Thermal reaction device and method for using the same

• US 7,867,454 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2007
• Issued: 01/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Standard Biotools Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Fluidigm Corporation
• Inventors: Unger, Marc, Quan, Emerson, Huang, Jiang, Goodsaid, Federico
• Primary Examiner(s): LEVKOVICH, NATALIA A
• Application Number:
  US11/929,370
• Publication Number:
  US 20080292504A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,169 Days
• Field of Search: 422/100, 422/102, 422/103
• US Class Current: 422/401
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0642 Filling fluids into wells by specific techniques
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/142 Preventing evaporation
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/147 Employing temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0636 Integrated biosensor, microarrays
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0819 Microarrays; Biochips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0861 Configuration of multiple channels and/or chambers in a single devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0864 comprising only one inlet and multiple receiving wells, e.g. for separation, splitting
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0867 Multiple inlets and one sample wells, e.g. mixing, dilution
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/123 Flexible; Elastomeric
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1805 Conductive heating, heat from thermostatted solids is conducted to receptacles, e.g. heating plates, blocks
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0481 squeezing of channels or chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0487 fluid pressure, pneumatics
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0638 membrane valves, flap valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0655 pinch valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/00 Containers or dishes for laboratory use, e.g. laboratory glassware; Droppers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0248 Prongs, quill pen type dispenser
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5025 for parallel transport of multiple samples
• 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 3/502707 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 3/50273 : 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 7/52 : 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 1/686 : Polymerase chain reaction [PCR]
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/453 : Cells therefor

Abstract

An M.times.N matrix microfluidic device for performing a matrix of reactions, the device having a plurality of reaction cells in communication with one of either a sample inlet or a reagent inlet through a via formed within an elastomeric block of the device. Methods provided include a method for forming vias in parallel in an elastomeric layer of an elastomeric block of a microfluidic device, the method comprising using patterned photoresist masks and etching reagents to etch away regions or portions of an elastomeric layer of the elastomeric block.

Claims

1. A microfluidic device comprising:

a first layer and a second layer;

a plurality of reaction cells, each reaction cell comprising a first chamber and a second chamber, said first chamber and said second chamber being in fluid communication through an interface channel having an interface valve associated therewith for controlling fluid communication between said first chamber and said second chamber wherein said chambers and said interface channel are present in the second layer;

wherein each said first chamber is in fluid communication with a first fluid channel located in said second layer, and each said first fluid channel is in fluid communication with a plurality of first chambers of a plurality of reaction cells;

wherein each said second chamber is in fluid communication with a second fluid channel in the second layer, said second fluid channel is in fluid communication with a third fluid channel; and

a plurality of said third fluid channels are in fluid communication with a fourth fluid channel, wherein said fourth fluid channel is located in said first layer.

2. The microfluidic device of claim 1 wherein said reaction cells are formed within an elastomeric block and said interface valve is a deflectable membrane.

3. The microfluidic device of claim 1 wherein said first channel and said second channel are oriented parallel to each other and each has a containment valve associated therewith for controlling fluid communication therethrough.

4. The microfluidic device of claim 3 wherein said containment valve associated with said first channel and said containment valve associated with said second channel are in operable communication with each other through a common containment control channel.

5. The microfluidic device of claim 4 wherein said common containment control channel is located along a line normal to one of said first channel or said second channel.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein at least one of the chambers contains (a) an oligonucleotide or a polypeptide and (b) a fluorescent dye.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the fluorescent dye is [2-[N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N-propylamino]-4-[2,3-dihydro-3-methyl-(benzo-1,3-thiazol-2-yl)-methylidene]-1-phenyl-quinolinium].

8. A microfluidic device comprising:

a first layer and a second layer;

a plurality of reaction cells, each reaction cell comprising a first chamber and a second chamber, said first chamber and said second chamber being in fluid communication through an interface channel having an interface valve associated therewith for controlling fluid communication between said first chamber and said second chamber wherein said chambers and said interface channel are present in the second layer;

wherein each said first chamber is in fluid communication with a first fluid channel located in said second layer, and each said first fluid channel is in fluid communication with a plurality of first chambers of a plurality of reaction cells;

wherein each said second chamber is in fluid communication with a fluid channel via that is in fluid communication with a fluid channel located in said first layer.