Micropumps F04B43/043 and F04B43/095 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 19/24 Pumping by heat expansion of pumped fluid
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 2099/008 Multi-layer fabrications
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0001 Microvalves microdevices B81B1/00; manufacture or treatment of devices or systems in or on a substrate B81C1/00; microfluidic structures B01L3/5027; micropumps F04B19/006
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0036 operated by temperature variations
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2029/008 using micromechanics, e.g. micromechanical liquid contact switches or [LIMMS]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0391 Affecting flow by the addition of material or energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0396 Involving pressure control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2076 Utilizing diverse fluids
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2082 Utilizing particular fluid
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2196 Acoustical or thermal energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2224 Structure of body of device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/4651 Branched passage for sealing liquid

Abstract

A device for moving a fluid in a fluidics system. The device may include one or more controllably openable closed chambers. The pressure within the closed chamber(s) is lower than the ambient pressure outside the fluidics system or lower than the pressure within another channel of the fluidic system. The closed chamber(s) is configured for being controllably opened. The chamber (or chambers) is configured such that when a chamber is opened the chamber is in fluidic communication with a flow channel included within the fluidics system. The fluid may be moved into the flow channel or may be moved within the flow channel. The fluid may be a liquid, a gas, a mixture of gases or an aerosol. The fluidics system may include a controller for controlling the opening of a selected chamber or chambers.

Claims

1. A method for moving a fluid in a fluidics system, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a flow channel having a first pressure level therein;

providing at least one openable closed chamber, said at least one closed chamber is fluidically isolated from said flow channel by an openable sealing member, said at least one openable closed chamber has a second pressure level therewithin, said second pressure level is lower than said first pressure level; and

opening said openable sealing member to fluidically connect said at least one chamber with said flow channel to reduce the pressure within said flow channel to move a fluid disposed within said flow channel.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said fluid is selected from a liquid, a gas, a mixture of gases, and an aerosol.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein said first pressure level is the pressure level outside said fluidics system.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein said openable sealing member is selected from at least one layer of openable sealing material, and a valve.

5. A method for moving a liquid into a fluidics system, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a flow channel, said flow channel is in operative communication with at least one inlet port, said at least one inlet port is sealingly covered with said liquid, said flow channel has a first pressure level therein;

providing at least one openable closed chamber, said at least one closed chamber is fluidically isolated from said flow channel by an openable sealing member, said at least one openable closed chamber has a second pressure level therewithin, said second pressure level is lower than said first pressure level; and

opening said openable sealing member to fluidically connect said at least one chamber with said flow channel to reduce the pressure within said flow channel to move said liquid into said flow channel.

6. The method according to claim 5 wherein said first pressure level is the pressure level outside said fluidics system.

7. The device according to claim 5, wherein said openable sealing member is selected from at least one layer of openable sealing material, and a valve.

8. A method for moving a fluid into a fluidics system, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a flow channel, said flow channel is in operative communication with at least one inlet port, said at least one inlet port is disposed within said fluid, said flow channel has a first pressure level therein;

providing at least one openable closed chamber, said at least one closed chamber is fluidically isolated from said flow channel by an openable sealing member, said at least one openable closed chamber has a second pressure level therewithin, said second pressure level is tower than said first pressure level; and

opening said at least one closed chamber to fluidically connect said at least one chamber with said flow channel for reducing the pressure within said flow channel to move said fluid into said flow channel.

9. The method according to claim 8 wherein said fluid is selected from a liquid, a gas, a mixture of gases, and an aerosol.

10. The method according to claim 8 wherein said first pressure level is the pressure level outside said fluidics system.

11. A method for constructing a fluidic device, the method comprising the steps of:

providing at least one flow channel within said device; and

providing at least one controllably openable closed chamber, said at least one closed chamber is fluidically isolated from said at least one flow channel by an openable sealing member, said closed chamber has a first pressure level therewithin, said first pressure level is lower than the pressure level outside said fluidic device.

12. The method according to claim 11 wherein said at least one openable closed chamber is configured for being controllably opened to allow pressure equalization between said at least one openable chamber and said at least one flow channel.

13. A method for moving a liquid into a fluidics system, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a flow channel having at least one inlet port;

providing one or more openable closed chambers, the pressure within said one or more openable closed chambers is lower than the ambient pressure outside said fluidic system, each chamber of said one or more openable closed chambers is configured for being controllably openable, each chamber of said one or more openable closed chambers is fluidically isolated from said flow channel by an openable sealing member said one or more openable closed chambers are configured for being controllably opened by opening said openable sealing member to allow said one or more openable chambers to fluidically communicate with said flow channel and to allow pressure equalization between said flow channel and said one or more openable closed chambers;

sealingly covering said at least one inlet port of said flow channel with said liquid; and

opening at least one chamber of said one or more openable closed chambers for moving at least a portion of said liquid into said flow channel.

