Microfluidic chip frame

• US 20050201902A1
• Filed: 03/02/2005
• Published: 09/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Baeuerle, Martin, Reinhardt, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 8,394,341 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/100
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/025 Align devices or objects to ensure defined positions relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/08 Ergonomic or safety aspects of handling devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/022 Transponder chips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/045 whereby the whole cover is slidable
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502715 characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/527 for microfluidic devices, e.g. used for lab-on-a-chip

Abstract

A frame for a microfluidic chip may be used together with a laboratory apparatus. The frame is adapted at least for one of the following features: receiving the microfluidic chip; protecting the microfluidic chip; and, positioning the microfluidic chip relative to the frame. The microfluidic chip is movable relative to the frame.

Claims

1. A frame for a microfluidic chip adapted to be used together with a laboratory apparatus, wherein said frame is adapted for permitting said microfluidic chip to be moveable relative to said frame and wherein said frame is adapted for at least one of the following features:

receiving said microfluidic chip,

protecting said microfluidic chip,

positioning said microfluidic chip relative to said frame.

2. The frame of claim 1, wherein said frame is at least partly manually or automatically removable, in particular for inserting said microfluidic chip into said laboratory apparatus.

3. The frame of claim 1, wherein said frame comprises at least one of the following features:

a window for accessing said microfluidic chip,

at least one identification-tag, in particular a radio-frequency-chip,

a first lock to interact with said microfluidic chip for keeping said microfluidic chip in a first position, in particular in a non-operating position.

4. The frame of claim 3, comprising at least one of the following features:

said first lock can be actuated by an opening mechanism,

said first lock can be actuated by an opening mechanism to bring said microfluidic chip into a second position,

said second position of said microfluidic chip is an operating position of said microfluidic chip.

5. The frame of claim 4, wherein said opening mechanism is an unlocking pin.

6. The frame of claim 1, wherein said microfluidic chip comprises at least one of the following features;

at least one inlet port for supplying said microfluidic chip with liquid,

at least one microfluidic channel,

at least on detection area for said liquid.

7. The frame of claim 1, wherein said frame is adapted for receiving an asymmetric microfluidic chip.

8. The frame of claim 7, wherein said frame is adapted for receiving said asymmetric microfluidic chip only in one way.

9. The frame of claim 1, wherein said frame comprises a second lock to avoid separating said microfluidic chip and said frame.

10. The frame of claim 1, wherein said microfluidic chip is removable from said frame.

11. The frame of claim 1, wherein said frame is a space frame.

12. The frame of claim 11, wherein said space frame comprises at least two layers, in particular a bottom layer, a middle layer and a top layer.

13. The frame of claim 12, wherein said middle layer of said space frame determines said space between said bottom layer and said top layer.

14. The frame of claims 11, wherein at least one of said layers comprises a locking pawl to interact with a locking recess of said microfluidic chip, wherein said locking pawl and said locking recess are adapted for locking said microfluidic chip in said first non-operating position.

15. The frame of claim 14, wherein said top layer comprises said locking pawl (49).

16. The frame of claim 14, wherein said locking pawl is in said first non-operating position engaged into said recess of said microfluidic chip.

17. The frame of claim 14, wherein said locking pawl is inclined from said top layer towards said bottom layer.

18. The frame of claim 1, wherein said microfluidic chip is coupled with said frame or fixed to said frame.

19. The frame of claim 1, wherein said frame comprises a spring to move said microfluidic chip automatically from said operating position back to said non-operating position after use.

20. The frame of claim 1, wherein said microfluidic chip is fixed at an inside end to said frame and comprises said spring, in particular a spring which is built out of a plurality of patterned recesses into said material of said microfluidic chip, to move a distal end of said microfluidic chip automatically from said operating position back to said non-operating position after use.

21. The frame of claim 1, wherein said frame is a partly pressure die-cast coated.

22. The frame of claim 1, wherein said frame comprises a protection flap which is fixed by a hinge.

23. The frame of claim 22, wherein said hinge is an integral hinge.

24. The frame of claim 22, wherein said protection flap is hinged right-angled to said feeding direction of said frame into said laboratory apparatus.

25. The frame of claim 1, wherein said frame comprises a locking nose for locking said frame into said laboratory apparatus.

