Systems and methods for thermal actuation of microfluidic devices

• US 9,677,121 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2014
• Issued: 06/13/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: HandyLab Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: HandyLab Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Ganesan, Karthik, Handique, Kalyan
• Primary Examiner(s): Hopkins, Robert A
• Application Number:
  US14/550,126
• Publication Number:
  US 20150152477A1
• Time in Patent Office: 935 Days
• Field of Search: 137561 R, 422100, 422502, 422505
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/02 Adapting objects or devices to another
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/10 Integrating sample preparation and analysis in single entity, e.g. lab-on-a-chip concept
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/14 Process control and prevention of errors
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/147 Employing temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/02 Identification, exchange or storage of information
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0681 Filter
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0819 Microarrays; Biochips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/087 Multiple sequential chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1827 using resistive heater
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0442 thermal energy, e.g. vaporisation, bubble jet
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0478 pistons
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/049 vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0677 phase change valves; Meltable, freezing, dissolvable plugs; Destructible barriers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502715 characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces
• 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 7/00 Heating or cooling apparatus autoclaves B01J3/04; Heat insulating devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 7/52 with provision for submitting samples to a predetermined sequence of different temperatures, e.g. for treating nucleic acid samples amplification or hybridisation processes per se C12Q1/68; controlling sequential reactions for synthesis B01J19/0046
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/6806 Preparing nucleic acids for analysis, e.g. for polymerase chain reaction [PCR] assay C12Q1/6804 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/4077 by other techniques involving separation of suspended solids

Abstract

A microfluidic processing device includes a substrate defining a microfluidic network. The substrate is in thermal communication with a plurality of N independently controllable components and a plurality of input output contacts for connecting the substrate to an external controller. Each component has at least two terminals. Each terminal is in electrical communication with at least one contact. The number of contacts required to independently control the N components is substantially less than the total number of terminals. Upon actuation, the components typically heat a portion of the microfluidic network and/or sense a temperature thereof.

Claims

1. A method of using a microfluidic system, comprising:

providing a first device comprising a first substrate defining a microfluidic network comprising at least one of each of a thermally actuated valve and a thermally actuated reaction chamber;

operatively receiving the first device in a second device, the second device comprising a second substrate defining a plurality of heat sources, each heat source being in thermal communication with a respective one of the thermally actuated valve and the thermally actuated reaction chamber of the first device, wherein at least one of the heat sources is a combined heating and temperature sensing element; and

controlling each heat source of the plurality of heat sources independently.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising heating a respective one of the thermally actuated valve and the thermally actuated reaction chamber with the combined heating and temperature sensing element.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising sensing a temperature of a respective one of the thermally actuated valve and the thermally actuated reaction chamber with the combined heating and temperature sensing element.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising controlling the at least one of each of the thermally actuated valve and the thermally actuated reaction chamber independently of others.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising heating only a localized region of the microfluidic network so that the heat generated is sufficient to actuate only a single element of the microfluidic network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second device has a substantially lower thermal conductivity than the plurality of heat sources.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising controlling the heat sources with control circuitry.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving signals in the second substrate from a data acquisition and control board.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the combined heating and temperature sensing element comprises a resistive temperature sensor.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising thermopneumatically actuating the thermally actuated valve.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising thermal cycling the reaction chamber to perform a polymerase chain reaction.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the thermally actuated valve comprises a temperature responsive substance.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the temperature responsive substance is wax.

14. A method of using a microfluidic system, comprising:

providing a first device comprising a first substrate defining a microfluidic network comprising at least one of each of a thermally actuated valve and a thermally actuated reaction chamber;

operatively receiving the first device in a second device, the second device comprising a second substrate defining a plurality of heat sources, each heat source being in thermal communication with a respective one of the thermally actuated valve and the thermally actuated reaction chamber of the first device, wherein at least one of the heat sources is a combined heating and temperature sensing element; and

heating a thermally responsive substance and moving the thermally responsive substance into a channel of the microfluidic network.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the temperature responsive substance is wax.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising thermal cycling the reaction chamber to perform a polymerase chain reaction.

17. A method of using a microfluidic system, comprising:

providing a first device comprising a first substrate defining a microfluidic network comprising at least one of each of a thermally actuated valve and a thermally actuated reaction chamber;

operatively receiving the first device in a second device, the second device comprising a second substrate defining a plurality of heat sources, each heat source being in thermal communication with a respective one of the thermally actuated valve and the thermally actuated reaction chamber of the first device, wherein at least one of the heat sources is a combined heating and temperature sensing element; and

generating an amount of heat from a first heat source of the plurality of heat sources to actuate a first thermally actuated component but insufficient to actuate a second thermally actuated component.

18. The method of Claim 17, further comprising controlling the microfluidic system by electrical signals or optical signals received from a data acquisition and control board.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising controlling a heat source of the plurality of heat sources independently of another heat source of the plurality of heat sources.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising thermal cycling the reaction chamber to perform a polymerase chain reaction.

21. A method of using a microfluidic s stem, comprising:

providing a first device comprising a first substrate defining a microfluidic network comprising at least one of each of a thermally actuated valve and a thermally actuated reaction chamber;

operatively receiving the first device in a second device, the second device comprising a second substrate defining a plurality of heat sources, each heat source being in thermal communication with a respective one of the thermally actuated valve and the thermally actuated reaction chamber of the first device, wherein at least one of the heat sources is a combined heating and temperature sensing element; and

actuating one of the plurality of heat sources such that current flows in essentially only one direction through the heat source.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising substantially preventing current flow in a second, opposite direction through the heat source.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising controlling the heat sources with control circuitry.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising thermal cycling the reaction chamber to perform a polymerase chain reaction.