MICROFLUIDIC CHEMOSTAT

• US 20120065277A1
• Filed: 08/03/2011
• Published: 03/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABB Research Ltd. (ABB Limited), California Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: California Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Balagadde, Frederick, Hansen, Carl L., Kartalov, Emil, Quake, Stephen R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,426,159 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 514/789
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0861 Configuration of multiple channels and/or chambers in a single devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0877 Flow chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/10 Means to control humidity and/or other gases
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/163 Biocompatibility
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0481 squeezing of channels or chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0655 pinch valves
• 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: B01L 3/502738 characterised by integrated valves microvalves F16K99/0001
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/16 Microfluidic devices; Capillary tubes integrated microfluidic structures B01L3/5027; microreactors B01J19/0093
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/34 Internal compartments or partitions
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 39/00 Means for cleaning the apparatus or avoiding unwanted deposits of microorganisms apparatus for cleaning laboratory receptacles or instruments B01L13/02; cleaning in general B08B
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 1/00 Preparation of compounds or compositions, not provided for in groups C12P3/00 - C12P39/00, by using microorganisms or enzymes
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 19/04 Polysaccharides, i.e. compounds containing more than five saccharide radicals attached to each other by glycosidic bonds

Abstract

A chemostat is described that includes a growth chamber having a plurality of compartments. Each of the compartments may be fluidly isolated from the rest of the growth chamber by one or more actuatable valves. The chemostat may also include a nutrient supply-line to supply growth medium to the growth chamber, and an output port to remove fluids from the growth chamber. Also, a method of preventing biofilm formation in a growth chamber of a chemostat is described. The method may include the steps of adding a lysis agent to a isolated portion of the growth chamber, and reuniting the isolated portion with the rest of the growth chamber.

Claims

1. A chemostat comprising:

a growth chamber having a plurality of compartments, wherein each of the compartments may be fluidly isolated from the rest of the growth chamber by one or more actuatable valves;

a nutrient supply-line to supply growth medium to the growth chamber; and

an output port to remove fluids from the growth chamber.

2. A chemostat chip comprising an array of chemostats, wherein each of the chemostats comprises:

a growth chamber having a plurality of compartments, wherein each of the compartments may be fluidly isolated from the rest of the growth chamber by one or more actuatable valves;

a nutrient supply-line to supply growth medium to the growth chamber; and

an output port to remove fluids from the growth chamber.

3. A method of preventing biofilm formation in a growth chamber of a chemostat, the method comprising:

adding a lysis agent to an isolated portion of the growth chamber; and

reuniting the isolated portion with the rest of the growth chamber.