Methods and systems for delivery of fluidic samples to sensor arrays

• US 8,133,741 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2006
• Issued: 03/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BL Technologies Inc. (Ashland Global Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Potyrailo, Radislav A., Shrikhande, Prashant V., Boyette, Scott M., Xiao, Caibin, Leach, Andrew M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sakelaris, Sally
• Application Number:
  US11/507,689
• Publication Number:
  US 20070092975A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,030 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 436/164
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0605 Metering of fluids
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0642 Filling fluids into wells by specific techniques
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0806 Standardised forms, e.g. compact disc [CD] format
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0864 comprising only one inlet and multiple receiving wells, e.g. for separation, splitting
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/087 Multiple sequential chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0406 capillary forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0427 Electrowetting
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0448 Marangoni flow; Thermocapillary effect
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502715 characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502723 characterised by venting arrangements
• 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 3/502746 characterised by the means for controlling flow resistance, e.g. flow controllers, baffles B01L3/502738 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/7766 Capillary fill
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/7773 Reflection
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/7783 Transmission, loss
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/7786 Fluorescence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/7793 Sensor comprising plural indicators
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/78 producing a change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/80 Indicating pH value
• 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: Y10T 436/144444 : Glucose
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25 : including sample preparation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 : Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

Total analysis systems and methods for simultaneously monitoring a suite of biological and/or chemical species in water and/or other process systems are disclosed. The system provides a sample-volume controlled sensor array comprising a fluid delivery device and a plurality of optical sensor elements for determining the presence and total concentrations of multiple analytes in the process system simultaneously. Delivery means are provided to deliver a metered quantity of sample fluid to the sensor array. Image identification algorithms are provided for identifying the analytes based on image intensity, color pattern, positional arrangement, and the like. The methods incorporate multivariate optimization algorithms to analyze multiple sensor responses. This produces analytical results that are typically difficult to obtain without full system or variable compensation. The improved array response may then be utilized to measure, monitor, and control the concentration of analytes in the chemical or biological sample or water system.

Claims

1. A method for simultaneously measuring a plurality of biological or chemical analytes in a fluid, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a substrate comprising a plurality of sensor elements, each said sensor element responding to at least one of said plurality of analytes;

providing at least one light source for directing light onto said sensor elements;

providing a delivery device having a plurality of reservoirs in communication with said sensor elements, said delivery device comprising a single sample entry port in fluid communication with a plurality of fluidic channels, said channels directly connecting said sample entry port to said reservoirs, wherein the delivery device meters and delivers a controlled volume of said fluid between the sample entry port and the reservoirs, and said delivery device further comprising a cover layer having a plurality of vent holes having hydrophobic walls disposed above said reservoirs, said cover layer further having a hydrophilic bottom surface for providing a hydrophilic roof portion above said reservoirs to facilitate transport of said fluid to said reservoirs;

delivering a sample fluid to the single sample entry port of the delivery device;

drawing sample fluid through said fluidic channels with the hydrophilic bottom surface to fill said reservoirs with sample fluid;

venting air from the delivery device through the vent holes;

impeding sample fluid from flowing though the vent holes and escaping the reservoirs with the hydrophobic walls of the vent holes to thereby deliver a metered quantity of said sample fluid to each of said sensor elements with said delivery device;

detecting a response from said sensor elements;

recording said response into a digital record;

processing said digital record; and

utilizing said digital record to determine a concentration of each said analyte in said fluid.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said substrate is a single formed structure comprising a plurality of reservoirs, a sample entry port, and a plurality of fluidic channels connecting the entry port to said reservoirs, said method further comprising the step of providing a cover layer adapted to cover said reservoirs, wherein said sensor elements are disposed within said reservoirs or on a bottom surface of said cover layer.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of separating said delivery device from said substrate after a metered quantity of fluid has been delivered to each said sensor element by the delivery device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of removing excess fluid from said delivery device after said delivering step, wherein said substrate is a DVD, CD, Super-audio CD, double-layer, or blu-ray disk.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said delivery device further comprises an o-ring operatively associated with said entry port, said o-ring being adapted to absorb excess fluid that spills over the top of said delivery device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a disk case for enclosing said substrate, wherein said substrate is a DVD, CD, Super-audio CD, double-layer, or blu-ray disk.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of providing a blotting layer to remove excess fluid from said substrate.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said delivering step comprises providing a delivery device mounted to said substrate, said delivery device comprising a plurality of reservoirs communicating with said sensor elements, said reservoirs being adapted to receive a sample volume of said fluid when said device is dipped in said fluid, said reservoirs being adapted to maintain said sample volume in said reservoirs by way of surface tension when said device is removed from said fluid.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein introducing the sample into the delivery device comprises filling each reservoir by accumulating liquid over the top hydrophilic surface, wherein gravitational force enables the liquid to reach a bottom wall of the reservoir and then capillary force originated from side walls of the reservoir drives the liquid to fill the entire reservoir.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein as the reservoir completely fills, the vent hole serves as a capillary barrier, impeding the sample liquid from flowing through the vent hole to reach the hydrophobic outer surface of the cover layer.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the metered quantities of fluid are delivered to said sensor elements through fluidic channels that have hydrophobic sidewalls and a roof portion with a hydrophilic coating.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the metered quantities of fluid are delivered to said sensor elements through fluidic channels that have a hydrophilic roof portion that is formed by applying a hydrophilic adhesive-coated film to the bottom surface of the cover layer.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the metered quantities of fluid are delivered to said sensor elements with a delivery device made from a material selected from the group consisting of poly (ethylene) terephthalate, polycarbonate, polystyrene, poly (methyl) methacrylate, polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, and ABS such that the sidewalls have contact angles with water ranging from about 65 degrees to about 90 degrees and the roof portion formed by the coated bottom surface of the cover layer has a contact angle with water of less than 30 degrees.