Microvascular network device

• US 7,517,453 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2003
• Issued: 04/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trustees of Boston University
• Original Assignee: Trustees of Boston University
• Inventors: Shevkoplyas, Sergey S, Bitensky, Mark W, Yoshida, Tatsuro
• Primary Examiner(s): Menon; Krishnan S
• Application Number:
  US10/377,178
• Publication Number:
  US 20040168982A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,236 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 210/321.6
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0861 Configuration of multiple channels and/or chambers in a single devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/123 Flexible; Elastomeric
• 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: G01N 11/08 by measuring pressure required to produce a known flow
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 Automated chemical analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/119163 with aspirator of claimed structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

A microvascular network device comprising: a substrate; at least one microchannel; at least one opening to the microchannel for sample entry; at least one opening to the microchannel for sample exit; and an aspirator which causes the sample to traverse the microchannel.

Claims

1. A microvascular network device for a biological sample comprising:

a substrate;

at least one network unit disposed in said substrate;

said at least one network unit consisting of a single entry and a single exit for the sample, said at least one network unit also comprising a plurality of microchannels;

wherein each of said microchannels being either i) a microchannel that branches into two daughter microchannels, or ii) a convergence of two microchannels;

wherein said plurality of microchannels receives the sample from said single entry and drains the sample into said single exit;

and

an aspiration pressure means for providing movement of liquid sample through said at least one network unit.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said substrate and said at least one network unit are both formed of at least one material selected from the group consisting of:

glass, plastic, polymers, metal, ceramic, organic materials, inorganic materials, and any combinations thereof.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said substrate is glass.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of microchannels has a diameter or width in the range between about 6 μ

m to about 63 μ

m.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the sample is selected from the group consisting of:

cells, microorganisms, and any combinations thereof.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the sample is whole blood.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the sample red blood cells.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein said plurality of microchannels are a plurality of dimensionally homogenous microchannels.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein said plurality of microchannels are a plurality of dimensionally hetrogenous microchannels.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one network unit is formed of a silicone elastomer material.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one network unit is coated to facilitate sample movement.

16. The device of claims 1 or 15, wherein said each of said plurality of microchannels has a depth of 5.4 μ

m.

12. A method for separating a liquid sample medium or evaluating the flow of a liquid sample medium in vitro comprising:

flowing a liquid sample medium selected from the group consisting of whole blood, red blood cells, white blood cells, and any combinations thereof, through a microvascular network device wherein said microvascular network device comprises;

a substrate;

at least one network unit disposed in said substrate;

said at least one network unit consisting of a single entry and a single exit for the sample, said at least one network unit also comprising a plurality of microchannels;

wherein each of said microchannels being either i) a microchannel that branches into two daughter microchannels, or ii) a convergence of two microchannels;

wherein said plurality of microchannels receives the sample from said single entry and drains the sample into said single exit;

and

an aspiration pressure means for providing movement of sample through said at least one network.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said plurality of microchannels are selected from the group consisting of:

homogeneous microchannels and heterogeneous microchannels.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein said each of said plurality of microchannels has a diameter and a width in the range between about 6 μ

m to about 63.

15. A microvascular network device for a biological liquid sample medium comprising:

a substrate;

a plurality of network units;

each of said plurality of network units consisting of a single entry and a single exit for the sample, said network unit also comprising a plurality of microchannels;

wherein each of said plurality of microchannels being either i) a microchannel that branches into two daughter microchannels , or ii) a convergence of two microchannels;

wherein said plurality of microchannels receives the sample from said single entry and drains the sample into said single exit;

an aspiration pressure means which causes said liquid sample medium to traverse each of said plurality of network units.