Microfluidic devices and methods

• US 7,438,856 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2003
• Issued: 10/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Zyomyx, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Zyomyx, Inc.
• Inventors: Wagner, Peter, Nock, Steffen, Zaugg, Frank G., Jedrzejewski, Paul, Indermuhle, Pierre
• Primary Examiner(s): Sines; Brian J
• Application Number:
  US10/603,339
• Publication Number:
  US 20040053403A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,946 Days
• Field of Search: 422/50, 422/55, 422/58, 422/63, 422/68.1, 422/81, 422/82, 422/100, 422/101, 422/102, 422/103, 422/104, 73/10.1, 73/10.2, 73/530.1, 436/43, 436/52, 436/53, 436/94, 436/177, 436/180, 435/283.1, 435/287.1, 435/287.2, 435/287.3, 435/287.8, 435/287.9, 435/288.4, 435/288.5, 435/288.7
• US Class Current: 422/503
• 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 dispenser assembly comprising:

a dispenser chip including a dispenser body including one or more vertical channels; and

a sample chip having a base and a sample structure, the sample structure comprising one or more pillars and a sample surface, wherein the one or more vertical channels of the dispenser chip are cooperatively structured to receive the one or more pillars.

2. The dispenser assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

a seal member between the dispenser body and the base of the sample chip.

3. The dispenser assembly of claim 1 wherein the sample chip comprises silicon.

4. The dispenser assembly of claim 1 wherein the sample chip further comprises one or more capture agents on the sample surface.

5. The dispenser assembly of claim 1 wherein the dispenser body comprises silicon.

6. The dispenser assembly of claim 1 wherein the sample chip further comprises one or more capture agents on the sample surface, and wherein one or more analytes are present in the one or more vertical channels in the dispenser chip.

7. The dispenser assembly of claim 1 wherein the sample chip comprises more than 100 pillars.

8. The dispenser assembly of claim 1 wherein the one or more pillars have an aspect ratio greater than about 1.

9. The dispenser assembly of claim 1 wherein the sample chip comprises more than 10 pillars.

10. The dispenser assembly of claim 1 wherein the pillar pitch is 500 microns or less.

11. A dispenser assembly comprising:

a dispenser chip including a dispenser body including one or more vertical channels; and

a sample chip having a base and a sample structure, the sample structure comprising one or more pillars and a sample surface, wherein the one or more vertical channels of the dispenser chip are cooperatively structured to receive the one or more pillars; and

wherein the base and the one or more pillars are composed of the same material.

12. The dispenser assembly of claim 11 further comprising:

a seal member between the dispenser body and the base of the sample chip.

13. The dispenser assembly of claim 11 wherein the sample chip comprises silicon.

14. The dispenser assembly of claim 11 wherein the sample chip further comprises one or more capture agents on the sample surface.

15. The dispenser assembly of claim 11 wherein the dispenser body comprises silicon.

16. The dispenser assembly of claim 11 wherein the sample chip further comprises one or more capture agents on the sample surface, and wherein one or more analytes are present in the one or more vertical channels in the dispenser chip.

17. The dispenser assembly of claim 11 wherein the sample chip comprises more than 10 pillars.

18. The dispenser assembly of claim 11 wherein the sample chip comprises more than 100 pillars.

19. The dispenser assembly of claim 11 wherein the one or more pillars have an aspect ratio greater than about 1.

20. The dispenser assembly of claim 11 wherein the pillar pitch is 500 microns or less.

21. A dispenser assembly comprising:

a dispenser chip including a dispenser body including one or more vertical channels; and

a sample chip having a base and a sample structure, the sample structure comprising one or more pillars and a sample surface, wherein the one or more vertical channels of the dispenser chip are cooperatively structured to receive the one or more pillars; and

wherein the one or more pillars are composed of a material other than a gel.

22. A dispenser assembly comprising:

a dispenser chip including a dispenser body including one or more vertical channels; and

a sample chip having a base and a sample structure, the sample structure comprising one or more pillars and a sample surface, wherein one or more the vertical channels of the dispenser chip are cooperatively structured to receive the one or more pillars; and

further comprising one or more polypeptides either present in the one or more vertical channels or bound to the surface of the one or more pillars.

23. A dispenser assembly comprising:

a dispenser chip including a dispenser body including one or more vertical channels; and

a sample chip having a base and a sample structure, the sample structure comprising one or more pillars and a sample surface, wherein one or more the vertical channels of the dispenser chip are cooperatively structured to receive the one or more pillars; and

wherein the one or more pillars comprise biomolecules other than a polynucleotide.

24. The dispenser assembly of claim 23 further comprising:

a seal member between the dispenser body and the base of the sample chip.

25. The dispenser assembly of claim 23 wherein the sample chip comprises silicon.

26. The dispenser assembly of claim 23 wherein the sample chip further comprises one or more capture agents on the sample surface.

27. The dispenser assembly of claim 23 wherein the dispenser body comprises silicon.

28. The dispenser assembly of claim 23 wherein the sample chip further comprises one or more capture agents on the sample surface, and wherein one or more analytes are present in the one or more vertical channels in the dispenser chip.

29. The dispenser assembly of claim 23 wherein the sample chip comprises more than 10 pillars.

30. The dispenser assembly of claim 23 wherein the sample chip comprises more than 100 pillars.

31. The dispenser assembly of claim 23 wherein the one or more pillars have an aspect ratio greater than about 1.

32. The dispenser assembly of claim 23 wherein the pillar pitch is 500 microns or less.

33. A dispenser assembly comprising:

a dispenser chip including a dispenser body including one or more vertical channels; and

a sample chip having a base and a sample structure, the sample structure comprising one or more pillars and a sample surface, wherein one or more the vertical channels of the dispenser chip are cooperatively structured to receive the one or more pillars; and

wherein the one or more vertical channels contain a liquid other than a gel.

34. The dispenser assembly of claim 33 further comprising:

a seal member between the dispenser body and the base of the sample chip.

35. The dispenser assembly of claim 33 wherein the sample chip comprises silicon.

36. The dispenser assembly of claim 33 wherein the sample chip further comprises one or more capture agents on the sample surface.

37. The dispenser assembly of claim 33 wherein the dispenser body comprises silicon.

38. The dispenser assembly of claim 33 wherein the sample chip further comprises one or more capture agents on the sample surface, and wherein one or more analytes are present in the one or more vertical channels in the dispenser chip.

39. The dispenser assembly of claim 33 wherein the sample chip comprises more than 10 pillars.

40. The dispenser assembly of claim 33 wherein the sample chip comprises more than 100 pillars.

41. The dispenser assembly of claim 33 wherein the one or more pillars have an aspect ratio greater than about 1.

42. The dispenser assembly of claim 33 wherein the pillar pitch is 500 microns or less.

43. A dispenser assembly comprising:

a dispenser chip including a dispenser body including one or more vertical channels; and

a sample chip having a base and a sample structure, the sample structure comprising one or more pillars and a sample surface, wherein the one or more vertical channels of the dispenser chip are cooperatively structured to receive the one or more pillars;

wherein a fluid introduced into the one or more channels can become in contact with the pillar surface or surfaces when the dispenser chip cooperatively engages the pillars.