Fluidic connectors and microfluidic systems
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:
- providing a microfluidic system comprising a first microfluidic channel including at least one inlet and one outlet and a second microfluidic channel including at least one inlet and one outlet,wherein the first microfluidic channel contains a first reagent disposed therein,wherein the second microfluidic channel contains a second reagent disposed therein, andwherein a seal covers the inlet of the first microfluidic channel and a seal covers the outlet of the first microfluidic channel so as to store the first reagent in the first microfluidic channel; and
connecting a fluidic connector comprising a fluid path to the microfluidic system to cause fluid communication between the first and second microfluidic channels,wherein upon connection, the fluid path of the fluidic connector connects to an inlet or an outlet of the first microfluidic channel to allow fluid communication between the fluid path and the first microfluidic channel, and the fluid path connects to an inlet or an outlet of the second microfluidic channel to allow fluid communication between the fluid path and the second microfluidic channel,wherein the first and second microfluidic channels are not in fluid communication with one another absent connection via the fluidic connector.
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Abstract
Fluidic connectors, methods, and devices for performing analyses (e.g., immunoassays) in microfluidic systems are provided. In some embodiments, a fluidic connector having a fluid path is used to connect two independent channels formed in a substrate so as to allow fluid communication between the two independent channels. One or both of the independent channels may be pre-filled with reagents (e.g., antibody solutions, washing buffers and amplification reagents), which can be used to perform the analysis. These reagents may be stored in the channels of the substrate for long periods amounts of time (e.g., 1 year) prior to use.
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34 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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providing a microfluidic system comprising a first microfluidic channel including at least one inlet and one outlet and a second microfluidic channel including at least one inlet and one outlet, wherein the first microfluidic channel contains a first reagent disposed therein, wherein the second microfluidic channel contains a second reagent disposed therein, and wherein a seal covers the inlet of the first microfluidic channel and a seal covers the outlet of the first microfluidic channel so as to store the first reagent in the first microfluidic channel; and connecting a fluidic connector comprising a fluid path to the microfluidic system to cause fluid communication between the first and second microfluidic channels, wherein upon connection, the fluid path of the fluidic connector connects to an inlet or an outlet of the first microfluidic channel to allow fluid communication between the fluid path and the first microfluidic channel, and the fluid path connects to an inlet or an outlet of the second microfluidic channel to allow fluid communication between the fluid path and the second microfluidic channel, wherein the first and second microfluidic channels are not in fluid communication with one another absent connection via the fluidic connector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification