Microfabricated devices for the storage and selective exposure of chemicals and devices

• US 6,551,838 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2001
• Issued: 04/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microchips Biotech, Inc. (Keratin Biosciences, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MicroCHIPS Inc.
• Inventors: Santini, John T. Jr., Sheppard, Norman F. Jr., Langer, Robert S., Young, Chung Chang
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Long. V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Counts, Gary W.
• Application Number:
  US09/798,562
• Publication Number:
  US 20030049865A1
• Time in Patent Office: 781 Days
• Field of Search: 422/101, 422/102, 422/58, 422/82.03, 422/186.27, 356/73.1, 204/415, 204/416, 204/229.1, 435/7.9, 435/14, 435/287.1, 435/287.2, 435/288.7, 435/808, 435/285.2, 385/12, 436/164, 436/165, 436/805, 436/806, 436/809, 436/149, 436/150, 436/174
• US Class Current: 436/174
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/00 Measuring for diagnostic purposes radiation diagnosis A61B6/00; diagnosis by ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves A61B8/00; Identification of persons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1473 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14865 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter or needle or using implanted sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 47/6957 the form being a device or a kit, e.g. stents or microdevices
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 49/0002 General or multifunctional contrast agents, e.g. chelated agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0004 Osmotic delivery systems; Sustained release driven by osmosis, thermal energy or gas
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0009 involving or responsive to electricity, magnetism or acoustic waves; Galenical aspects of sonophoresis, iontophoresis, electroporation or electroosmosis microelectromechanical systems A61K9/0097
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0097 Micromachined devices; Microelectromechanical systems [MEMS]; Devices obtained by lithographic treatment of silicon; Devices comprising chips intradermal microneedle arrays A61K9/0021; MEMS in general B81B7/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 3/10 for hyperglycaemia, e.g. antidiabetics
• 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 2219/00351 Means for dispensing and evacuation of reagents
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00783 Laminate assemblies, i.e. the reactor comprising a stack of plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00819 Materials of construction
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00822 Metal
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00824 Ceramic
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00828 Silicon wafers or plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00831 Glass
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00833 : Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00835 : Comprising catalytically active material
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00844 : Comprising porous material
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00853 : Employing electrode arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00873 : Heat exchange
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00889 : Mixing micromixers B01F33/30
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00907 : using membranes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00925 : Irradiation
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00952 : Sensing operations
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00957 : Compositions or concentrations
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00966 : pH
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0097 : Optical sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00984 : Residence time
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00986 : Microprocessor
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/12 : Specific details about manufacturing devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/023 : Sending and receiving of information, e.g. using bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/049 : Valves integrated in closure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0627 : Sensor or part of a sensor is integrated
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0654 : Lenses; Optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0819 : Microarrays; Biochips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0677 : phase change valves; Meltable, freezing, dissolvable plugs; Destructible barriers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50853 : with covers or lids
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 60/14 : for creating libraries
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00158 : Elements containing microarrays, i.e. "biochip"
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00247 : Microvalves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49007 : Indicating transducer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 : Conductor or circuit manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25 : including sample preparation

Abstract

Microchip devices are provided which include a substrate having a plurality of reservoirs containing a secondary device, a reacting component, or a combination thereof. At least one barrier layer covers each reservoir to isolate the reservoir contents from one or more environmental components outside the reservoirs. The barrier layer can be selectively disintegrated or permeabilized to expose the isolated contents to the one or more environmental components. The secondary device preferably includes a sensor or sensing component, for example, a biosensor, or a light detection or imaging device, such as an optical fiber. Preferred reacting components include catalysts and reagent, which may be immobilized in the reservoirs.

Claims

1. A microchip device for the controlled exposure of a secondary device, comprising:

a substrate;

a plurality of reservoirs in the substrate;

a secondary device in each of the reservoirs, wherein the secondary device is selected from the group consisting of a sensor or sensor component, a resistive heater when a catalyst is provided in one or more of the reservoirs, and a polarizable electrode;

at least one barrier layer covering each of the reservoirs to isolate the secondary device from one or more environmental components outside the reservoirs; and

means for actively and selectively disintegrating the barrier layer to expose the secondary device with selected reservoirs to said one or more environmental components.

