Valved, microwell cell-culture device and method
First Claim
1. A microarray culture system, comprising(a) a substrate,(b) formed in said substrate, a plurality of microfluidics passageways, each having (i) a well for receiving particles therein, (ii) an inlet channel segment, (iii) an outlet channel segment, (iv) a channel intersection segment having a first channel arm that communicates the inlet and outlet channel segments, and a second channel arm communicating the inlet channel segment with the interior of said well, where the first channel arm flows around a portion of the well, and (v) a porous barrier through which fluid, but not cells, in said well can perfuse from the well into said first arm,(c) associated with each passageway, a first valve disposed in said first channel arm for controlling the flow of fluid from the inlet channel segment into the first channel arm, and a second valve disposed in said second channel arm for controlling the flow of fluid from the inlet channel segment into the passageway well,(d) a microchannel well-distribution network adapted for supplying input fluid to each of a selected one or more of wells in the passageways, under the control of a plurality of valves associated with the network,(e) first and second microchannel valve-supply networks for supplying fluid pressure to first and second valves in said passageways, respectively,(f) a plurality of reservoirs, each in fluid communication with a channel in said well-distribution network or in said valve-supply network, and(g) a controller for supplying pressurized fluid to selected ones of said reservoirs, thereby to supply fluid to a selected one or more of said microfluidic passageways and to selected ones of said valves.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A valved microfluidics device, microfluidics cell-culture device and system incorporating the devices are disclosed. The valved microfluidics device includes a substrate, a microchannel through which liquid can be moved from one station to another within the device, and a pneumatic microvalve adapted to be switched between open and closed states to control the flow of fluid through a microchannel. The microvalve is formed of three flexible membranes, one of which is responsive to pneumatic pressure applied to the valve and the other two of which deform to produce a more sealable channel cross-section. The cell culture device provides valving to allow controlled loading of cells into the individual well of the device, and exchange of cell-culture components in the wells.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A microarray culture system, comprising
(a) a substrate, (b) formed in said substrate, a plurality of microfluidics passageways, each having (i) a well for receiving particles therein, (ii) an inlet channel segment, (iii) an outlet channel segment, (iv) a channel intersection segment having a first channel arm that communicates the inlet and outlet channel segments, and a second channel arm communicating the inlet channel segment with the interior of said well, where the first channel arm flows around a portion of the well, and (v) a porous barrier through which fluid, but not cells, in said well can perfuse from the well into said first arm, (c) associated with each passageway, a first valve disposed in said first channel arm for controlling the flow of fluid from the inlet channel segment into the first channel arm, and a second valve disposed in said second channel arm for controlling the flow of fluid from the inlet channel segment into the passageway well, (d) a microchannel well-distribution network adapted for supplying input fluid to each of a selected one or more of wells in the passageways, under the control of a plurality of valves associated with the network, (e) first and second microchannel valve-supply networks for supplying fluid pressure to first and second valves in said passageways, respectively, (f) a plurality of reservoirs, each in fluid communication with a channel in said well-distribution network or in said valve-supply network, and (g) a controller for supplying pressurized fluid to selected ones of said reservoirs, thereby to supply fluid to a selected one or more of said microfluidic passageways and to selected ones of said valves.
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8. A microfluidics culture device, comprising
(a) a substrate, (b) formed in said substrate, a microfluidics passageway having (i) a well for receiving particles therein, (ii) an inlet channel segment, (iii) an outlet channel segment, (iv) a channel intersection segment having a first channel arm that communicates the inlet and outlet channel segments, and a second channel arm communicating the inlet channel segment with the interior of said well, where the first channel arm flows around a portion of the well, and (v) a porous barrier through which fluid, but not cells, in said well can perfuse from the well into said first arm, and (c) a valve disposed in said second channel arm, operable to control the flow of fluid from the inlet channel segment into said well, wherein a cell carried in a fluid moving through said inlet segment can be diverted into said well by opening said valve, and once diverted into said well, can be captured therein, with fluid flowing through said passageway, by closing said valve, and culture medium flowing through said first arm can exchange solute components with culture medium within said well by diffusion of such components across said porous barrier.
Specification