Microfluidic devices and methods

• US 6,730,516 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2002
• Issued: 05/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Zyomyx, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Zyomyx, Inc.
• Inventors: Jedrzejewski, Paul, Indermuhle, Pierre, Wagner, Peter, Nock, Steffen, Zaugg, Frank G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Jill
• Assistant Examiner(s): SINES, BRIAN J
• Application Number:
  US10/208,381
• Publication Number:
  US 20030013203A1
• Time in Patent Office: 645 Days
• Field of Search: 436/43, 436/48, 436/52, 436/63, 436/174, 436/180, 73/10.2, 73/530.1, 435/174, 435/283.1, 435/286.4, 435/286.5, 435/287.1, 422/50, 422/56, 422/57, 422/58, 422/68.1, 204/193, 204/400, 204/403.01
• US Class Current: 436/43
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/0046 Sequential or parallel reactions, e.g. for the synthesis of polypeptides or polynucleotides; Apparatus and devices for combinatorial chemistry or for making molecular arrays synthesis methods per se C40B50/00
• 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 2219/00367 capillary
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00369 in multiple or parallel arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00382 Stamping
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00497 Features relating to the solid phase supports
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00504 Pins
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00509 Microcolumns
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00585 Parallel processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00587 High throughput processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00596 Solid-phase processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00605 the compounds being directly bound or immobilised to solid supports
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0061 The surface being organic
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00612 the surface being inorganic
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00619 using hydrophilic or hydrophobic regions
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00621 by physical means, e.g. trenches, raised areas
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00626 Covalent
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00637 by coating it with another layer
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00641 the porous medium being continuous, e.g. porous oxide substrates
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00644 : the porous medium being present in discrete locations, e.g. gel pads
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00664 : Three-dimensional arrays
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00677 : Ex-situ synthesis followed by deposition on the substrate
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00702 : Processes involving means for analysing and characterising the products
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00725 : Peptides
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0809 : rectangular shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0848 : Specific forms of parts of containers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/022 : droplet contacts the surface of the receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0688 : surface tension valves, capillary stop, capillary break
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0241 : Drop counters; Drop formers making arrays for combinatorial libraries B01J19/0046; automation of dispensing for analysis G01N35/10
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0244 : using pins
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0248 : Prongs, quill pen type dispenser
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0262 : using touch-off at substrate or container
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5085 : for multiple samples, e.g. microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5088 : confining liquids at a location by surface tension, e.g. virtual wells on plates, wires B01L3/50857 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 : Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 : Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 40/10 : Libraries containing peptides or polypeptides, or derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 60/14 : for creating libraries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 : Automated chemical analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/114165 : with step of insertion or removal from test line
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/117497 : with a continuously flowing sample or carrier stream
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/118339 : with formation of a segmented stream
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/143333 : Saccharide [e.g., DNA, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/156666 : Sulfur containing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25 : including sample preparation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25375 : Liberation or purification of sample or separation of material from a sample [e.g., filtering, centrifuging, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/255 : including use of a solid sorbent, semipermeable membrane, or liquid extraction
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 : Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention are directed to microfluidic devices. In one embodiment, a microanalysis chip comprises a body having at least one transfer-separation channel with a channel bottom that has a bottom opening. The transfer-separation channel terminates in a discharge aperture.

Claims

1. A method for chemically affecting a sample comprising:

providing a microanalysis chip including a body having a transfer-separation channel with a channel bottom having a bottom opening;

inserting a pillar into the bottom opening such that a sample supported by the pillar communicates with the transfer-separation channel; and

passing a reagent fluid into the transfer-separation channel in order for the reagent fluid to come in contact with the sample to chemically affect the sample.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the pillar is on a base.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

sealing a region between the microanalysis chip and the base with a seal member.

4. A method of processing analytes, the method comprising:

inserting a plurality of sample surfaces into a plurality of vertical channels in a dispenser chip, wherein the plurality of sample surfaces are on pillars of a sample chip;

depositing a plurality of liquid samples on the sample surfaces while the sample surfaces are in the vertical fluid channels;

binding analytes from the plurality of liquid samples to the sample surfaces;

withdrawing the sample surfaces from the vertical fluid channels;

inserting the plurality of sample surfaces into a plurality of openings in a microanalysis chip so that the plurality of sample surfaces are in communication with a plurality of transfer-separation channels in the microanalysis chip; and

processing the analytes using reagents flowing through the transfer-separation channels while the analytes are bound to the sample surfaces.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

discharging the processed analytes from the microanalysis chip using a plurality of nozzles in the microfluidic chip.

6. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

transferring the processed analytes to a mass spectrometer.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein the analytes are proteins, DNA, or RNA.

8. The method of claim 4 wherein processing includes at least one of derivatizing, cleaving, or unfolding the analyte.

9. The method of claim 4 wherein each vertical fluid channel comprises a passive valve.

10. The method of claim 4 wherein each pillar has an aspect ratio greater than about 1.

11. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

performing a chromatography process on the processed analytes.

12. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

separating the processed analytes from the sample surfaces; and

transferring the processed analytes downstream of the sample surfaces in the transfer-separation channels.