Wicking inhibitor for fluidic devices

• US 8,273,309 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2006
• Issued: 09/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CapitalBio Corporation, Tsinghua University
• Original Assignee: CapitalBio Corporation, Tsinghua University
• Inventors: Guan, Xiaosheng, Guo, Min, Zhou, Cheng, Hu, Yuming, Cheng, Jing
• Primary Examiner(s): Bullock, In Suk
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pregler, Sharon
• Application Number:
  US12/158,037
• Publication Number:
  US 20090148349A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,111 Days
• Field of Search: 422/68.1, 422/500, 422/501, 422/502, 422/503, 422/504, 422/505, 422/506, 422/507, 422/508, 422/509
• US Class Current: 422/504
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/12 Specific details about manufacturing devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0688 surface tension valves, capillary stop, capillary break
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/084 Passive control of flow resistance
• 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: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing

Abstract

The present invention relates to a wicking inhibitor for fluidic and microfluidic devices that reduces wicking by providing a structure that interrupts the flow of a working fluid through a fluidic channel interface having corner angles greater than ninety degrees.

Claims

1. A wicking inhibitor configured for fluid communication with a fluidic channel, both being configured to accept the flow of a working fluid therethrough, comprising an interface between the fluidic channel and another fluidic structure, wherein all edges of the interface are configured to have corner angles greater than ninety degrees, wherein the fluidic channel and the fluidic structure are both part of a fluidic device comprising:

a first layer,

the first layer further comprising a first recess formed therein defining first, second, and third walls of the fluidic channel, wherein the first and second walls are parallel to one another and both are perpendicular to the third wall, and

the first layer further comprising a second recess formed therein defining a first cavity region for the wicking inhibitor, the first cavity region having a fourth wall and a fifth wall, the fifth wall having first and second segments that are circumferential to the second recess and perpendicular to the fourth wall,

wherein the fourth wall of the second recess extends beyond the third wall of the first recess,

wherein the first and second segments of the fifth wall adjoin the first and second walls, respectively; and

a second layer,

the second layer further comprising a sixth wall to define the fluidic channel that is parallel to third wall, and

the second layer further comprising a recess formed therein defining a second cavity region for the wicking inhibitor, the second cavity region comprising a sixth wall and a seventh wall, the seventh wall being circumferential to the recess and perpendicular to the sixth wall,

wherein the seventh wall is configured to align with the first and second segments of the fifth wall.

2. The wicking inhibitor of claim 1, wherein at least one of the corner angles is configured to have a corner angle that is substantially two hundred seventy degrees.

3. The wicking inhibitor of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second layers is formed of a hydrophilic material.

4. The wicking inhibitor of claim 1, wherein the first and second layers are bonded together.