14. The method according to claim 13 wherein said step of opening comprises opening one or more chambers of said one or more openable closed chambers to reduce the pressure within said flow channel below said ambient pressure.

15. The method according to claim 13 wherein said moving of said liquid into said flow channel is controlled by varying the number of chambers opened in said step of opening.

16. The method according to claim 13 wherein said one or more openable closed chambers comprises a plurality of openable closed chambers, at least one of said plurality of openable closed chambers has a volume different than the volume of the remaining chambers of said plurality of openable closed chambers and wherein said moving of said liquid into said flow channel is controlled by the total volume of the chambers opened in said step of opening.

17. The method according to claim 13 wherein said one or more openable closed chambers comprises a plurality of openable closed chambers, said step of opening comprises simultaneously or sequentially opening a selected number of chambers of said plurality of openable closed chambers to control one or more parameters of flow of said liquid into said flow channel, through said at least one inlet port.

18. The method according to claim 17 wherein said one or more parameters of flow are selected from the rate of flow of said liquid into said flow channel, the amount of said liquid flowing into said flow channel, the rate of change of the rate of flow of said liquid within said flow channel and combinations thereof.

19. A method for moving a fluid into a fluidics system, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a flow channel having at least one inlet port, said at least one inlet port has an opening;

providing one or more openable closed chambers, the pressure within said one or more openable closed chambers is lower than the ambient pressure outside said fluidic system, each chamber of said one or more closed chambers is fluidically isolated from said flow channel by an openable sealing member, said one or more openable closed chambers are configured for being controllably opened by opening said openable sealing member to allow said one or more openable chambers to fluidically communicate with said flow channel to allow pressure equalization between said flow channel and said one or more openable closed chambers;

disposing said opening of said at least one inlet port of said flow channel within said fluid; and

opening at least one chamber of said one or more closed chambers for moving at least a portion of said fluid into said flow channel.

20. The method according to claim 19 wherein said step of opening comprises opening one or more chambers of said one or more openable closed chambers to reduce the pressure within said flow channel below said ambient pressure.

21. The method according to claim 19 wherein said moving of said fluid into said flow channel is controlled by varying the number of chambers opened in said step of opening.

22. The method according to claim 19 wherein said one or more openable closed chambers comprises a plurality of openable closed chambers, at least one of said plurality of openable closed chambers has a volume different than the volume of the remaining chambers of said plurality of openable closed chambers and wherein said moving of said fluid into said flow channel is controlled by the total volume of the chambers opened in said step of opening.

23. The method according to claim 19 wherein said one or more openable closed chambers comprises a plurality of openable closed chambers, said step of opening comprises simultaneously or sequentially opening a selected number of chambers of said plurality of openable closed chambers to control one or more parameters of flow of said fluid into said flow channel, through said at least one inlet port.

24. The method according to claim 23 wherein said one or more parameters of flow are selected from the rate of flow of said fluid into said flow channel, the amount of said fluid flowing into said flow channel, the rate of change of the rate of flow of said fluid within said flow channel and combinations thereof.

25. The method according to claim 19 wherein said fluid is selected from a liquid, a gas, a mixture of gases, and an aerosol.

26. A method for moving a liquid within a fluidics system, the method comprising:

providing a flow channel having at least a first end and a second end thereof;

providing one or more openable closed chambers, the pressure within said one or more openable closed chambers is lower than the ambient pressure outside said fluidic system, each chamber of said one or more openable closed chambers is fluidically isolated from said flow channel by an openable sealing member, each chamber of said one or more openable closed chambers is configured for being controllably opened by opening said openable sealing member to allow pressure equalization between at least a portion of said flow channel and said one or more openable chambers;

providing a quantity of said liquid disposed within said flow channel, said quantity of said liquid is disposed at a position between said first end and said second end of said flow channel, said first end of said flow channel opens outside said fluidic system and is subjected to said ambient pressure; and

opening at least one chamber of said one or more openable closed chambers to put said at least one chamber in fluidic communication with said portion of said flow channel for lowering the pressure within said portion of said flow channel below said ambient pressure to move said liquid within said flow channel.

27. The method according to claim 26 wherein said moving of said liquid into said flow channel is controlled by varying the number of chambers opened in said step of opening.

