Low-dead volume microfluidic circuit and methods
First Claim
1. A method for reducing a dead volume of a microfluidic circuit comprising a reservoir, an outlet, and a microfluidic flowpath fluidly connecting the reservoir and the outlet, the method comprising:
- providing a microfluidic flow component located between the reservoir and the outlet for performing a function and in fluidic communication with the microfluidic flowpath,wherein the microfluidic flow component comprises a total volume comprising a working volume and a dead volume, wherein the working volume comprises a volume necessary for the microfluidic flow component to perform the function and the dead volume comprises a volume unnecessary for the microfluidic flow component to perform the function; and
configuring at least one of the reservoir, the microfluidic flowpath, and the microfluidic flow component to reduce the dead volume, such that the working volume is substantially the same as the total volume.
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Abstract
A method is described for reducing a dead volume of a microfluidic circuit that includes, in one embodiment, a reservoir, an outlet, and a microfluidic flowpath fluidly connecting the reservoir and the outlet. The method includes providing a microfluidic flow component between the reservoir and the outlet for performing a function and in fluidic communication with the microfluidic flowpath, wherein the microfluidic flow component includes a total volume including a working volume and a dead volume. The working volume is a volume necessary for the microfluidic flow component to perform the function and the dead volume is a volume unnecessary for the microfluidic flow component to perform the function. The method includes configuring at least one of the reservoir, the microfluidic flowpath, and the microfluidic flow component to reduce the dead volume, such that the working volume of the component is substantially the same as the total volume.
53 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method for reducing a dead volume of a microfluidic circuit comprising a reservoir, an outlet, and a microfluidic flowpath fluidly connecting the reservoir and the outlet, the method comprising:
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providing a microfluidic flow component located between the reservoir and the outlet for performing a function and in fluidic communication with the microfluidic flowpath, wherein the microfluidic flow component comprises a total volume comprising a working volume and a dead volume, wherein the working volume comprises a volume necessary for the microfluidic flow component to perform the function and the dead volume comprises a volume unnecessary for the microfluidic flow component to perform the function; and configuring at least one of the reservoir, the microfluidic flowpath, and the microfluidic flow component to reduce the dead volume, such that the working volume is substantially the same as the total volume. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification