Microfluidic element for analysis of a sample liquid
First Claim
1. A microfluidic element for analyzing a fluid sample, said microfluidic element comprising a substrate and a microfluidic transport system having a channel structure, the microfluidic transport system being enclosed by the substrate and a covering layer, whereinthe channel structure comprises a channel with two side walls, and a chamber which adjoins the channel,the channel comprises a channel section and a valve section adjoining the channel section,the two side walls run parallel to each other in the channel section,the chamber has a chamber wall with an inlet orifice in which area of the chamber wall is greater than area of the inlet orifice in the same plane, and the chamber has a chamber side wall that adjoins the chamber wall,the inlet orifice in the chamber wall adjoins the valve section, so that a fluid can flow out of the channel through the inlet orifice of the chamber wall and into the chamber,the valve section is provided with a fluid transport cross-section that enlarges in width in a flow direction, wherein in width, the fluid transport cross-section of the valve section at the inlet orifice is larger than a fluid transport cross-section in the channel section at a transition from the channel section to the valve section, and wherein the fluid transport cross-section of the valve section enlarges continuously from the transition to the inlet orifice, andan end of the valve section, which has dimensions which differ from the chamber, forms a capillary stop such that a fluid flowing through the channel is stopped at the end of the valve section at the inlet orifice of the chamber, and wherein the valve section has a length l, which is at least three times a distance b between side walls of the valve section at the transition from the channel section to the valve section.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A microfluidic element for analysis of a fluid sample having a substrate and a microfluidic transport system having a channel structure enclosed by the substrate and a covering layer. The channel structure comprises a channel with two side walls as well as a chamber that is in fluid communication with the channel. The chamber has a chamber wall with an inlet orifice. The channel comprises a channel section and a valve section adjoining the channel section, wherein the valve section is in fluid communication with the inlet orifice in the chamber wall in such a way that a fluid can flow from the channel through the valve section and into the chamber. The valve section has a fluid transport cross-section, which enlarges in flow direction. The fluid transport cross-section in the valve section is greater than the fluid transport cross-section in the preceding channel section.
30 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A microfluidic element for analyzing a fluid sample, said microfluidic element comprising a substrate and a microfluidic transport system having a channel structure, the microfluidic transport system being enclosed by the substrate and a covering layer, wherein
the channel structure comprises a channel with two side walls, and a chamber which adjoins the channel, the channel comprises a channel section and a valve section adjoining the channel section, the two side walls run parallel to each other in the channel section, the chamber has a chamber wall with an inlet orifice in which area of the chamber wall is greater than area of the inlet orifice in the same plane, and the chamber has a chamber side wall that adjoins the chamber wall, the inlet orifice in the chamber wall adjoins the valve section, so that a fluid can flow out of the channel through the inlet orifice of the chamber wall and into the chamber, the valve section is provided with a fluid transport cross-section that enlarges in width in a flow direction, wherein in width, the fluid transport cross-section of the valve section at the inlet orifice is larger than a fluid transport cross-section in the channel section at a transition from the channel section to the valve section, and wherein the fluid transport cross-section of the valve section enlarges continuously from the transition to the inlet orifice, and an end of the valve section, which has dimensions which differ from the chamber, forms a capillary stop such that a fluid flowing through the channel is stopped at the end of the valve section at the inlet orifice of the chamber, and wherein the valve section has a length l, which is at least three times a distance b between side walls of the valve section at the transition from the channel section to the valve section.
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36. A microfluidic element for analyzing a fluid sample, said microfluidic element comprising a substrate and a microfluidic transport system having a channel structure, the microfluidic transport system being enclosed by the substrate and a covering layer, wherein
the channel structure comprises a channel with two side walls, and a chamber which adjoins the channel, the channel comprises a channel section and a valve section adjoining the channel section, the two side walls run parallel to each other in the channel section, the chamber has a chamber wall with an inlet orifice in which area of the chamber wall is greater than area of the inlet orifice in the same plane, and the chamber has a chamber side wall that adjoins the chamber wall, the inlet orifice in the chamber wall adjoins the valve section, so that a fluid can flow out of the channel through the inlet orifice of the chamber wall and into the chamber, the valve section is provided with a fluid transport cross-section that enlarges in width in a flow direction, wherein in width, the fluid transport cross-section of the valve section at the inlet orifice is larger than a fluid transport cross-section in the channel section at a transition from the channel section to the valve section, and wherein the fluid transport cross-section of the valve section enlarges continuously from the transition to the inlet orifice, and an end of the valve section, which has dimensions which differ from the chamber, forms a capillary stop such that a fluid flowing through the channel is stopped at the end of the valve section at the inlet orifice of the chamber, and wherein a rib is positioned in the valve section between two valve section side walls such that two adjacent valve section sub-channels are formed, which both end at the chamber wall of the chamber and in which one of the valve section sub-channels is narrower than the other, wherein the distance of the first valve section sub-channel from the second valve section sub-channel at the chamber wall is at least twice the width of the narrower valve section sub-channel.
Specification