28. The method according to claim 26 wherein said one or more openable closed chambers comprises a plurality of openable closed chambers, at least one of said plurality of openable closed chambers has a volume different than the volume of the remaining chambers of said plurality of openable closed and wherein said moving of said liquid into said flow channel is controlled by the combined volume of the chambers opened in said step of opening.

29. The method according to claim 26 wherein said one or more openable closed chambers comprises a plurality of openable closed chambers, and wherein said step of opening comprises simultaneously or sequentially opening a selected number of chambers of said plurality of openable closed chambers to control one or more parameters of flow of said liquid flowing into said flow channel.

30. The method according to claim 29 wherein said one or more parameters of flow are selected from the rate of flow of said liquid into said flow channel, the amount of said liquid flowing into said flow channel, the rate of change of the rate of flow of said liquid within said flow channel and combinations thereof.

31. A method for moving a liquid within or into a microfluidics device, the method comprising opening at least one openable closed chamber included in said microfluidics device, the pressure within said at least one closed chamber is lower than the ambient pressure outside said microfluidics device, said at least one closed chamber is configured to fluidically communicate with a flow channel included in said microfluidics device upon said opening, said opening comprises opening an openable sealing member fluidically isolating said at least one closed chamber from said flow channel, said opening produces a net force acting on a quantity of said liquid disposed within or on said microfluidics device to move at least a portion of said quantity of liquid within or into said device through said flow channel.

32. A method for moving a liquid disposed-within at least one flow channel in a microfluidics device, the method comprising opening at least one openable closed chamber included in said microfluidics device, said at least one openable closed chamber is fluidically isolated from said at least one flow channel by an openable sealing member, the pressure within said at least one closed chamber is lower than the ambient pressure outside said microfluidics device, said at least one closed chamber is configured to fluidically communicate with said at least one flow channel upon said opening, said opening comprises opening said openable sealing member, to produce a net force acting on said liquid for moving at least a portion of said liquid within said device.

33. A method for introducing a liquid into a microfluidics device, the method comprising the steps of:

sealingly covering an opening of at least one inlet port included in said microfluidics device with a quantity of said liquid, said inlet port is in fluidic communication with at least one flow channel included within said microfluidics device; and

opening at least one closed chamber included in said microfluidics device, said at least one closed chamber is fluidically isolated from said at least one flow channel by an openable sealing member, said opening comprises opening said openable sealing member, the pressure within said at least one closed chamber is lower than the ambient pressure outside said microfluidics device, said at least one closed chamber is configured to fluidically communicate with said at least one flow channel upon said opening to produce a net force acting on a portion of said liquid disposed within said microfluidics device to move at least a portion of said quantity of liquid into said at least one flow channel.

34. A method for moving a fluid within or into a microfluidics device including at least one flow channel, the method comprising opening at least one closed chamber included in said microfluidics device, the pressure within said at least one closed chamber is lower than the ambient pressure outside said microfluidics device, said at least one closed chamber is fluidically isolated from said at least one flow channel by an openable sealing member, said opening comprises opening said openable sealing member, said at least one closed chamber is configured to fluidically communicate with said at least one flow channel included in said microfluidics device upon said opening, said opening reduces the pressure within said at least one flow channel of said microfluidics device to move at least a portion of a quantity of said fluid disposed within or in contact with at least part of said at least one flow channel along said at least one flow channel.

35. The method according to claim 34 wherein said fluid is selected from a liquid, a gas, a mixture of gases, and an aerosol.

36. A method for moving a fluid disposed within at least one flow channel in a microfluidics device, the method comprising opening at least one openable closed chamber included in said microfluidics device, said at least one closed chamber is fluidically isolated from said at least one flow channel by an openable sealing member, the pressure within said at least one closed chamber is lower than the ambient pressure outside said microfluidics device, said opening comprises opening said openable sealing member, said opening fluidically connects said at least one openable closed chamber with said at least one flow channel to induce a flow of said fluid for moving at least a portion of said fluid within said at least one flow channel.

37. The method according to claim 36 wherein said fluid is selected from a liquid, a gas, a mixture of gases, and an aerosol.

38. A method for introducing a fluid into a microfluidics device, the method comprising the steps of:

disposing an opening of at least one inlet port included in said microfluidics device within said fluid, said inlet port is in communication with at least one flow channel included within said microfluidics device; and

opening at least one openable closed chamber included in said microfluidics device, the pressure within said at least one closed chamber is lower than the ambient pressure outside said microfluidics device, said at least one closed chamber is fluidically isolated from said at least one flow channel by an openable sealing member, said opening comprises opening said openable sealing member said opening fluidically connects said at least one openable chamber with said at least one flow channel to induce a flow of said fluid for moving at least a portion of said fluid into said at least one flow channel through said opening of said at least one inlet port.

