Microscale fluidic devices and components having a fluid retention groove
AssigneeBio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
InventorsAlwin Wan, Amir Sadri, Tal Rosenzweig, Nenad Kircanski, Edmond Young
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Microscale fluidic devices and components thereof having a fluid retention groove, as well as systems and methods related thereto. The fluid retention groove facilitates uniform bonding of microfluidic device components.
Claims29
A microfluidic device component, comprising a planar substrate having a planar surface, wherein the planar surface comprises a central portion, a peripheral edge, and a groove having a cross-section defined in the planar surface, wherein the groove aligns along the peripheral edge of the planar surface;
- and wherein the planar surface further comprises a microfluidic channel or a microfluidic chamber defined therein for holding liquids for performing a chemical or biochemical reaction or assay;
- and wherein the groove is separate from the microfluidic channel or microfluidic chamber such that liquids within the microfluidic channel or microfluidic chamber cannot interact with the groove.
A microfluidic device comprising:
- a first planar substrate having a first planar surface, wherein the first planar surface comprises a central portion, a peripheral edge, and a groove having a cross-section defined in the first planar surface, wherein the groove aligns along the peripheral edge of the first planar surface, and
- a second planar substrate having a second planar surface;
- wherein the second planar surface comprises a second central portion and a second peripheral edge, and wherein the second planar surface of the second planar substrate is adjoined to the first planar surface of the first planar substrate;
- and wherein the second planar substrate comprises a microfluidic channel or a microfluidic chamber defined therein for holding liquids for performing a chemical or biochemical reaction or assay;
- and wherein when the first planar surface and the second planar surface are joined together, the groove is separate from the microfluidic channel or microfluidic chamber such that liquids within the microfluidic channel or microfluidic chamber cannot interact with the groove.
A method of making a microfluidic device, comprising:
- (a) providing a first planar substrate having a first planar surface, wherein the first planar surface comprises a first central portion, a first peripheral edge, and a groove having a cross-section defined in the first planar surface, wherein the groove aligns along the first peripheral edge of the first planar surface;
- (b) providing a second planar substrate, wherein the second planar substrate comprises a second planar surface, wherein the second planar surface comprises a second central portion, a second peripheral edge, and wherein at least one of the first planar substrate and the second planar substrate comprises a microfluidic channel or a microfluidic chamber defined therein for holding liquids for performing a chemical or biochemical reaction or assay;
- (c) applying solvent to at least one of the first planar surface or the second planar surface;
- and
- (d) contacting the first planar surface to the second planar surface, wherein the solvent partially dissolves each of the first and second planar surfaces thereby bonding the first and second planar surfaces together;
- wherein when the first planar surface and the second planar surface are bonded together, the groove and the microfluidic channel or microfluidic chamber are separate such that liquids within the microfluidic channel or microfluidic chamber cannot interact with the groove.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.