US 10,646,870 B2 · Microfluidic device and system using acoustic manipulation

Abstract

A microfluidic chip assembly having a plurality of microfluidic flow channels is provided. Each channel has a switching region. The microfluidic chip may further include at least one surface acoustic wave generator configured to generate a pressure pulse in the switching regions of the channels to selectively deflect particles in the flow. Attenuation elements and/or channel configurations may be used to prevent acoustic signals from interfering with neighboring switching regions. Alternatively, a microfluidic particle processing system may include a microfluidic chip assembly, a particle processing instrument, and a coupling element. The surface acoustic wave generator may be provided on the particle processing instrument. The microfluidic chip assembly may be configured for operative engagement, via the coupling element, with the particle processing instrument. The coupling element may transmit acoustic energy from the surface acoustic wave generator to the switching regions and/or to focusing regions of the flow channels.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A microfluidic particle processing chip assembly comprising;

a substrate;
a plurality of flow channels formed in the substrate, each flow channel having:
a focusing region for focusing a flow of particles within the flow channel;
an interrogation region at least partially downstream of the focusing region;
and
a switching region at least partially downstream of the interrogation region;
and
a plurality of switching surface acoustic wave generators formed on the substrate, each switching surface acoustic wave generator associated with one of the plurality of flow channels and configured to generate a surface acoustic wave in the substrate and a pressure pulse in the flow in the switching region of the flow channel.

5 more elements

A microfluidic particle processing system comprising;

a microfluidic chip assembly including:
a chip substrate provided with a plurality of flow channels formed in a substrate, each flow channel having a focusing region for focusing a flow of particles within the flow channel, an inspection region at least partially downstream of the focusing region, and a switching region at least partially downstream of the inspection region;
and
a particle processing instrument including:
a switching surface acoustic wave generator assembly formed on a switching substrate associated with the instrument and configured to generate at least one surface acoustic wave in the switching substrate,
wherein the microfluidic chip assembly is configured for operative engagement via the at least one switching coupling element with the particle processing instrument, the operative engagement providing for transmission of acoustic energy from the switching surface acoustic wave generator assembly to at least one switching region of at least one flow channel, wherein the transmitted acoustic energy generates a pressure pulse in the flow in the switching region of the flow channel, and
wherein the microfluidic chip assembly is further configured for disengagement from the particle processing instrument.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Microfluidic device and system using acoustic manipulation

Life of this patent

Microfluidic device and system using acoustic manipulation

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20