Systems and methods for thermal actuation of microfluidic devices

• US 8,420,015 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2007
• Issued: 04/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: HandyLab Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: HandyLab Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Ganesan, Karthik, Handique, Kalyan
• Primary Examiner(s): Hopkins, Robert A
• Application Number:
  US11/929,877
• Publication Number:
  US 20080219894A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,995 Days
• Field of Search: 137/561.R, 422/100
• US Class Current: 422/100
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/02 Adapting objects or devices to another
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/10 Integrating sample preparation and analysis in single entity, e.g. lab-on-a-chip concept
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/14 Process control and prevention of errors
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/147 Employing temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/02 Identification, exchange or storage of information
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0681 Filter
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0819 Microarrays; Biochips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/087 Multiple sequential chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1827 using resistive heater
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0442 thermal energy, e.g. vaporisation, bubble jet
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0478 pistons
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/049 vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0677 phase change valves; Meltable, freezing, dissolvable plugs; Destructible barriers
• 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 7/00 Heating or cooling apparatus autoclaves B01J3/04; Heat insulating devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 7/52 with provision for submitting samples to a predetermined sequence of different temperatures, e.g. for treating nucleic acid samples amplification or hybridisation processes per se C12Q1/68; controlling sequential reactions for synthesis B01J19/0046
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/6806 Preparing nucleic acids for analysis, e.g. for polymerase chain reaction [PCR] assay C12Q1/6804 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/4077 by other techniques involving separation of suspended solids

Abstract

A microfluidic processing device includes a substrate defining a microfluidic network. The substrate is in thermal communication with a plurality of N independently controllable components and a plurality of input output contacts for connecting the substrate to an external controller. Each component has at least two terminals. Each terminal is in electrical communication with at least one contact. The number of contacts required to independently control the N components is substantially less than the total number of terminals. Upon actuation, the components typically heat a portion of the microfluidic network and/or sense a temperature thereof.

Claims

1. A microfluidic system, comprising:

a first substrate defining a microfluidic network comprising a plurality of thermally actuated components, wherein the thermally actuated components comprise at least one of each of a thermally actuated valve, a thermally actuated pump, and a thermally actuated reaction chamber;

a second substrate defining a plurality of heat sources, each heat source being in thermal communication with a respective one of the valve, pump, and reaction chamber;

and, where the area of each of the heat sources is larger than the area of the thermally actuated component;

whereby the thermally actuated components are spaced apart to enable independent temperature control of each of the thermally actuated components.

2. The microfluidic system of claim 1, wherein the second substrate has a substantially lower thermal conductivity than the heat sources.

3. The microfluidic system of claim 1, further comprising control circuitry configured to control the heat sources.

4. The microfluidic system of claim 1, wherein the microfluidic system is controlled by signals received from a data acquisition and control board.

5. The microfluidic system of claim 4, wherein the signals received from a data acquisition and control board that control the microfluidic system comprise electrical signals.

6. The microfluidic system of claim 4, wherein the signals received from a data acquisition and control board that control the microfluidic system comprise optical signals.

7. The microfluidic system of claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor.

8. The microfluidic system of claim 7, wherein the temperature sensor comprises a resistive temperature sensor.

9. The microfluidic system of claim 7, wherein the temperature sensor comprises a combined heating/temperature sensing component (CHTSC).

10. The microfluidic system of claim 1, wherein a plurality of heat sources are connected to an electrical conductor.

11. The microfluidic system of claim 10, wherein the heat sources are connected to the electrical conductor in series.

12. The microfluidic system of claim 10, wherein the heat sources are connected to the electrical conductor in parallel.

13. The microfluidic system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the thermally actuated components is thermopneumatically actuated.

14. The microfluidic system of claim 13, wherein the at least one thermopneumatically actuated component comprises the thermally actuated valve.

15. The microfluidic system of claim 13, wherein the at least one thermopneumatically actuated component comprises the thermally actuated pump.

16. The microfluidic system of claim 1, wherein the reaction chamber is configured to perform a polymerase chain reaction.