Chemistry: analytical and immunological testing – Including sample preparation – Volumetric liquid transfer
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-09
2001-07-31
Ludlow, Jan (Department: 1743)
Chemistry: analytical and immunological testing
Including sample preparation
Volumetric liquid transfer
C422S105000, C422S105000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06268219
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to microfluidic devices, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for distributing fluid on a microfluidic device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Methods of making a homologous series of compounds, or the testing of new potential drug compounds comprising a series of light compounds, has been a slow process because each member of a series or each potential drug must be made individually and tested individually. For example, a plurality of potential drug compounds is tested by an agent to test a plurality of materials that differ perhaps only by a single amino acid or nucleotide base, or a different sequence of amino acids or nucleotides.
The processes described above have been improved by microfluidic chips which are able to separate materials in a micro channel and move the materials through the micro channel is possible. Moving the materials through micro channels is possible by use of various electro-kinetic processes such as electrophoresis or electro-osmosis. Fluids may be propelled through various small channels by the electro-osmotic forces. An electro-osmotic force is built up in the channel via surface charge buildup by means of an external voltage that can repel fluid and cause flow.
In fluid delivery in microfluidic structures, it is important to distribute approximately the same fluid volume to each reaction well. By using certain fluids, however, even distribution to the various reaction wells is difficult to accomplish. This is especially true in pressure pumping. Pressure pumping uses pressurized fluid at the fluid input. The fluid under pressure is distributed along the channels and ultimately to reaction wells. One problem associated with pressure pumping is that fluid closer to the input is under higher pressure than the fluid further downstream due to the pressure losses associated with each of the branches. This in time allows the channels closer to the fluid input to fill more rapidly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, one object of the invention to provide an improved fluid delivery mechanism to an array of reaction wells. It is a further object of the invention to provide a reliable method for delivering fluid to reaction wells.
It is another object of the present invention to create a relatively small device which can carry out hundreds and even thousands of chemical experiments simultaneously, create new compounds, and measure their reactivities.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a liquid handling drug discovery and diagnostic tool which increases the speed and productivity of discovering new drug candidates and does so on a miniaturized scale or platform that reduces cost and manual handling. It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a multiple fluid sample processor, system and method which is capable of conveying, transporting, and/or processing samples in a large multiplicity of sites without exposure to the atmosphere.
In one aspect of the invention, a fluid distribution system has a microfluidic device that has a main channel therein. The microfluidic device has a plurality of branches extending therefrom. The main channel has a length. The main channel and the branches are coupled through a plurality of apertures with aperture diameters. The apertures progressively increase along said length of the main channel.
One advantage of the invention is that small and controlled amounts of fluid may be delivered in an array structure with micro channels that have high pressure losses.
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McBride Sterling Eduard
Moroney, III Richard Morgan
Artz & Artz P.C.
Ludlow Jan
Orchid BioSciences, Inc.
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