Crystal forming devices and systems and methods for using the same

• US 8,105,553 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2005
• Issued: 01/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Standard Biotools Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Fluidigm Corporation
• Inventors: Grossman, Robert, Unger, Marc, Lam, Phillip, Chou, Hou-Pu, Kimball, Jake, Pieprzyk, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): LUDLOW, JAN M
• Application Number:
  US11/043,895
• Publication Number:
  US 20050201901A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,562 Days
• Field of Search: 422/50, 422/68.1, 422/100, 422/502, 422/504, 436/43
• US Class Current: 422/504
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/027 for microfluidic devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0605 Metering of fluids
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/14 Means for pressure control
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0487 fluid pressure, pneumatics
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0655 pinch valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0293 for liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/06 Crystallising dishes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5025 for parallel transport of multiple samples
• 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 3/5635 connecting two containers face to face, e.g. comprising a filter
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/565 Seals in general F16L
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/527 for microfluidic devices, e.g. used for lab-on-a-chip
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/68 involving nucleic acids
• CPC Class Codes: C30B 29/58 Macromolecular compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C30B 7/00 Single-crystal growth from solutions using solvents which are liquid at normal temperature, e.g. aqueous solutions from molten solvents C30B9/00; by normal or gradient freezing C30B11/00; under a protective fluid C30B27/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 Automated chemical analysis

Abstract

The present invention provides for microfluidic devices and methods for their use. The invention further provides for apparatus and systems for using the microfluidic devices, analyze reactions carried out in the microfluidic devices, and systems to generate, store, organize, and analyze data generated from using the microfluidic devices. The invention further provides methods of using and making microfluidic systems and devices which, in some embodiments, are useful for crystal formation. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a platen having a platen face with one or more fluid ports therein. The fluid ports spatially correspond to one or more wells on a surface of the microfluidic device. A platform for holding the microfluidic device relative to the platen is included, and a platen actuator for urging the platen against the microfluidic device so that at least one of the fluid ports of the platen is urged against one of the wells to form a pressure chamber comprising the well and the port, so that when pressurized fluid is introduced or removed into or from the pressure chamber through one of the ports, fluid pressure is changed therein.

Claims

1. An apparatus for operating a microfluidic device, comprising a carrier portion, the apparatus comprising:

a platen having a platen face with one or more fluid ports therein and one or more check valve purge actuators, the fluid ports spatially corresponding to one or more inlets on a surface of the carrier portion of the microfluidic device and the one or more check valve purge actuators comprising one or more pins;

a platform for holding the microfluidic device relative to the platen;

a platen actuator for urging the platen against the microfluidic device so that at least one of the fluid ports of the platen is urged against one of the inlets to form a pressure chamber comprising the inlet and the port, so that when pressurized fluid is introduced or removed into or from the pressure chamber though one of the ports, fluid pressure is changed therein; and

a fluid line in fluid communication with at least a portion of the platen actuator, wherein the fluid line is configured to deliver a pressurized fluid to at least one of the fluid ports.

2. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the platen actuator comprises a robotic platen actuator.

3. The apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the platen actuator is under electronic control by a controller.

4. The apparatus as in claim 3 wherein the controller is a computer or under computer control.

5. The apparatus as in claim 4 wherein the computer is following a program.

6. The apparatus as in claim 5 wherein the program was customized by a user of the apparatus.

7. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the fluid line is configured to deliver the pressurized fluid to the at least one fluid pressure port using a pressure between about one (1) psi and about thirty-five (35) psi.

8. The apparatus as in claim 7, wherein the pressurized fluid is a gas.

9. The apparatus as in claim 8, wherein the gas is air.

10. An apparatus for operating a microfluidic device comprising a carrier portion, the apparatus comprising:

a platen having a platen face with a plurality of fluid ports therein and one or more check valve purge actuators, the fluid ports spatially corresponding to one or more inlets on a surface of the carrier portion of the microfluidic device and the one or more check valve purge actuators comprising one or more pins;

a platform for holding the micrOfluidic device relative to the platen; and

a platen actuator for urging the platen against the microfluidic device so that at least one of the fluid ports of the platen is urged against one of the inlets to form a pressure chamber comprising the inlet and the port, so that when pressurized fluid is introduced or removed into or from the pressure chamber through one of the ports, fluid pressure is changed therein, and wherein the platen actuator is configurcd to deliver a pressurized fluid to the at least one fluid pressure port using a pressure between about one (1) psi and about thirty-five (35) psi.

11. The apparatus as in claim 10, wherein the pressurized fluid is a gas.

12. The apparatus as in claim 11, wherein the gas is air.