Microvascular network device

• US 20040168982A1
• Filed: 03/01/2003
• Published: 09/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trustees of Boston University
• Original Assignee: Hemanext, LLC
• Inventors: Shevkoplyas, Sergey S., Yoshida, Tatsuro, Bitensky, Mark W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,517,453 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/649
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0861 Configuration of multiple channels and/or chambers in a single devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/123 Flexible; Elastomeric
• 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: G01N 11/08 by measuring pressure required to produce a known flow
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 Automated chemical analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/119163 with aspirator of claimed structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

A microvascular network device comprising: a substrate; at least one microchannel; at least one opening to the microchannel for sample entry; at least one opening to the microchannel for sample exit; and an aspirator which causes the sample to traverse the microchannel.

Claims

1. A microvascular network device comprising:

a substrate;

at least one microchannel;

at least one opening to said microchannel for sample entry;

at least one opening to said microchannel for sample exit; and

an aspirator which causes said sample to traverse said microchannel.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said substrate and said microchannel are both formed of at least one material selected from the group consisting of:

glass, plastic, polymers, metal, ceramic, organic materials, inorganic materials, and any combinations thereof.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said substrate is glass.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said device has a plurality of microchannels.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said microchannel has a diameter in the range between about 1 μ

m to about 100 μ

m and a depth in the range between about 1 μ

m to about 100 μ

m.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said sample is selected from the group consisting of:

cells, microorganisms, and any combinations thereof.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said sample is whole blood.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein said sample comprises red blood cells.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein said device comprises a network of microchannels.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein said network comprises homogeneous microchannels.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein said device comprises heterogeneous microchannels.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein said microchannel is formed of a silicone elastomer material.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein said microchannel is coated to facilitate sample movement.

14. A method of producing a microvascular network device comprising:

applying onto a first substrate an energy sensitive composition to produce an energy sensitive coating;

patternwise exposing said energy sensitive coating with an energy source to produce a coating having exposed and unexposed regions;

contacting a developer and said coating having exposed and unexposed regions to selectively remove said exposed regions to produce a patterned layer;

curing said patterned layer;

etching said patterned layer and removing said excess energy sensitive coating to produce a patterned substrate;

providing transparent liquid elastomer to said patterned substrate and thereafter baking said elastomer patterned substrate to produce a molded microchannel cast structure;

removing said molded microchannel cast structure from said patterned substrate; and

capping said molded microchannel cast structure with an elastomer-coated second substrate, thereby sealing said microchannels of said microchannel cast structure to provide said microvascular network device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said first substrate is silicon.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein said second substrate is glass.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein said energy sensitive coating is a positive resist.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein said energy source is an electron beam.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein said elastomer is a silicone elastomer.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein said microvascular network device comprises a plurality of homogeneous microchannels or combination of differently sized microchannels.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein said microvascular network device comprises microchannels having a diameter in the range between about 1 μ

m to about 100 μ

m, and a depth in the range between about 1 μ

m to about 100 μ

m.

22. A method for separating blood cells or evaluating the flow of blood cells in vitro comprising:

flowing a liquid sample medium selected from the group consisting of;

whole blood, red blood cells, white blood cells, and any combinations thereof, through a microvascular network device wherein said microvascular network device comprises;

a substrate;

at least one microchannel;

at least one opening to said microchannel for sample entry;

at least one opening to said microchannel for sample exit; and

an aspirator which causes said sample to traverse said microchannel.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said microchannel network device comprises a plurality of microchannels and wherein said microchannels are selected from the group consisting of:

homogeneous microchannels and heterogeneous microchannels.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein said microchannel has a diameter in the range between about 1 μ

m to about 100 μ

m and a depth in the range between about 1 μ

m to about 100 μ

m.