Chemistry: electrical and wave energy – Processes and products – Electrophoresis or electro-osmosis processes and electrolyte...
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-02
2001-05-22
Warden, Jill (Department: 1743)
Chemistry: electrical and wave energy
Processes and products
Electrophoresis or electro-osmosis processes and electrolyte...
C204S450000, C204S600000, C204S602000, C422S068100, C422S091000, C422S105000, C422S105000, C435S287100, C435S287200, C435S287300, C435S288500, C435S288600
Reexamination Certificate
active
06235175
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There has been a growing interest in the development and manufacturing of microscale fluid systems for the acquisition of chemical and biochemical information, in both preparative and analytical capacities. Adaptation of technologies from the electronics industry, such as photolithography, wet chemical etching and the like, to these fluidic systems has helped to fuel this growing interest.
One of the first areas in which microscale fluid systems have been used for chemical or biochemical analysis has been in the area of capillary electrophoresis (CE). CE systems generally employ fused silica capillaries, or more recently, etched channels in planar silica substrates, filled with an appropriate separation matrix or medium. A sample fluid that is to be analyzed is injected at one end of the capillary or channel. Application of a voltage across the capillary then permits the electrophoretic migration of the species within the sample. Differential electrophoretic mobilities of the constituent elements of a sample fluid, e.g., due to their differential net charge or size, permits their separation, identification and analysis. For a general discussion of CE methods, see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,015,350, to Wiktorowicz, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,192,405 to Petersen et al.
Fabrication of CE systems using planar chip technology has also been discussed. See, e.g., Mathies et al., Proc. Nat'l Acad. Sci. (1994) 91:11348-11352, Jacobsen et al., Anal. Chem. (1994) 66:1114-1118, Effenhauser et al., Anal. Chem. (1994) 66: 2949-2953. However, typically, such systems employ a single sample introduction point, e.g., a single well for introducing samples that are to be analyzed in the capillary channel. This requires rinsing and reloading the well prior to each analysis. Further, where one wishes to analyze larger numbers of samples, larger components of each sample, e.g., large nucleic acid fragments, proteins and the like, can build up within the sample loading and separation channels, and/or adsorb to capillary walls, eventually affecting the operation of the system.
It would therefore be desirable to provide microfluidic devices, including CE systems, which permit faster analysis of multiple samples, and do so with minimal and even reduced cost, space and time requirements. The present invention meets these and other needs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In a first aspect, the present invention provides a microfluidic device that comprises a planar substrate having a first surface. At least the first, second and third microscale channels are disposed in the interior portion, the second channel intersecting the first channel at a first intersection, and the third channel intersecting the first channel at a second intersection. A plurality of sample reservoirs is disposed in the body structure with each of the sample reservoirs being connected to the second channel. At least a first waste reservoir is connected to the third channel.
The present invention also provides a microfluidic device as described above, with at least one sample reservoir being connected to the second channel and at least one sample reservoir being connected to the third channel. The device also includes at least first and second waste reservoirs, the first waste reservoir being connected to the first channel, and the second waste reservoir being connected to the second channel.
In another aspect, the present invention also provides a microfluidic device as described above, but comprising a preloading module in communication with the first channel. The preloading module comprises a first sample loading channel intersecting the first channel at a first intersection. The preloading module also includes a first plurality of sample reservoirs in fluid communication with the first sample loading channel and a first load/waste reservoir in communication with the first sample loading channel between the first plurality of sample reservoirs and the first intersection.
This invention also provides a method of analyzing a plurality of samples using the microfluidic device as described above. A plurality of sample reservoirs is disposed in the body structure, each of the sample reservoirs being connected to the second channel. At least a first waste reservoir is connected to the third channel. The method also involves transporting a sample material from the first of the plurality of sample reservoirs through the second channel, through the first and second intersections, into the third channel, toward the first waste reservoir. A portion of the sample material is injected at the first intersection into the first channel, transported along, the first channel, and analyzed in the analysis channel.
In a related aspect, the present invention provides a method of separating component elements of a sample material, using the microfluidic device described above, but comprising a plurality of sample reservoirs. Each of the sample reservoirs is connected to the second channel and at least a first waste reservoir is connected to the third channel. The method also involves transporting the sample material from a first of said plurality of sample reservoirs through the second channel, through the first and second intersections, into the third channel, toward the first waste reservoir. A portion of the sample material is injected at the first intersection into the first channel and transported along the first channel to separate the component elements of the sample material.
The present invention also provides for the use of a microfluidic device that includes a body structure having an interior portion and an exterior portion, at least first, second and third microscale channels disposed in the interior portion, the second channel intersecting the first channel at a first intersection, the third channel intersecting the first channel at a second intersection, a plurality of sample reservoirs in communication with the second channel having a plurality of different sample materials disposed therein, and a waste reservoir in communication with the third channel, in separating component elements of the sample materials.
Another aspect of the invention provides a microfluidic device comprising an analysis channel and a sample loading channel in fluid communication with the analysis channel at a first intersection. A plurality of sample sources is in fluid communication with the sample loading channel, whereby there is at least one of the plurality of sample sources in fluid communication with the sample loading, channel on each side of the first intersection. First and second load/waste channels intersect the sample loading, channel at second and third intersections, respectively. The second and third intersections are on different sides of the first intersection.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a microfluidic device comprising an analysis channel. A sample loading channel is on a first side of said analysis channel, and intersects the analysis channel at a first intersection. A plurality of sample reservoirs is in fluid communication with the sample loading channel on a first side of the first intersection and a waste channel is on a second side of the analysis channel, intersecting the analysis channel at a second intersection. A waste reservoir is in fluid communication with the waste channel on the second side of the first intersection.
Another aspect of the invention provides a microfluidic device comprising an analysis channel. A sample loading channel intersects the analysis channel at a first intersection. The device also includes a sample preloading module which comprises a plurality of sample reservoirs and a waste reservoir disposed in the body structure. Each of the plurality of sample reservoirs and waste reservoir is in fluid communication with the sample loading channel on the same side of the first intersection.
In an additional aspect, the present invention provides a microfluidic device comprising an analysis channel, and also including first and second transverse channels disposed in the inter
Bousse Luc J.
Dubrow Robert S.
Kennedy Colin B.
Caliper Technologies Corp.
Murphy Matthew B.
Starsiak Jr. John S.
Warden Jill
LandOfFree
Microfluidic devices incorporating improved channel geometries does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Microfluidic devices incorporating improved channel geometries, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Microfluidic devices incorporating improved channel geometries will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2529567