# US 11,027,273 B2 · Apparatuses and methods for pathogen detection using microfluidic biochips

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- Number: US 11,027,273 B2
- Document ID: US11027273B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/555,002
- Filed: 2016-03-01
- Published: 2018-02-08
- Granted: 2021-06-08
- Earliest claimed: 2015-03-01
- Assignees: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
- Applicants: The Board of Regents of the University of Texas System
- Inventors: Xiujun Li; Sanjay Timilsina
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11027273B2

## CPC

- B01L 3/5027: {by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip}
- G01N 33/54366: {Apparatus specially adapted for solid-phase testing}
- G01N 33/54373: {involving physiochemical end-point determination, e.g. wave-guides, FETS, gratings}
- B01L 2300/069: Absorbents; Gels to retain a fluid
- B01L 2300/0816: Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
- B01L 2300/0819: Microarrays; Biochips
- B01L 2300/0829: Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates
- B01L 2300/0864: comprising only one inlet and multiple receiving wells, e.g. for separation, splitting
- B01L 2300/0887: Laminated structure
- B01L 2300/123: Flexible; Elastomeric
- B01L 2300/126: Paper
- B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)

## Abstract

Certain embodiments are directed to a paper hybrid microfluidic microplate. In certain aspects, the hybrid microfluidic microplate is a low-cost, sensitive, and fast diagnostic apparatus for detecting pathogens, diagnosing disease and other bio-applications, especially for low-resource settings.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A hybrid microfluidic microplate apparatus comprising:
a top layer comprising at least one inlet reservoir coupled to a microchannel,
a middle layer positioned beneath the top layer, said middle layer comprises at least one funnel shaped well comprising an upper well portion having a first diameter of 1 mm (millimeter) to 5 mm and a lower well portion having a second diameter of 0.1 mm to 1 mm, wherein a top portion of the upper well portion is connected to the microchannel in the top layer, and a bottom portion of the upper well portion is connected to a top portion of the lower well portion through a junction, and the second diameter is smaller than the first diameter,
an insert positioned inside the upper well portion and over the junction of the upper well portion and the lower well portion, said insert forms a separate layer within the at least one funnel shaped well and is made of a first material comprising a porous paper comprising cellulose, nitrocellulose, nylon, or any combinations thereof, and
a bottom layer positioned beneath the middle layer, said bottom layer comprises an outlet hole coupled to at least one outlet channel, said at least one outlet channel is coupled to a bottom portion of the lower well portion, and the outlet hole is fluidly connected to the inlet reservoir via the microchannel in the top layer, upper well portion, lower well portion, and at least one outlet channel,
wherein the top layer, the middle layer and the bottom layer is made with a second material comprising a polymer.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), a polycarbonate (PC), and a polyethylene terephthalate (PETG).