Capillary fluid flow control

• US 9,044,757 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2012
• Issued: 06/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Carclo Technical Plastics Limited (Carclo PLC)
• Original Assignee: Carclo Technical Plastics Limited (Carclo PLC)
• Inventors: Robertson, Philip, Swainson, Richard, Ward, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Sines, Brian J
• Application Number:
  US14/004,750
• Publication Number:
  US 20140004019A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,174 Days
• Field of Search: 422/68.1, 422/81, 422/82, 422/502, 422/503, 422/504, 436/43, 436/174, 436/180
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0689 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/16 Reagents, handling or storing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/042 Caps; Plugs
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0672 Integrated piercing tool
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/161 Control and use of surface tension forces, e.g. hydrophobic, hydrophilic
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0406 capillary forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/049 vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0683 mechanically breaking a wall or membrane within a channel or chamber
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0694 vents used to stop and induce flow, backpressure valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/082 Active control of flow resistance, e.g. flow controllers
• 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 3/502707 characterised by the manufacture of the container or its components by shaping or joining plastic parts B29C59/00, B29C65/00; by laminating B32B37/00; manufacture of microstructural devices in general B81C
• 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: B01L 3/56 Labware specially adapted for transferring fluids
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/561 Tubes; Conduits in general F16L
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

A fluid flow control device controls flow of fluid in a capillary pathway device having a first capillary passage with an inlet and an outlet and a fluid application region for receiving a liquid sample for entry to the capillary passage via the inlet, with the fluid flow control device comprising first sealing means operable for releasably sealing the outlet of the first capillary passage.

Claims

1. A device comprising a fluid flow control device for controlling flow of fluid in a capillary pathway device, in combination with a capillary pathway device comprising a first capillary passage with an inlet and an outlet and a fluid application region for receiving a liquid sample for entry to the capillary passage via the inlet, the fluid flow control device comprising first sealing means operable for releasably sealing the outlet of the first capillary passage.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the sealing means are capable of controlling flow of liquid sample in a capillary passage without contact between the sealing means and liquid sample.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein the sealing means are movable between a first position in which the sealing means are positioned to seal an outlet of a capillary passage and a second position in which the sealing means are positioned to not seal an outlet of a capillary passage.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein the capillary pathway device comprises a second or further capillary passage, each with an inlet and an outlet, and the fluid flow control device comprises second or further first sealing means operable for releasably sealing the respective outlet of the second or further capillary passage.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein the fluid flow control device and capillary pathway device are releasably integrated to form a single device.

6. A device according to claim 1 further in combination with sample metering means for metering a predetermined volume of sample liquid to a portion of a capillary passage.

7. A device according to claim 6 wherein the capillary pathway device comprises a first capillary passage (or second or further capillary passage) and a side passage, extending from the first capillary passage part way along the length thereof and leading to an outlet, the inlet to the side passage being constituted by the junction with the first capillary passage, wherein the fluid flow control device comprises first sealing means operable for releasably sealing the outlet of a first capillary passage and second sealing means operable for releasably sealing the outlet of the side passage.

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein an outlet is provided at a distal end of a capillary passage or side passage.

9. A device according to claim 1, provided in combination with fluid dispensing means, comprising a rupturable, sealed container of fluid to be dispensed, rupturing means for rupturing the container and releasing the contents, the container and/or rupturing means being arranged for relative movement between a first position in which the container is intact and a second position in which the container is ruptured.

10. A device according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises a well, in fluid communication with the fluid application region, which comprises a sample application hole leading to a capillary passage.

11. A device according to claim 10 wherein the well is formed within a planar element forming the capillary pathway device, preferably as a concave region leading to a sample application hole.

12. A device according to claim 10, wherein the base of the well comprises the fluid application region.

13. A device according to claim 10 wherein the well may be formed by a combination of one or more elements of the fluid flow control device, capillary pathway device and a separate element.

14. A device according to claim 10 wherein the base of the well is configured such that it slopes toward a sample inlet hole from all directions.

15. A device according to claim 10, wherein the sample well comprises features to aid flow of sample liquid into a capillary passage.

16. A fluid flow control device according to claim 1, wherein a capillary passage comprises one or more additional outlets, removed from a distal or proximal end of a capillary passage, and first sealing means operable to releasably seal an additional outlet, to control flow of liquid sample in a device.

17. A device according to claim 1 wherein the sealing means (and additional sealing means if present) may be located on a control element, movable to cause operation of the sealing means.

18. A device according to claim 17 wherein the control element is arranged for rotary or linear motion.

19. A device according to claim 17, with the outlets of the capillary passages, and optionally the outlets of any side passages if present, being located in the vicinity of the fluid application region and wherein the control element surrounds the fluid application region.

20. A sample testing device, comprising a fluid flow control device and a capillary pathway device as described in claim 1.