Controlled fluid transport in microfabricated polymeric substrates

• US 6,787,088 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2002
• Issued: 09/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Caliper Life Sciences Incorporated (Revvity, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Caliper Life Science Incorporated
• Inventors: Parce, John Wallace, Knapp, Michael R., Bousse, Luc J., Chow, Calvin Y. H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Colaianni, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fontaine, Monica A
• Application Number:
  US10/316,571
• Publication Number:
  US 20030089606A1
• Time in Patent Office: 637 Days
• Field of Search: 264/328.1, 264/241, 264/1.7, 156/242, 156/244.11, 156/285, 156/286, 156/87, 156/104, 156/309.9, 156/308.2, 422/100, 204/600, 204/451, 204/601, 137/15.01, 137/833
• US Class Current: 264/241
• 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 analyzes, 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 method of making a microfluidic device, comprising:

(a) providing a polymeric substrate having at least a first microscale chamber disposed therein, which first microscale chamber comprises at least a first surface; and

,

(b) providing a layer of a first modifying material on the first surface of the first microscale chamber, wherein the first modifying material is at least partially embedded in the first surface.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) comprises forming the polymeric substrate by injection molding, stamp molding, laser drilling, etching, or photolithography.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) comprises flowing the first modifying material through the microscale chamber, immersing the polymeric substrate in the first modifying material, or depositing the first modifying material on the first surface.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) comprises flowing a detergent or a solvent through the microscale chamber, which detergent or solvent modifies the first surface of the microscale chamber.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the solvent comprises trichloroethane or dichloroethane.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the detergent comprises sodium dodecyl sulfate, dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide, or cetyltrimethylammonium bromide.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the detergent comprises a photolyzable detergent, the method further comprising irradiating the first surface of the microscale chamber.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) comprises flowing a solvent and a detergent through the microscale chamber, which solvent and detergent modify the microscale chamber.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the solvent comprises trichloroethane or dichloroethane and the detergent comprises sodium dodecyl sulfate, dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide, or cetyltrimethylammonium bromide.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) comprises copolymerizing a block co-polymer to the first surface of the microscale chamber.

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

12. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) comprises contacting the first surface of the microscale chamber with a fluorinated modifier compound.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) comprises irradiating the first surface of the microscale chamber using oxygen plasma irradiation, thereby modifying the first surface.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the first modifying material comprises a reactive functional group, the method further comprising modifying the reactive functional group.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the polymeric substrate comprises acrylic.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the polymeric substrate comprises polymethylmethacrylate.

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

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the polymeric substrate comprises at least about 50% polymeric materials.

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