26. The frame of claim 1, wherein said frame, in particular said flap, in particular said top and said bottom layers, comprises at least one spacer, in particular at least one spacing nose, to avoid any touching of a touch sensitive part of said microfluidic chip with said frame.

27. The frame of claim 1, wherein said frame comprises a handle.

28. The frame of claim 1, wherein said frame comprises at least one of the following features:

said frame consists of a conductive material,

said frame comprises a conductive material,

said frame comprises metal,

said frame comprises a conductive synthetic material,

said frame comprises a coating of a conductive layer.

29. The frame of claim 1, wherein said frame comprises a protection shield which is movable lateral to said feeding direction of said frame into said laboratory apparatus.

30. The frame of claim 1, wherein said frame is adapted for receiving a microfluidic chip embedded in an additional cartridge.

31. A miniaturized microfluidic device, wherein said device comprises at least one of the following features;

a microfluidic chip,

a microfluidic chip embedded in an additional cartridge,

a frame for a microfluidic chip adapted to be used together with a laboratory apparatus, wherein said frame is adapted for permitting said microfluidic chip to be moveable relative to said frame and wherein said frame is adapted for at least one of the following features;

receiving said microfluidic chip,

protecting said microfluidic chip,

positioning said microfluidic chip relative to said frame.

32. The miniaturized microfluidic device of claim 31, wherein said microfluidic chip comprises at least one of the following features:

at least one inlet port,

at least one microfluidic channel,

a detection area coupled to said microfluidic channel,

said microfluidic chip is adapted to use together with a laboratory apparatus,

said microfluidic chip comprises at least one spring.

33. The miniaturized microfluidic device of claim 32, wherein said spring is built of a plurality of patterned recesses in said material of said microfluidic chip.

34. The miniaturized microfluidic device of claim 32, wherein said spring moves said microfluidic chip after use automatically from a second position, in particular from an operating position, back to a first position, in particular in a non-operating position.

35. The miniaturized microfluidic device of claim 31 comprising at least one of the following features:

said microfluidic chip is fixed to said frame,

an inside end of said microfluidic chip is fixed to said frame,

said microfluidic chip is adapted to be fixed to said frame,

said microfluidic chip is adapted to be fixed to said frame via a hole.

36. The miniaturized microfluidic device of claim 31, wherein at least one of said cartridge and said frame comprises at least one of the following features;

a window for accessing said microfluidic chip,

a window for accessing said microfluidic chip with a sealing plate comprising an actuating pin,

at least one identification-tag, in particular said radio-frequency-chip,

a catch to interact with a recess for keeping said cartridge in a first position, in particular in a non-operating position,

said recess to interact with said catch for keeping said cartridge in said non-operating position,

a lock realized by said catch and said recess,

a return spring coupled to said catch,

a removable protection cap,

a tamper-evident closure.

37. A Method of using a miniaturized microfluidic device wherein said miniaturized microfluidic device comprises at least one of the following features;

a microfluidic chip,

said microfluidic chip embedded in an additional cartridge, and

a frame for a microfluidic chip adapted to be used together with a laboratory apparatus, wherein said frame is adapted for permitting said microfluidic chip to be moveable relative to said frame and wherein said frame is adapted for at least one of the following features;

receiving said microfluidic chip,

protecting said microfluidic chip,

positioning said microfluidic chip relative to said frame.

the method comprising the steps of;

feeding said device into a laboratory apparatus, and

bringing said microfluidic chip relatively to said frame from a first position to a second position.

38. The method of claim 37, including the additional step of moving said chip relatively to said frame or moving said frame relatively to said chip for bringing said chip from a first position into a second position.

39. The method of claim 37, including the additional step of connecting said microfluidic chip with said laboratory apparatus.

40. The method of claim 38,.including the additional step of operating said microfluidic chip and said laboratory apparatus, wherein said first position of said microfluidic chip is a non-operating position and said second position is an operating position.

41. The method of claim 37, including the additional step of locking said device, in particular said frame of said device, in said laboratory apparatus after inserting said device into said laboratory apparatus.

42. The method of claim 40, including the additional step of unlocking said microfluidic chip before bringing said microfluidic chip from said first non-operating position into said second operating position.

43. The method of claim 40, including the additional steps of gripping said microfluidic chip manually or with an automatic gripper;

and bringing said microfluidic chip from said first non-operating position into said second operating position.