2. The microchip device of claim 1 wherein the secondary device comprises a sensor or a sensing component.

3. The microchip device of claim 2 wherein each reservoir comprises a sensor and a reference sensor.

4. The microchip device of claim 2 wherein the sensor comprises a biosensor.

5. The microchip device of claim 2 wherein the sensor comprises one or more electrodes.

6. The microchip device of claim 1, wherein the secondary device comprises a sensor or sensor component which includes a light detection or imaging device.

7. The microchip device of claim 6 wherein the secondary device comprises an optical fiber.

8. The microchip device of claim 1 wherein the secondary device substantially fills the reservoir.

9. The microchip device of claim 1 wherein the substrate further comprises one or more reservoirs containing a reacting component.

10. The microchip device of claim 9 wherein the reacting component is selected from the group consisting of proteins, enzymes, nucleic acids, and polysaccharides.

11. The microchip device of claim 9 wherein the reacting component comprises an assay reagent or catalyst.

12. The microchip device of claim 11 wherein the reacting component comprises glucose oxidase.

13. The microchip device of claim 1 wherein the barrier layer comprises a combination of passive and active barrier layers.

14. The microchip device of claim 1, wherein the barrier layer comprises an anode and the means for disintegrating comprises a cathode and a means for applying an electric potential between the cathode and the anode effective to cause the barrier layer to disintegrate.

15. The microchip device of claim 14, wherein the means for disintegrating further comprises a microprocessor which can be directed to control the application of tho electric potential.

19. The microchip device of claim 13, wherein the passive barrier layer is selectively permeable to at least one of the environmental components, and the active barrier layer covers the passive barrier layer and is impermeable to the at least one of the environmental components.

21. The microchip device of claim 1, further comprising control circuitry to control the means for disintegrating.

22. The microchip device of claim 1, wherein the means for disintegrating comprises a power source.

23. The microchip device of claim 1, wherein the secondary device comprises a resistive heater and a catalyst is contained in one or more reservoirs.

24. The microchip device of claim 23, wherein the catalyst is an enzyme.

25. The microchip device of claim 1, wherein the secondary device comprises a polarizable electrode.

26. The microchip device of claim 9, wherein the reacting component comprises a metal or zeolite.

27. The microchip device of claim 9, wherein the reacting component comprises cells.

28. The microchip device of claim 1, wherein the barrier layer comprises a metal membrane.

29. The microchip device of claim 2, wherein the environmental component is glucose which is monitored by the sensor or sensor component.

30. The microchip device of claim 29, further comprising reservoirs which contain insulin for release.

31. The microchip device of claim 30, wherein information from the sensor or sensor component can be used to actively control the release of the insulin from the reservoirs.

16. A method for controlling exposure of a secondary device within reservoirs of a microchip device to one or more environmental components outside the reservoirs, the method comprising:

providing at a site which comprises said one or more environmental components a microchip device comprising

a substrate,

a plurality of reservoirs in the substrate,

a secondary device in each of the reservoirs, wherein the secondary device is selected from the group consisting of a sensor or sensor component, a resistive heater when a catalyst is provided in one or more of the reservoirs, and a polarizable electrode,

at least one barrier layer covering each of the reservoirs to isolate the secondary device from said one or more environmental components,

means for actively and selectively disintegrating the barrier layer to expose the secondary device within selected reservoirs to said one or more environmental components; and

actively and selectively disintegrating said at least one barrier layer to expose the secondary device within selected one or more reservoirs to said one or more environmental components.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the disintegrating of the barrier layer is initiated by application of a stimulus selected from the group consisting of an electric field or current, magnetic field, heat, chemicals, osmotic pressure, ionic gradients, capillary forces, and surface tension.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the secondary device comprises a sensor or sensor component.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein disintegration to expose the secondary device is controlled by a preprogrammed microprocessor, remote control, a signal from a biosensor, or a combination thereof.