Device and method for manipulating a liquid

• US 8,919,383 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2011
• Issued: 12/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH (C.H. Boehringer Sohn AG & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH (C.H. Boehringer Sohn AG & Co. KG)
• Inventors: Rodenfels, Tobias
• Primary Examiner(s): Rivell, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): LE, MINH Q
• Application Number:
  US13/583,785
• Publication Number:
  US 20130206264A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,387 Days
• Field of Search: 137/832, 137/833, 137/829, 137/247, 137/248, 137/246, 137/246.23, 137/246.12, 251/65
• US Class Current: 137/832
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0647 Handling flowable solids, e.g. microscopic beads, cells, particles
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0636 Integrated biosensor, microarrays
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/043 magnetic forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0475 specific mechanical means and fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0688 surface tension valves, capillary stop, capillary break
• 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 3/50273 characterised by the means or forces applied to move the fluids micropumps F04B19/006, of the membrane type F04B43/043
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502769 characterised by multiphase flow arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0017 Capillary or surface tension valves, e.g. using electro-wetting or electro-capillarity effects
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/5304 Reaction vessels, e.g. agglutination plates for solid-phase systems G01N33/543
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54326 Magnetic particles
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54366 Apparatus specially adapted for solid-phase testing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2202 By movable element
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2218 Means [e.g., valve] in control input
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2224 Structure of body of device

Abstract

The invention relates to a device and method for manipulating a liquid in a channel, wherein a body, which forms a capillary intermediate space with respect to the channel wall, is moved in the channel and the channel is filled with liquid only up to the body. Preferably, the body can also bridge an area of the channel that cannot be wetted for the liquid.

Claims

1. A device (1) for the manipulation of a liquid (2), having a channel (3) for receiving the liquid (2) and having a body (4) that is movable in the channel (3), characterised in that the body (4) fills the channel (3) by more than 60% of its cross-sectional area and an intermediate space (6) is formed between the body (4) and the channel wall, so that the liquid (2) or its front (2A) is held in the intermediate space (6) by capillary forces and the channel (3) is filled with the liquid (2) only up to the body (4) or end of the intermediate space (6), and/or in that the channel (3) comprises at least one non-wettable region (3A) which is bridged for the liquid (2) by means of the body (4).

2. The device according to claim 1, characterised in that the body (4) is guided in a defined alignment in the channel (3).

3. The device according to claim 1, characterised in that the body (4) is laterally guided by a film of the liquid (2) between the body (4) and the channel wall.

4. The device according to claim 1, characterised in that the body (4) has a length that is greater than the maximum width of the channel (3).

5. The device according to claim 1, characterised in that the body (4) is of elongate configuration.

6. The device according to claim 1, characterised in that the body (4) is movable magnetically and/or in a contactless manner.

7. The device according to claim 1, characterised in that a manipulating device (7) is provided for moving the body (4) along the channel (3).

8. The device according to claim 1, characterised in that the body (4) is selectively movable into different regions or sections (3B) of the channel (3).

9. The device according to claim 1, characterised in that a side channel (3C) branches off from the channel (3), while the liquid (2) only flows, or is able to flow, into the side channel (3C) when the body (4) is, or has been, moved with the liquid (2) in the channel (3) at least up to the branching of the side channel (3C) from the channel (3).