Retaining microfluidic microcavity and other microfluidic structures

• US 7,459,129 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2004
• Issued: 12/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gyros Patent AB (Mesa Laboratories Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gyros Patent AB (Mesa Laboratories Inc.)
• Inventors: Andersson, Per, Ekstrand, Gunnar, Helene, Derand
• Primary Examiner(s): Soohoo; Tony G
• Application Number:
  US11/010,869
• Publication Number:
  US 20050153431A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,450 Days
• Field of Search: 422/100, 422/81, 422/103, 366/341, 366/DIG.3, 435/287.3
• US Class Current: 422/506
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/433 Mixing tubes wherein the shape of the tube influences the mixing, e.g. mixing tubes with varying cross-section or provided with inwardly extending profiles
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/4331 Mixers with bended, curved, coiled, wounded mixing tubes or comprising elements for bending the flow
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/4338 Mixers with a succession of converging-diverging cross-sections, i.e. undulating cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/30 Micromixers
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/712 for feeding fluids
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7172 using capillary forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/71725 using centrifugal forces
• 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 2219/00536 in the shape of disks
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00725 Peptides
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00738 Organic catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/027 for microfluidic devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/06 Fluid handling related problems
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0605 Metering of fluids
• 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 2200/142 Preventing evaporation
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/069 Absorbents; Gels to retain a fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0803 Disc shape
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0806 Standardised forms, e.g. compact disc [CD] format
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0861 Configuration of multiple channels and/or chambers in a single devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/087 : Multiple sequential chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/14 : Means for pressure control
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/16 : Surface properties and coatings
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0409 : centrifugal forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0418 : electro-osmotic flow [EOF]
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0633 : with moving parts
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0688 : surface tension valves, capillary stop, capillary break
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5025 : for parallel transport of multiple samples
• 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 3/502738 : characterised by integrated valves microvalves F16K99/0001
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 40/10 : Libraries containing peptides or polypeptides, or derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00504 : combined with carousels
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/466 : with separation columns in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/6095 : Micromachined or nanomachined, e.g. micro- or nanosize
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54366 : Apparatus specially adapted for solid-phase testing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00069 : whereby the sample substrate is of the bio-disk type, i.e. having the format of an optical disk
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 49/04 : Arrangements for introducing or extracting samples to be analysed, e.g. vacuum locks; Arrangements for external adjustment of electron- or ion-optical components
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 366/04 : Micromixers: with application of energy to influence mixing/agitation, e.g. magnetic, electrical, e-m radiation, particulate radiation, or ultrasound

Abstract

A microfluidic device that comprises several microchannel structures in which there are an inlet port, an outlet port and there between a structural unit comprising a fluidic function. The structural unit can be selected amongst units enabling a) retaining of nl-aliquots comprising constituents which has been defined by mixing of aliquots within the microfluidic device (unit A), b) mixing of aliquots of liquids (unit B), c) partition of larger aliquots of liquids into smaller aliquots of liquids and distributing the latter individually and in parallel to different microchannel structure of the same microfluidic device (unit C), d) quick penetration into a microchannel structure of an aliquot of a liquid dispensed to an inlet port of a microchannel structure (unit D), and e) volume definition integrated within a microchannel structure (unit E).

Claims

1. A microfluidic device having a microchannel structure in which there are one or more inlet ports, one or more outlet ports, and a structural unit in communication with at least one of said ports, wherein the structural unit is an inlet port which promotes penetration of liquid from an inlet opening of the inlet port into the microchannel structure, wherein the wettability of inner surfaces of the structural unit is such that capillary force draws liquid into the structural unit and said inlet port comprises:

a) a microcavity;

b) the inlet opening;

c) an inlet microconduit located downstream said microcavity and in communication with the interior of the microchannel structure; and

d) one, two or more grooves and/or ridges in the inner wall of the microcavity which grooves and/or ridges are directed towards the connection between the microcavity and the inlet microconduit;

wherein said grooves and/or ridges extend across and under the inlet opening.

2. The microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein the microcavity narrows towards the inlet microconduit.

3. The microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein the structural unit comprises an anti-wicking means downstream of the inlet opening.

4. The microfluidic device of claim 3, wherein the anti-wicking means are present in the inlet microconduit.

5. The microfluidic device of claim 3, wherein the anti-wicking means comprises a change in geometric and/or chemical surface characteristics.

6. The microfluidic device of claim 3, wherein the anti-wicking means comprises a non-wetting surface break.

7. The microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein the width of the inlet opening is smaller than the width of the microcavity.

8. The microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein the side of the inlet opening comprises a non-wetting surface break.

9. The microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein a non-wetting surface break is associated with the rim of the inlet opening.

10. The microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein the device is in the form of a disc and comprises two or more of the microchannel structure.