System for detection of a component in a liquid

• US 7,767,437 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2002
• Issued: 08/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GeneFluidics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: GeneFluidics, Inc.
• Inventors: Gau, Vincent Jen-Jr
• Primary Examiner(s): YANG, NELSON C
• Application Number:
  US10/288,320
• Publication Number:
  US 20030148342A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,829 Days
• Field of Search: 436/94, 436/102, 436/178, 422/100, 422/102, 204/600, 204/601, 205/775, 435/287.2
• US Class Current: 435/287.2
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/027 for microfluidic devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0645 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/087 Multiple sequential chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0874 Three dimensional network
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0887 Laminated structure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/089 Virtual walls for guiding liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0481 squeezing of channels or chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0487 fluid pressure, pneumatics
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502715 characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50273 characterised by the means or forces applied to move the fluids micropumps F04B19/006, of the membrane type F04B43/043
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502738 characterised by integrated valves microvalves F16K99/0001
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502784 specially adapted for droplet or plug flow, e.g. digital microfluidics automatic analysis using a stream of discrete samples in a tube system G01N35/08
• 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

Abstract

The system includes a liquid transport structure configured to hold a sensor for detecting one or more components in a liquid. The liquid transport structure includes a reservoir configured to hold a liquid within the liquid transport structure and a channel configured to transport a liquid held in the reservoir to a sensor held by the liquid transport structure.

Claims

1. A liquid transport structure for use with an assay, comprising:

a plurality of sensors positioned on a sensor support and a plurality of electrical contact pads positioned on the sensor support, each sensor including a plurality of electrodes,

the electrodes included in each one of the sensors including a working electrode, a counter electrode, and a reference electrode,

each of the electrodes being in electrical communication with a different one of the contact pads;

a first member including a recess extending part way into a first side of a first member substrate, the first member substrate being a single layer of material;

a reservoir within the first member, the reservoir being partially defined by a recess extending part way into a second side of the first member substrate, the second side of the first member substrate being opposite the first side of the first member substrate;

an inlet channel for transporting a liquid from outside of the liquid transport structure into the reservoir; and

an outlet channel for transporting a liquid held in the reservoir to the recess extending part way into the first side of the first member substrate;

a second member comprising a second member substrate; and

the first member and the second member being independent of the sensor support and being configured to be coupled with the sensor support such that the sensor support is between the first member and the second member and such that the contact pads are not covered by either the first member or the second member,

the first member and the second member being configured to be coupled with the sensor support such that one of the sensors is positioned in a chamber that is at least partially defined by the recess extending part way into the first side of the substrate and such that a waste channel that extends from the chamber through the sensor support and through the second member to outside of the liquid transport structure is at least partially defined by the sensor support and the second member substrate.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the reservoir is one of a plurality of reservoirs within the first member;

and

the outlet channel is one of a plurality of outlet channels included in the first member, each of the outlet channels being configured to transport a liquid from one of the reservoirs to one of the sensors such that each of outlet channels is configured to transport the liquid to a different one of the sensors.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the first member and the second member are configured to be coupled with the sensor support such that a plurality of the sensors are positioned in the chamber.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the inlet channel extends from an external side of the first member to the reservoir.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the outlet channel includes an obstruction positioned so as to obstruct the outlet channel.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the obstruction includes one or more openings through which the liquid in the reservoir can flow.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the liquid transport structure is substantially block shaped.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the liquid transport structure has a volume less than 16 cubic inches.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the liquid transport structure is coupled with an interface system, the interface system providing liquid communication between the reservoir and a tube.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one channel extends from an external side of the first member to a lateral side of the recess extending part way into the first side of the first member substrate.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the at least one channel includes a nozzle.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein a diaphragm obstructs the inlet channel.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the diaphragm includes one or more openings through which a fluid can flow.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first member substrate is positioned over the sensor and the second member substrate is positioned under the sensor.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the electrodes are positioned on an electrode support bonded to the sensor support.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the electrode support includes a first support region spaced apart from a second support region with air being located between the first support region and the second support region, one or more of the electrodes positioned on the first support region and one or more of the electrodes positioned on the second support region.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the electrode support is positioned between the electrodes and the sensor support.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a sealing medium is positioned over the inlet channel.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first member at least partially covers a top of the reservoir.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein a portion of the first member covering the top of the reservoir is impermeable to liquids.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an electrode support includes a first support region spaced apart from a second support region such that air is located between the first support region and the second support region and one or more of the electrodes are positioned on the first support region and one or more of the electrodes are positioned on the second support region.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the outlet channel extends through the first member substrate from the reservoir to the recess extending part way into the first side of the first member substrate.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a cover positioned on the first member substrate and defining a portion of the reservoir, the inlet channel extending through the cover.

24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the reservoir is positioned over the recess extending part way into the first side of the first member substrate.

25. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first member includes a deformable diaphragm obstructing the inlet channel when the diaphragm is not deformed.

26. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the contact pads are positioned along an edge of the sensor support.

27. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor support includes a sensor support substrate.

28. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each sensor includes the working electrode positioned between the reference electrode and the counter electrode with the reference electrode spaced apart from the working electrode and the counter electrode spaced apart from the counter electrode.

29. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the chamber is one of a plurality of chambers that are each partially defined by a different recess extending part way into the first side of the first member substrate, and the first member and the second member are configured to be coupled with the sensor support such that each of the sensors is positioned in a different one of the chambers.