Hydrodynamic focusing devices

• US 20070036678A1
• Filed: 06/09/2006
• Published: 02/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Berlin, Andrew, Sundararajan, Narayanan
• Granted Patent: US 8,883,091 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/68.100
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/3011 using a sheathing stream of a fluid surrounding a central stream of a different fluid, e.g. for reducing the cross-section of the central stream or to produce droplets from the central stream
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0636 Focussing flows, e.g. to laminate flows
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0874 Three dimensional network
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0887 Laminated structure
• 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 3/502715 characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502776 specially adapted for focusing or laminating flows
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/1404 Handling flow, e.g. hydrodynamic focusing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/1413 Hydrodynamic focussing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25 including sample preparation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

A micro-fluidic device containing a micro-fluidic inlet channel to convey a process flow, a plurality of micro-fluidic focusing channels to each convey one of a plurality of focusing flows, a focusing manifold coupled with the inlet channel at an inlet port thereof and with the plurality of focusing channels at a plurality of focusing channel ports thereof to focus the process flow by contacting and hydrodynamically impacting at least three sides of the process flow with the focusing flows, and a micro-fluidic outlet channel coupled with the focusing manifold at an outlet channel port to convey the combined focused process flow and focusing flow from the focusing manifold.

Claims

1. An analysis system comprising:

a micro-fluidic device;

a hydrodynamic focusing system of the micro-fluidic device, the hydrodynamic focusing system containing;

a micro-fluidic inlet channel to convey a process flow;

a plurality of micro-fluidic focusing channels to each convey one of a plurality of focusing flows;

a focusing manifold coupled with the inlet channel at an inlet port and with the plurality of focusing channels at a plurality of focusing channel ports to focus the process flow by contacting at least three sides of the process flow with the plurality of focusing flows; and

a micro-fluidic outlet channel coupled with the focusing manifold at an outlet channel port to convey the combined focused process flow and focusing flow from the focusing manifold;

an analysis device to analyze a portion of the focused process flow conveyed in an interrogation region of the micro-fluidic outlet channel.

2. The analysis system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of micro-fluidic focusing channels comprise:

a first micro-fluidic focusing channel on a first side of the inlet channel;

a second micro-fluidic focusing channel on a second side of the inlet channel;

a third upper micro-fluidic focusing channel over the inlet channel; and

a fourth lower micro-fluidic focusing channel under the inlet channel.

3. The analysis system of claim 1, wherein the analysis device comprises a Raman spectrometer.

4. The analysis system of claim 1, further comprising a source of a biological molecule coupled with the micro-fluidic inlet channel.

5. The analysis system of claim 4, wherein the source of the biological molecule comprises a source of a fluorescently labeled biological molecule.

6. The analysis system of claim 1, wherein the source of the biological molecule comprises a source of a nucleic acid derivative.

7. The analysis system of claim 1, wherein the source of the biological molecule comprises a source of a protein.