Prevention of fluid delivered to reservoir from wicking into channels within microfluidic device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A microfluidic device comprising:
- a substrate having formed therein at least a reservoir to which one or more channels lead; and
,a non-valve backflow-prevention mechanism within the reservoir to prevent fluid delivered to the reservoir via the channels from flowing back from the reservoir into the channels, the non-valve backflow-prevention mechanism comprising a capillary medium.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A microfluidic device includes a substrate and a non-valve capillary mechanism. At least a reservoir and one or more channels leading to the reservoir are formed within the substrate. The non-valve capillary mechanism is within the reservoir, and prevents fluid delivered to the reservoir from wicking from the reservoir into the channels.
16 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A microfluidic device comprising:
-
a substrate having formed therein at least a reservoir to which one or more channels lead; and
,a non-valve backflow-prevention mechanism within the reservoir to prevent fluid delivered to the reservoir via the channels from flowing back from the reservoir into the channels, the non-valve backflow-prevention mechanism comprising a capillary medium. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A microfluidic coupon device comprising:
-
a substrate; one or more reaction chambers formed within substrate and at which samples are analyzed after delivery thereto; one or more waste reservoirs formed within the substrate, corresponding to the reaction chambers, and at least to which the samples are delivered after analysis within the reaction chambers and/or to which excess of the samples are delivered; a network of channels to deliver the samples and/or reagents to the reaction chambers and to the waste reservoirs; and
,one or more non-valve backflow-prevention mechanisms within and corresponding to the waste reservoirs to prevent the samples and/or the reagents delivered to the waste reservoirs via the channels from flowing from the waste reservoirs back into the channels, the non-valve backflow-prevention mechanisms comprising capillary media. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A method comprising:
-
depositing a fluid onto a microfluidic device; delivering the fluid via one or more channels formed within the microfluidic device ultimately to a reservoir formed within the microfluidic device; and
,preventing the fluid from flowing from the reservoir back into the channels, using a non-valve backflow-prevention mechanism comprising a capillary medium, wherein the capillary medium comprises one or more of; a non-swelling capillary medium apart from the substrate and inserted into the reservoir; a swelling capillary medium apart from the substrate and inserted into the reservoir; and
,one or more capillaries fabricated within the substrate itself, the capillaries smaller in relation to the channels, the fluid retained within the capillaries of the mechanism such that the fluid is prevented from wicking from the reservoir back into the channels.
-
Specification