Microflow analytical system

• US 8,912,009 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2013
• Issued: 12/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tokhtuev, Eugene, Owen, Christopher J., Pilipchenko, Anna
• Primary Examiner(s): Mui, Christine T
• Application Number:
  US13/854,589
• Publication Number:
  US 20130247691A1
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 436/180
• US Class Current: 436/180
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0867 Multiple inlets and one sample wells, e.g. mixing, dilution
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/087 Multiple sequential chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0874 Three dimensional network
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0887 Laminated structure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1822 using Peltier elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0481 squeezing of channels or chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0638 membrane valves, flap valves
• 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: F04B 19/006 Micropumps F04B43/043 and F04B43/095 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/0346 Capillary cells; Microcells
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00237 Handling microquantities of analyte, e.g. microvalves, capillary networks
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/0332 with temperature control control of temperature G05D23/00; cryostats F17C3/08
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/05 Flow-through cuvettes G01N21/09 takes precedence; handling fluid samples G01N1/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00 Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1097 characterised by the valves valves in general F16K
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/15 Inorganic acid or base [e.g. , hcl, sulfuric acid, etc. ]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/206664 Ozone or peroxide
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25 including sample preparation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

A microflow analytical system includes a laminate pump assembly connectable with one or more sources of fluid, one or more pneumatic control pumps, a mixer, and a sensor. The laminate pump assembly is adapted to deliver predetermined volumes of the fluid(s) through a plurality of flow paths which are formed within layers of the assembly. Each flow path can include an inlet valve, a pump valve, and an outlet valve each of which are controllable by the pneumatic control pumps. A series of manifolds can be formed within the layers of the pump assembly to provide for simultaneous activation of selected flow paths. Delivered fluid volumes can be mixed in the mixer which, in some embodiments, may be integral with the laminate pump assembly. The sensor can measure one or more characteristics of the mixed fluids to determine one or more properties of the fluids.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

opening an inlet valve comprising a control chamber and a fluid flow chamber so as to draw a fluid into the fluid flow chamber of the inlet valve;

opening a pump valve comprising a control chamber and a fluid flow chamber so as to draw the fluid from the inlet valve into the fluid flow chamber of the pump valve;

closing the inlet valve while holding the pump valve open; and

closing the pump valve so as to force the fluid in the fluid flow chamber of the pump valve out of the pump valve.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, subsequent to closing the inlet valve, opening an outlet valve comprising a control chamber and a fluid flow chamber, wherein closing the pump valve comprises closing the pump valve so as to force the fluid out of the pump valve and through the fluid flow chamber of the outlet valve.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein opening the inlet valve comprises withdrawing a control fluid from the control chamber of the inlet valve so as to expand the fluid flow chamber of the inlet valve.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein opening the pump valve comprises withdrawing the control fluid from the control chamber of the pump valve so as to expand the fluid flow chamber of the pump valve.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein closing the inlet valve while holding the pump valve open comprises collapsing the fluid flow chamber of the inlet valve while holding the fluid flow chamber of the pump valve in an expanded state.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid flow chamber of the pump valve is configured to hold a metered volume of fluid.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the metered volume of fluid is less than 100 microliters.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid flow chamber of the inlet valve is configured to hold approximately 5 microliters of the fluid and the fluid flow chamber of the pump valve is configured to hold approximately 30 microliters of the fluid.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein opening the pump valve comprises opening the pump valve simultaneously with opening the inlet valve.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the inlet valve further comprises an inlet valve membrane completely separating the control chamber from the fluid flow chamber of the inlet valve, and the pump valve further comprises a pump valve membrane completely separating the control chamber from the fluid flow chamber of the pump valve.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the inlet valve membrane and the pump valve membrane each comprise a layer of flexible material positioned between layers of substantially rigid material.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the flexible material comprises a fluoropolymer.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the fluid comprises a use composition.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the use composition includes a peracid and a peroxide.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising, subsequent to closing the pump valve, delivering the fluid through a mixer.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising, subsequent to closing the pump valve, measuring an optical characteristic of the fluid via a sensor.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising one of heating or cooling the fluid within the sensor or prior to reaching the sensor.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein opening the inlet valve comprises controlling a pump to withdraw air from the control chamber of the inlet valve and thereby expand open the fluid flow chamber of the inlet valve, and opening the pump valve comprises controlling the pump to withdraw air from the control chamber of the pump valve and thereby expand open the fluid flow chamber of the pump valve.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein closing the inlet valve comprises controlling the pump to pump air into the control chamber of the inlet valve and thereby collapse closed the fluid flow chamber of the inlet valve.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising, subsequent to closing the inlet valve, controlling the pump to withdraw air from a control chamber of an outlet valve and thereby expand open a fluid flow chamber of the outlet valve, wherein closing the pump valve comprises closing the pump valve so as to force the fluid out of the pump valve and through the fluid flow chamber of the outlet valve.