Fluidic couplers and modular microfluidic systems

Fluid handling – Flow affected by fluid contact – energy field or coanda effect – Structure of body of device

Reexamination Certificate

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

C422S105000, C204S601000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06536477

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to microfluidic devices and particularly to integration of modular microfluidic systems, and microfluidic devices for introducing fluid into another microfluidic device and for removing fluid from a microfluidic device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There has been a growing interest in the manufacture and use of microfluidic systems for chemical and biochemical manufacturing processes and the acquisition of chemical and biological information. In particular, microfluidic systems allow complicated biochemical reactions to be carried out using very small volumes of liquid. These miniaturized systems increase the response time of the reactions, minimize sample volume, and lower reagent cost.
Traditionally, these microfluidic systems have been constructed in a planar fashion using photolithography to define channels on silicon or glass substrates and etching techniques to remove material from the substrate to form the channels. More recently, a number of methods have been developed that allow microfluidic devices to be constructed from plastic, silicone or other polymeric materials. Finally, novel microfluidic devices are described in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 09/453,026 and 09/453,029. These devices comprise one more stencils containing microstructures, which are disposed and sealed between substrate layers.
Thus, several different types of microfluidic devices, manufactured using several different techniques exist. For example, a preparation system could be constructed using silicon fabrication technology while a sorting device might be constructed using a silicone replication technique (see, Fu et al., Nature Biotechnology (199) 17: 1109-1111). In this situation, it would be impossible to develop a single integrated device.
Therefore, a great need exists for a device or method for connecting together different types of microfluidic devices that may have been manufactured using different techniques.
Moreover, discrete microfluidic components are often constructed that only perform partial functions of a complete system and there is a need to integrate such devices. For example, a silicon based microfluidic sample preparation system can be constructed. A separate microfluidic detection system could also be constructed. To make a completed device, the developer must typically go back to the development stage and develop processing techniques and steps that allow a single-integrated device to be developed.
Another issue in the development of microfluidic systems is the manner in which fluids and samples are injected into the device and removed from the device, which can often be a limiting problem with these devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a coupling device capable of connecting more than one microfluidic module together to form a larger, integrated system. It also provides a modular system of microfluidics components that can be combined in various configurations to construct completed microfluidic multichip modules (MMCMs) or modular microfluidic systems. In this manner, prototyping and manufacturing can be accomplished in a very rapid manner, since a complete set of building blocks can be constructed in bulk.
Further, the present invention provides a robust microfluidic coupling device for inputting fluids into a microfluidic device and removing fluids from those devices. These devices can be incorporated into existing industrial equipment.
Additionally, the present invention provides a microfluidic coupling device where the fluids within a microfluidic device can be transported off the device and easily manipulated. Microfluidic couplers of the present invention also allow a small amount of fluid to be removed from a microfluidic device with minimal loss of sample during the process.
Moreover, the invention provides a microfluidic coupling device that can accommodate the use of a vast array of liquid reagents or solutions. Different types of solvents and samples can be used, including but not limited to water based systems, organic based systems, biological materials solvated or dispersed within solvent, chemical systems, and others known by those skilled in the art. The microfluidic coupling devices of the present invention are constructed using a combination of traditional manufacturing techniques and novel chemistries and alignment procedures.
The present invention also incorporates electrodes into microfluidic coupling devices to perform electrokinetic flow, electrophoresis, and/or electronic detection within the devices.
Definitions
The term “channel” or “chamber” as used herein is to be interpreted in a broad sense. Thus, it is not intended to be restricted to elongated configurations where the transverse or longitudinal dimension greatly exceeds the diameter or cross-sectional dimension. Rather, such terms are meant to comprise cavities or tunnels of any desired shape or configuration through which liquids may be directed. Such a fluid cavity may, for example, comprise a flow-through cell where fluid is to be continually passed or, alternatively, a chamber for holding a specified, discrete amount of fluid for a specified amount of time. “Channels” and “chambers” may be filled or may contain internal structures comprising valves or equivalent components.
The term “microfluidic” as used herein is to be understood, without any restriction thereto, to refer to structures or devices through which fluid(s) are capable of being passed or directed, wherein one or more of the dimensions is less than 500 microns.
“Substantially planar” as used herein refers to a structure having a height of between about 1 and 500 microns and a length and width each at least 100 times larger than the height.
A “stencil layer” as used herein refers to a discrete layer of material through which a channel or aperture has been cut, such that in the final device, the top and bottom surfaces of the microfluidic channel within the stencil layer are, formed from the bottom and top, respectively, of adjacent stencil or substrate layers. The stencils are preferably sandwiched between substrates, wherein the substrates are preferably substantially planar. Stencil layers are bonded by any technique that results in substantially liquid-tight channels within the device.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3568692 (1971-03-01), Metzger et al.
patent: 4751172 (1988-06-01), Rodriguez et al.
patent: 5839467 (1998-11-01), Saaski et al.
patent: 5890745 (1999-04-01), Kovacs
patent: 6074725 (2000-06-01), Kennedy
patent: 6287520 (2001-09-01), Parce et al.
patent: 6321791 (2001-11-01), Chow
patent: 197 39 722 (1999-04-01), None
patent: WO 99/19717 (1999-04-01), None
patent: WO 99/60397 (1999-11-01), None
Gray, B., “Novel interconnection technologies for integrated microfluidic systems,” Sensors and Actuators 77 (1999) 57-65.
Schuenemann, M. et al., “A highly flexible design and production framework for modularized micromechanical systems,” Sensors and Actuators 73 (1999) 153-168.
Ehrfeld, W. et al., “Potentials and Realizations of Microreactors,” Dechema Monographs vol. 132 (1996).
van der Schoot, B. et al., “A modular miniaturized chemical analysis system,” Sensors and Actuators B, 13-14, (1993) 333-335.
Yao, T. et al., “Micromachined Rubber O-ring Micro-fluidic Couplers,” 13th IEEE International Conference on Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS '00), Miyazaki, Japan, Jan. 23-27 (2000); http://touch.caltech.edu/publications/yao/mems00/mems00.pdf.
Gonzalez, C. et al., “Fluidic interconnects for modular assembly of chemical microsystems,” Sensors and Actuators B 49 (1998) 40-45.

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for the USA inventors and patents. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Fluidic couplers and modular microfluidic systems does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Fluidic couplers and modular microfluidic systems, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Fluidic couplers and modular microfluidic systems will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3049251

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.