Microfluidic systems incorporating varied channel dimensions

• US 6,517,234 B1
• Filed: 11/02/2000
• Issued: 02/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Caliper Life Sciences Incorporated (Revvity, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Caliper Technologies Corp (Revvity, Inc.)
• Inventors: Parce, John Wallace, Kopf-Sill, Anne R.
• Primary Examiner(s): SOOHOO, TONY GLEN
• Application Number:
  US09/705,062
• Time in Patent Office: 831 Days
• Field of Search: 366/340, 366/336, 366/341, 366/337, 366/338, 366/339, 422/81, 422/100, 436/52, 436/174, 436/179, 436/180, 435/288.4, 435/288.5, 204/450, 204/451, 138/177, 138/138, 138/140, 138/42
• US Class Current: 366/340
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/30 Micromixers
• 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 2219/0086 Dimensions of the flow channels
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00889 Mixing
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0867 Multiple inlets and one sample wells, e.g. mixing, dilution
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0415 electrical forces, e.g. electrokinetic
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/084 Passive control of flow resistance
• 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 3/502746 characterised by the means for controlling flow resistance, e.g. flow controllers, baffles B01L3/502738 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502776 specially adapted for focusing or laminating flows
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/44791 Microapparatus sample containers with integrated microfluidic structures B01L3/5027
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 366/01 Micromixers: continuous laminar flow with laminar boundary mixing in the linear direction parallel to the fluid propagation with or without conduit geometry influences from the pathway
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 366/02 Micromixers: segmented laminar flow with boundary mixing orthogonal to the direction of fluid propagation with or without geometry influences from the pathway
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 366/03 Micromixers: variable geometry from the pathway influences mixing/agitation of non-laminar fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

The present invention is generally directed to improved microfluidic devices, systems and methods of using same, which incorporate channel profiles that impart significant benefits over previously described systems. In particular, the presently described devices and systems employ channels having, at least in part, depths that are varied over those which have been previously described. These varied channel depths provide numerous beneficial and unexpected results.

Claims

1. A method of mixing materials in a microfluidic device, comprising:

providing a device having a body structure comprising at least one microchannel region and a mixing region disposed within a first planar substrate;

serially introducing at least two materials from the at least one microchannel region into the mixing channel region; and

transporting the materials through the mixing region such that the materials mix to form a homogeneous mixture.

2. The method of claim 1, where in the providing step, the at least one micro channel region comprises at least a first and a second microchannel region.

3. The method of claim 1, where in the providing step, the mixing channel region is between about 0.1 mm and 10 mm in length.

4. The method of claim 1, where in the providing step, the mixing channel region is between about 0.1 and 3 mm in length.

5. A method of mixing materials in a microfluidic device, comprising:

providing a device having a body structure comprising at least one microchannel region and a mixing channel region disposed within a first planar substrate, wherein the at least one microchannel region and the mixing channel region have different aspect ratios;

introducing at least two materials from the at least one microchannel region into the mixing channel region; and

transporting the materials through the mixing region such that the materials mix to form a homogeneous mixture.

6. A method of mixing materials in a microfluidic device, comprising:

providing a device having a body structure comprising at least one microchannel region and a mixing channel region disposed within a first planar substrate, wherein the mixing channel region is narrower and deeper than the at least one microchannel region;

introducing at least two materials from the at least one microchannel region into the mixing channel region; and

transporting the materials through the mixing region such that the materials mix to form a homogeneous mixture.

7. A method of mixing materials in a microfluidic device, comprising:

providing a device having a body structure comprising at least one microchannel region and a mixing channel region disposed within a first planar substrate, wherein the mixing channel region and the at least one microchannel region have substantially similar hydrodynamic and electrical resistance;

introducing in parallel at least two materials from the at least one microchannel region into the mixing channel region; and

transporting the materials through the mixing region such that the materials mix to form a homogeneous mixture.