Microfluidic chemostat

• US 8,426,159 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2011
• Issued: 04/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ABB Research Ltd. (ABB Limited), California Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: California Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Balagadde, Frederick, Hansen, Carl L., Kartalov, Emil, Quake, Stephen R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weber, Jon P
• Assistant Examiner(s): Srivastava, Kailash C
• Application Number:
  US13/197,654
• Publication Number:
  US 20120065277A1
• Time in Patent Office: 629 Days
• Field of Search: 435/28, 435/41
• US Class Current: 435/41
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0861 Configuration of multiple channels and/or chambers in a single devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0877 Flow chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/10 Means to control humidity and/or other gases
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/163 Biocompatibility
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0481 squeezing of channels or chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0655 pinch valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5027 by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip B01L3/5023 takes precedence; micromixers B01F33/30; microreactors for synthesis B01J19/0093; microcapillary devices in general B81B1/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502738 characterised by integrated valves microvalves F16K99/0001
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/16 Microfluidic devices; Capillary tubes integrated microfluidic structures B01L3/5027; microreactors B01J19/0093
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/34 Internal compartments or partitions
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 39/00 Means for cleaning the apparatus or avoiding unwanted deposits of microorganisms apparatus for cleaning laboratory receptacles or instruments B01L13/02; cleaning in general B08B
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 1/00 Preparation of compounds or compositions, not provided for in groups C12P3/00 - C12P39/00, by using microorganisms or enzymes
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 19/04 Polysaccharides, i.e. compounds containing more than five saccharide radicals attached to each other by glycosidic bonds

Abstract

A chemostat is described that includes a growth chamber having a plurality of compartments. Each of the compartments may be fluidly isolated from the rest of the growth chamber by one or more actuatable valves. The chemostat may also include a nutrient supply-line to supply growth medium to the growth chamber, and an output port to remove fluids from the growth chamber. Also, a method of preventing biofilm formation in a growth chamber of a chemostat is described. The method may include the steps of adding a lysis agent to a isolated portion of the growth chamber, and reuniting the isolated portion with the rest of the growth chamber.

Claims

1. A method of preventing biofilm formation in a growth chamber of a chemostat, the method comprising:

isolating a portion of the growth chamber;

adding a lysis agent to the isolated portion of the growth chamber;

flushing the isolated portion with growth medium for a period of time; and

reuniting the isolated portion of the growth chamber with the rest of the growth chamber.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein isolating a portion of the growth chamber further comprises closing actuable valves that fluidly isolate the portion from the rest of the growth chamber.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein adding a lysis agent to the isolated portion of the growth chamber further comprises opening an actuable supply valve to supply the lysis agent to the isolated portion of the growth chamber.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising removing the lysis agent from the isolated portion of the growth chamber prior to flushing the isolated portion with fresh sterile growth medium.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising filling the isolated portion with growth medium prior to reuniting the isolated portion with the rest of the growth chamber.