Chemistrode, a plug-based microfluidic device and method for stimulation and sampling with high temporal, spatial, and chemical resolution
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for sampling and/or introducing a matter to an environment, comprising:
- introducing a first array of plugs through a first microchannel of a device into an exchange region of the device, the exchange region being exposed to a living environment and in which mass transport of a matter between the living environment and the plug fluid of at least one plug in the first array of plugs occurs such that a second array of plugs is formed;
wherein the exchange region is in fluid communication with the first microchannel; and
directing the second array of plugs into a second microchannel downstream of and in fluid communication with the exchange region.
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Abstract
A method for sampling and/or introducing a matter to an environment comprises introducing a first array of plugs through a first microchannel of a device into an exchange region of the device in which mass transport between the environment and the plug fluid of at least one plug in the first array of plugs occurs and a second array of plugs is formed. The exchange region is in fluid communication with the first microchannel. The method further comprises directing the second array of plugs into a second microchannel downstream of and in fluid communication with the exchange region.
77 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for sampling and/or introducing a matter to an environment, comprising:
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introducing a first array of plugs through a first microchannel of a device into an exchange region of the device, the exchange region being exposed to a living environment and in which mass transport of a matter between the living environment and the plug fluid of at least one plug in the first array of plugs occurs such that a second array of plugs is formed;
wherein the exchange region is in fluid communication with the first microchannel; anddirecting the second array of plugs into a second microchannel downstream of and in fluid communication with the exchange region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method comprising:
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introducing a first array of plugs through a first microchannel of a device into an exchange region of the device, the exchange region being exposed to an environment and in which mass transport of a matter between the environment and the plug fluid of at least one plug in the first array of plugs occurs such that a second array of plugs is formed;
wherein the exchange region is in fluid communication with the first microchannel; anddirecting the second array of plugs into a second microchannel downstream of and in fluid communication with the exchange region, wherein the exchange region comprises a membrane disposed between the first array of plugs and the environment, the membrane allowing selective mass transport of the matter between the environment and the plug fluid of at least one plug in the first array of plugs. - View Dependent Claims (5)
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6. A method for sampling and/or introducing a matter to an environment, comprising:
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introducing a first array of plugs through a first microchannel of a device into an exchange region of the device, the exchange region being exposed to an environment and in which mass transport of a matter between the environment and at least one plug in the first array of plugs occurs such that at least one biological cell contained within the environment is transported into the plug fluid of at least one plug from the first array of plugs so that a second array of plugs forms, wherein the exchange region is in fluid communication with the first microchannel; and analyzing the contents of at least one plug in the second array of plugs after it passes the exchange region. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for sampling an aqueous environment, comprising:
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introducing a fluid through a first microchannel of a device, wherein the fluid is immiscible with water, into an exchange region of the device, the exchange region being exposed to an aqueous environment and in which mass transport of a matter between the aqueous environment and the fluid occurs such that an array of plugs is formed in the exchange region upon the mass transport of the matter between the aqueous environment and the fluid, the exchange region in fluid communication with the first microchannel; directing the array of plugs into a second microchannel downstream of and in fluid communication with the exchange region; and storing, analyzing or both storing and analyzing the contents of at least one of the plugs. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for introducing a matter to an environment, comprising:
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introducing an array of plugs comprising a carrier fluid and at least one plug, wherein the at least one plug comprises a plug fluid and a matter to be introduced, through a first microchannel of a device into an exchange region of the device, the exchange region being exposed to an environment and in which mass transport of the matter between the environment and the at least one plug in the array of plugs occurs wherein the exchange region is in fluid communication with the first microchannel; directing the carrier fluid into a second microchannel downstream of and in fluid communication with the exchange region, such that the second microchannel is substantially free of plugs; and directing substantially all of the plug fluid of the array of plugs into the environment. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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Specification