Controlled fluid transport in microfabricated polymeric substrates

• US 6,514,399 B1
• Filed: 11/28/2000
• Issued: 02/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Caliper Technologies Corp (Revvity, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Caliper Technologies Corp (Revvity, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chow, Calvin Y. H., Parce, John Wallace, Knapp, Michael R., Bousse, Luc
• Primary Examiner(s): Phasge, Arun S.
• Application Number:
  US09/724,899
• Time in Patent Office: 798 Days
• Field of Search: 204/600, 204/601
• US Class Current: 204/600
• 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 2219/00783 Laminate assemblies, i.e. the reactor comprising a stack of plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00833 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00853 Employing electrode arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00952 Sensing operations
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00995 Mathematical modeling
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0689 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/12 Specific details about manufacturing devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/147 Employing temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0887 Laminated structure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/12 Specific details about materials
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0418 electro-osmotic flow [EOF]
• 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 3/50273 characterised by the means or forces applied to move the fluids micropumps F04B19/006, of the membrane type F04B43/043
• 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 137/2224 Structure of body of device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49229 Prime mover or fluid pump making

Abstract

Microfluidic devices are provided for the performance of chemical and biochemical analyses, syntheses and detection. The devices of the invention combine precise fluidic control systems with microfabricated polymeric substrates to provide accurate, low cost miniaturized analytical devices that have broad applications in the fields of chemistry, biochemistry, biotechnology, molecular biology and numerous other fields.

Claims

1. A microfluidic device comprising:

a polymeric substrate having at least a first microscale chamber disposed therein, the microscale chamber comprising at least a first surface; and

at least a first modifying layer which first modifying layer is at least partially embedded in at least the first surface of the first microscale chamber.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the polymeric substrate comprises acrylic.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the polymeric substrate comprises polymethylmethacrylate.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the polymeric substrate comprises polydimethylsiloxane, polyurethane, polyvinylchloride, polystyrene, polysulfone, polycarbonate or polytetrafluorethylene.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the polymeric substrate comprises a rigid substrate, a non-rigid substrate, or a semi-rigid substrate.

6. The device of claim 1, the substrate comprising at least about 50% polymeric materials.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least first microscale chamber comprises a first microscale channel.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the polymeric substrate further comprises a second microscale channel disposed therein, which second microscale channel intersects the first microscale channel.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the first modifying layer comprises a polymeric material.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the first modifying layer comprises a block co-polymer copolymerized to the first surface.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the block co-polymer comprises polytetrafluoroethylene/polyurethane.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the first modifying layer comprises a reactive functional group.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the first modifying layer comprises a detergent.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the detergent comprises a photolyzable detergent.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein the detergent comprises sodium dodecyl sulfate, dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide, or cetyltrimethylammonium bromide.

16. A microfluidic device comprising:

a polymeric substrate having at least a first microscale chamber disposed therein, the microscale chamber comprising at least a first surface; and

at least a first modifying layer which first modifying layer is at least partially embedded in at least the first surface of the first microscale chamber;

wherein the polymeric substrate has a first zeta potential and the first surface has a second zeta potential, which second zeta potential is higher than the first zeta potential.