39. The method according to claim 38 wherein said fluid is selected from a liquid, a gas, a mixture of gases, and an aerosol.

40. A device for moving a fluid in a fluidic system, the device comprising:

one or more openable closed chambers, the pressure within said one or more openable closed chambers is lower than the ambient pressure outside said fluidic system, at least one chamber of said one or more closed chambers is fluidically isolated by an openable sealing member from a flow channel included within said fluidic system, said one or more openable closed chambers are configured for being controllably opened by opening said sealing member to fluidically connect said one or more openable chambers with said flow channel to allow pressure equalization between said flow channel and said one or more openable chambers, for moving said fluid within or into said fluidic system.

41. The device according to claim 40 wherein said fluid is selected from a liquid, a gas, a mixture of gases, and an aerosol.

42. The device according to claim 40 wherein said at least one of said one or more openable closed chambers comprises a plurality of operatively interconnected chambers.

43. The device according to claim 42 wherein at least one chamber of said plurality of operatively interconnected chambers is configured for being controllably opened.

44. The device according to claim 42 wherein more than one chamber of said plurality of operatively interconnected chambers is configured for being controllably opened.

45. The device according to claim 40 wherein said one or more openable closed chambers are formed within a substrate.

46. The device according to claim 45 wherein said substrate is a multi layered substrate.

47. The device according to claim 40 wherein at least one chamber of said one or more openable closed chambers comprises an openable sealed cavity formed within a substrate.

48. The device according to claim 40 wherein at least one chamber of said one or more openable closed chambers comprises a passage formed within a substrate, and at least two sealing members sealingly attached to said substrate.

49. The device according to claim 40 wherein at least one chamber of said one or more openable closed chambers is configured for being controllably opened by an opening mechanism configured for opening said sealing member.

50. The device according to claim 40 wherein said one or more openable closed chambers comprises a plurality of individually openable closed chambers, the pressure within each openable closed chamber of said plurality of individually openable closed chambers is lower than the ambient pressure outside said fluidic system.

51. The device according to claim 40 each chamber of said plurality of individually openable closed chambers is selectably openable.

52. The device according to claim 51 wherein said fluidic system includes a controller for controlling the opening of one or more chambers of said plurality of individually openable closed chambers.

53. The device according to claim 52 wherein said controller is a programmable controller, configured for being programmed to controllably open any combination of chambers selected from said plurality of individually openable closed chambers.

54. The device according to claim 50 wherein all openable closed chambers of said plurality of individually openable closed chambers have a substantially similar volume.

55. The device according to claim 50 wherein at least one openable closed chamber of said plurality of individually openable closed chambers has a volume different than the volume of the remaining openable closed chambers of said plurality of individually openable closed chambers.

56. The device according to claim 40 wherein at least one chamber of said one or more openable closed chambers comprises an openable closed primary chamber and one or more non-openable secondary chambers, said one or more secondary chambers are in operative communication with said openable primary chamber.

57. The device according to claim 40 wherein each chamber of said one or more openable closed chambers comprises:

a portion of a substrate having a cavity formed therein; and

a layer of sealing material sealingly attached to said substrate for sealing said cavity, said openable sealing member comprises said layer of sealing material.

58. The device according to claim 57 wherein said substrate is a multi layered substrate.

59. The device according to claim 57 wherein said openable sealing member is configured for being mechanically opened by an opening member included in said fluidic system.

60. The device according to claim 57 wherein said openable sealing member is configured for being mechanically opened by a controllably actuated opening mechanism included in said fluidic system.

61. The device according to claim 57 wherein said openable sealing member comprises said layer of sealing material attached to said substrate and a heating element thermally coupled to said layer of sealing material.

62. The device according to claim 61 wherein said heating element comprises an electrically resistive member, operatively connectable to an electrical power source.

63. The device according to claim 61 wherein said heating element is attached to or deposited on said layer of sealing material.

64. The device according to claim 57 wherein said openable sealing member comprises a sealing layer attached to said substrate and at least one electrically resistive member attached to said sealing layer or thermally coupled thereto, said at least one electrically resistive member is operatively connected to an electrical power source included in said fluidics system.

65. The device according to claim 64 wherein said openable sealing member is configured to be thermo-mechanically opened by controllably passing current from said power source through said at least one electrically resistive member for heating said at least one electrically resistive member and said sealing layer, said heating generates mechanical stress in said sealing layer to open said layer by forming at least one opening therein.

