Integrated microfluidic array device

• US 7,390,457 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2002
• Issued: 06/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Schembri, Carol T
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden; Jill
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEVKOVICH, NATALIA A
• Application Number:
  US10/286,089
• Publication Number:
  US 20040087033A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,063 Days
• Field of Search: 436/180, 436/6, 422/58, 422/102, 435/6
• US Class Current: 422/504
• 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 2219/00351 Means for dispensing and evacuation of reagents
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00518 in the shape of tapes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00529 DNA chips
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00547 Bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00596 Solid-phase processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00608 DNA chips
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0061 The surface being organic
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00612 the surface being inorganic
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00621 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 2219/00662 Two-dimensional arrays within two-dimensional arrays
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0072 Organic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/025 Align devices or objects to ensure defined positions relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/10 Integrating sample preparation and analysis in single entity, e.g. lab-on-a-chip concept
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/12 Specific details about manufacturing devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/143 Quality control, feedback systems
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/021 Identification, e.g. bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0636 Integrated biosensor, microarrays
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0819 : Microarrays; Biochips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0825 : Test strips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0829 : Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0861 : Configuration of multiple channels and/or chambers in a single devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0887 : Laminated structure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/123 : Flexible; Elastomeric
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/168 : Specific optical properties, e.g. reflective coatings
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5027 : by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip B01L3/5023 takes precedence; micromixers B01F33/30; microreactors for synthesis B01J19/0093; microcapillary devices in general B81B1/00
• 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 3/505 : flexible containers not provided for above
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5085 : for multiple samples, e.g. microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/00 : Joining or sealing of preformed parts , e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor general aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts B29C66/00; using porous material formed by internal pressure generated therein for joining preformed parts B29C44/1228, B29C44/326
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/71 : characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined welding bar compositions B29C65/125
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2001/12 : Cellulose acetate
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/00 : Use of polyalkenes or derivatives thereof as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/06 : PE, i.e. polyethylene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/12 : PP, i.e. polypropylene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/18 : Polymers of hydrocarbons having four or more carbon atoms, e.g. polymers of butylene, e.g. PB, i.e. polybutylene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2025/06 : PS, i.e. polystyrene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2027/06 : PVC, i.e. polyvinylchloride
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2027/18 : PTFE, i.e. polytetrafluorethene , e.g. ePTFE, i.e. expanded polytetrafluorethene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2033/08 : Polymers of acrylic acid esters, e.g. PMA, i.e. polymethylacrylate
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2033/12 : Polymers of methacrylic acid esters, e.g. PMMA, i.e. polymethylmethacrylate
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2067/00 : Use of polyesters or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2067/003 : PET, i.e. poylethylene terephthalate
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2071/00 : Use of polyethers , e.g. PEEK, i.e. polyether-etherketone or PEK, i.e. polyetherketone or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2077/00 : Use of PA, i.e. polyamides, e.g. polyesteramides or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 60/14 : for creating libraries
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 70/00 : Tags or labels specially adapted for combinatorial chemistry or libraries, e.g. fluorescent tags or bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 : Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

A microfluidic component having a microfluidic channel is joined to an array component having a flexible array substrate. In an embodiment, the array component includes a prefabricated flexible array that couples with the microfluidic component in modular fashion. The modular architecture provides for different combinations of microfluidic components and array components that can be used to create customized processing and analysis tools.

Claims

1. An integrated microfluidic array device comprising:

a microfluidic component having a microfluidic feature for carrying a fluid of interest;

an array component comprising a flexible away substrate supporting a two-dimensional away of an addressable collection of probes, said array component in operable association with said microfluidic feature of the microfluidic component for analyzing said fluid of interest, wherein the flexible array substrate includes (i) a flexible base supporting, in order, (ii) a metal layer, (iii) a metal oxide layer, (iv) a Bragg reflector comprising multiple dielectric layers, said dielectric layers being constructed by repeating pairs of transparent dielectrics, each dielectric in a pair having a different index of refraction from the other dielectric in the pair, (v) a transparent layer, and (vi) the addressable collection of probes.

2. The integrated microfluidic array device of claim 1, wherein said flexible array substrate further comprises a flexible support supporting the flexible base.

3. The integrated microfluidic away device of claim 1 wherein the microfluidic component includes an identifier.

4. The integrated microfluidic away device of claim 1 wherein the integrated microfluidic array device is flexible.

5. The integrated microfluidic away device of claim 1 wherein the integrated microfluidic array device is rigid.

6. The integrated microfluidic away device of claim 1, wherein said microfluidic component further comprises a reservoir for holding one of a washing buffer, a sample fluid, or a reagent solution, the reservoir in fluid communication with the microfluidic feature.

7. The integrated microfluidic array device of claim 1, wherein said microfluidic component further comprises a valve for controlling fluid flow, the valve in operable relation to the microfluidic feature.

8. The integrated microfluidic away device of claim 1 wherein the flexible base comprises a polymer material selected from the group consisting of polyacrylamide, polyetheretherketone, polyacrylate, polymethacrylate, polyesters, polyolefins, polyethylene, polytetrafluoro-ethylene, polypropylene, poly(4-methylbutene), polystyrene, poly(ethylene terephthalate), nitrocellulose, cellulose acetate, poly(vinyl chloride), polyamides, nylon, poly(vinyl butyrate), cross-linked dextran, and agarose.

9. The integrated microfluidic away device of claim 1 wherein said microfluidic component and said away component are modular.

10. The integrated microfluidic away device of claim 1 wherein said microfluidic feature is a microfluidic sipper structure.

11. The integrated microfluidic away device of claim 1, wherein said microfluidic feature is adapted to perform at least one of a reaction, concentration, or separation process.

12. The integrated microfluidic device of claim 1 wherein the microfluidic component includes a chamber in fluid communication with the microfluidic feature, the flexible array substrate disposed within the chamber.

13. The integrated microfluidic away device of claim 1 further comprising a chamber defined in part by the flexible away substrate, the chamber in fluid communication with the microfluidic feature.

14. The integrated microfluidic away device of claim 1 wherein the array component comprises a plurality of addressable collections of probes, each addressable collection of probes associated with its own separate chamber defined in part by the array substrate.

15. The integrated microfluidic away device of claim 1 wherein more than one away component is joined to the microfluidic component.

16. The integrated microfluidic away device of claim 1 wherein more than one microfluidic component is joined to the array component.

17. The integrated microfluidic away device of claim 1, the array component further comprising an interface surface and the microfluidic component further comprising a mating surface, wherein the interface surface and the mating surface are adapted to fit together to form a fluid tight seal when the away component is in operable association with the microfluidic component.

18. The integrated microfluidic array device of claim 1, wherein the metal oxide layer is between about 5 nm and about 100 nm thick;

wherein the metal layer is about 0.1 nm to 50 nm thick; and

wherein the transparent layer is about 40 nm to 200 nm thick.

19. The integrated microfluidic array device of claim 1, wherein the metal layer comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of chromium, aluminum, titanium, and tantalum, and wherein the metal oxide layer comprises a metal oxide selected from the group consisting of chromium oxide, aluminum oxide, titanium oxide, and tantalum oxide.

20. The integrated microfluidic array device of claim 1, wherein a first and a second of said transparent dielectrics forming each of said pairs is about 40 nm to 200 nm thick.