Flow-switching microdevice

• US 6,845,968 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2004
• Issued: 01/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Yin, Hongfeng, Killeen, Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): Look, Edward K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fristoe, Jr., John K.
• Application Number:
  US10/785,336
• Publication Number:
  US 20040164265A1
• Time in Patent Office: 337 Days
• Field of Search: 251/304, 251/318, 251/326, 137/625.46
• US Class Current: 251/304
• CPC Class Codes: F15C 5/00 Manufacture of fluid circuit elements; Manufacture of assemblages of such elements integrated circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 2099/0074 using photolithography, e.g. etching
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 2099/0076 using electrical discharge machining [EDM], milling or drilling
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 2099/0078 using moulding or stamping
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 2099/008 Multi-layer fabrications
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 2099/0084 Chemistry or biology, e.g. "lab-on-a-chip" technology
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0001 Microvalves microdevices B81B1/00; manufacture or treatment of devices or systems in or on a substrate B81C1/00; microfluidic structures B01L3/5027; micropumps F04B19/006
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0011 Gate valves or sliding valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0013 Rotary valves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86863 Rotary valve unit

Abstract

A microdevice is provided for controlling fluid flow. The microdevice includes a substantially planar contact surface and a plurality of fluid-transporting features associated therewith. Also included is a substrate having a substantially planar contact surface and a fluid-transporting feature associated therewith. The contact surfaces are positioned in slidable and fluid-tight contact to allow for controllable formation of a plurality of different flow paths upon alignment of the substrate fluid-transporting feature with each cover plate fluid-transporting features in succession. Typically, at least one of the cover plate and substrate is comprised of a biofouling resistant polymer, and the flow paths are of different lengths. Optionally, a plurality of fluid-transporting features is associated with the substrate so that flow paths are formed as a result of a different alignment of the fluid-transporting features.

Claims

1. A microdevice for controlling fluid flow, comprising:

a cover plate having a substantially planar contact surface and a plurality of fluid-transporting features associated therewith; and

a substrate having a substantially planar contact surface and a fluid-transporting feature associated therewith,

wherein the contact surfaces are positioned in slidable and fluid-tight contact to allow for controllable formation of a plurality of different flow paths upon alignment of the substrate fluid-transporting feature with each cover plate fluid-transporting feature in succession.

2. The microdevice of claim 1, wherein the cover plate is arranged over the substrate.

3. The microdevice of claim 1, wherein the substrate is arranged over the cover plate.

4. The microdevice of claim 1, wherein at least one cover plate fluid-transporting feature comprises a conduit having a substantially constant cross-sectional area.

5. The microdevice of claim 1, wherein the substrate fluid-transporting feature comprises a conduit having a substantially constant cross-sectional area.

6. The microdevice of claim 1, wherein the substrate fluid-transporting feature and at least one cover plate fluid-transporting feature, upon alignment, form a fluid-transporting conduit having a controllable cross-sectional area no greater than about 1 mm².

7. The microdevice of claim 6, wherein the area is no greater than about 0.1 mm².

8. The microdevice of claim 1, wherein the contact surfaces are rotationally slidable with respect to each other.

9. The microdevice of claim 1, wherein the contact surfaces are linearly slidable with respect to each other.

10. The microdevice of claim 1, wherein at least one fluid-transporting feature comprises a channel.

11. The microdevice of claim 1, wherein at least fluid-transporting feature is in fluid communication with a separation unit.

12. The microdevice of claim 11, wherein the separation unit is an integral part of the microdevice.

13. The microdevice of claim 11, wherein the separation unit is detachable from the microdevice.

14. The microdevice of claim 1, wherein the separation unit is constructed to carry out chromatography.

15. The microdevice of claim 1, wherein at least fluid-transporting feature is in fluid communication with a mass spectrometer.

16. The microdevice of claim 1, wherein the substrate, cover plate, or both comprise a biofouling-resistant polymer.

17. The microdevice of claim 16, wherein the biofouling-resistant polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyimides, polyketone, mixtures thereof, and copolymers thereof.

18. The microdevice of claim 1, wherein each flow path has a different length.

19. A microdevice for controlling fluid flow, comprising:

a cover plate having a substantially planar contact surface and a plurality of fluid-transporting features associated therewith; and

a substrate having a substantially planar contact surface and a fluid-transporting feature associated therewith,

wherein the substrate is comprised of a biofouling resistant polymer, and the contact surfaces are positioned in slidable and fluid-tight contact to allow for controllable formation of a plurality of different flow paths upon alignment of the substrate fluid-transporting feature with each cover plate fluid-transporting feature in succession.

20. A microdevice for controlling fluid flow, comprising:

a cover plate having a substantially planar contact surface and a plurality of fluid-transporting features associated therewith; and

a substrate having a substantially planar contact surface and a plurality of fluid-transporting feature associated therewith,

wherein the contact surfaces are positioned in slidable and fluid-tight contact to allow for controllable formation of different flow paths in the microdevice, and further wherein each flow path has a cross-sectional area no greater than about 1 mm² and is formed as a result of a different alignment of the fluid-transporting features.