66. The device according to claim 64 wherein said sealing layer comprises a meltable substance, said openable sealing member is configured to be thermally opened by controllably passing an electrical current from said electrical power source through said at least one resistive member for heating said at least one resistive member and said sealing layer attached thereto or thermally coupled thereto, said heating melts at least a portion of said sealing layer to form at least one opening therethrough.

67. The device according to claim 40 wherein said openable sealing member includes a layer comprising an electrically resistive material, said layer is attached to said substrate to seal said cavity, said layer is operatively connectable to an electrical power source included in said fluidics system.

68. The device according to claim 67 wherein said layer is configured for being thermally opened by controllably passing current from said electrical power source through said layer for melting, burning, or vaporizing at least a portion of said layer to open or breach said openable sealing member.

69. The device according to claim 40 wherein at least one openable closed chamber of said one or more openable closed chambers comprises:

a portion of a substrate having a passage passing therethrough, said passage has a first opening and a second opening;

said openable sealing member sealingly attached to said substrate for sealing said first opening; and

a second sealing member sealingly attached to said substrate for sealing said second opening.

70. The device according to claim 69 wherein said substrate is a multi layered substrate.

71. The device according to claim 69 wherein said openable sealing member is configured for being mechanically opened by an opening member included in said fluidic system.

72. The device according to claim 69 wherein said openable sealing member is configured for being mechanically opened by a controllably actuated opening mechanism included in said fluidic system.

73. The device according to claim 69 wherein said openable sealing member comprises a sealing layer and at least one resistive member attached to said sealing layer or thermally coupled thereto, said at least one resistive member is operatively connectable to an electrical power source included in said fluidics system.

74. The device according to claim 73 wherein said openable sealing member is configured for being thermo-mechanically breached by controllably passing current from said electrical power source through said at least one resistive member for heating said at least one resistive member and said sealing layer attached thereto or thermally coupled thereto, said heating produces mechanical stress in said sealing layer to breach said sealing layer.

75. The device according to claim 73 wherein said sealing layer comprises a meltable substance, said openable sealing member is configured to be thermally opened by controllably passing an electrical current from said electrical power source through said at least one resistive member for heating said at least one resistive member and said sealing layer attached thereto or thermally coupled thereto, said heating melts at least a portion of said sealing layer to form at least one opening therethrough.

76. The device according to claim 68 wherein said openable sealing member comprises a resistive layer attached to said substrate to seal said first opening, said resistive layer is operatively electrically connectable to an electrical power source.

77. The device according to claim 76 wherein said electrical power source is included in said fluidics system.

78. The device according to claim 76 wherein said resistive layer is configured to be thermally opened by controllably passing an electrical current from said power source through said resistive layer for melting, burning, or vaporizing at least a portion of said resistive layer to open said resistive layer.

79. The method according to claim 40, wherein said openable sealing member is selected from at least one layer of openable sealing material, and a valve.

80. In a microfluidics system, a device for moving a fluid within the microfluidics system, the device comprising:

at least one openable closed chamber, the pressure within said closed chamber is lower than the pressure outside said microfluidics system, said at least one closed chamber is fluidically isolated from a flow channel included within said fluidic system by an openable sealing member, said openable sealing member is configured for being controllably opened to fluidically connect said at least one openable chamber with said flow channel, to allow pressure equalization between said flow channel and said at least one openable chamber for moving said fluid within or into said flow channel.

81. The device according to claim 80 wherein said at least one openable chamber comprises an openable sealed cavity formed within a substrate.

82. The device according to claim 80 wherein at least part of said microfluidics system is formed within said substrate.

83. The device according to claim 80 wherein said substrate is a multi-layered substrate.

84. A microfluidics system comprising:

a flow channel disposed within said microfluidics system; and

at least one openable closed vacuum chamber, said at least one closed vacuum chamber is fluidically isolated from said flow channel by an openable sealing member, said openable sealing member is configured for being controllably opened to fluidically connect said at least one openable vacuum chamber with said flow channel to allow pressure equalization between said flow channel and said at least one openable vacuum chamber for moving a fluid into or within said microfluidics system.

85. A microfluidics device comprising:

at least one openable closed chamber, the pressure within said at least one closed chamber is lower than the ambient pressure outside said microfluidics device, said at least one closed chamber is fluidically isolated from a flow channel included within said microfluidics device by an openable sealing member, said sealing member is configured for being controllably opened to fluidically connect said at least one openable chamber with said flow channel to induce a fluid to flow within or into said flow channel.

86. The device according to claim 85 wherein said fluid is selected from a liquid, a gas, a mixture of gases, and an aerosol.

87. The method according to claim 85, wherein said openable sealing member is selected from at least one layer of openable sealing material, and a valve.