Recirculation of a sample fluid for analysis in a microfluidic device
AssigneeNew York University
InventorGlennon W. Simmons
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Abstract
The present invention provides devices and methods for generating a pulsatile fluid flow in a microchannel by means of external actuation of a thin flexible film. With the devices described herein, cycles of positive and negative actuation can be used to infuse or withdrawal fluid in a microchannel. Fluid can be recirculated over one or more microfluidic feature, such as a chemical or molecular receptor, biosensor, electrode, cell or biological material, chromatography feature, mixer, etc., in a way that would represent an advantage over the single-pass flow techniques common to most microfluidic devices. The devices and methods are particularly useful in vitro diagnostics (IVD), analytical chemistry, chromatography, and mixing applications in a variety of fields.
Claims22
A microfluidic device, comprising:
- a housing, comprising a sample chamber and a reservoir;
- a microchannel positioned in the housing, comprising a lumen enclosed within the housing and extending from the sample chamber at a first end to the reservoir at a second end opposite the first end;
- the microchannel comprising a sensor region positioned within the lumen of the microchannel, comprising an array of sensing elements positioned on an inner surface of the lumen;
- and
- an actuating chamber in fluid communication with the reservoir and with the microchannel, wherein the actuating chamber is enabled to recirculate a fluid in the reservoir from the sensor region through the microchannel back to the sensor region.
A method of operating a microfluidic device, the method comprising:
- dispensing a sample fluid into a microchannel comprising a lumen;
- conveying the sample fluid a first time over a sensor region positioned within the lumen of the microchannel;
- conveying the sample fluid from the microchannel into a reservoir;
- using an actuating chamber, forcing the sample fluid from the reservoir back into the microchannel, wherein the actuating chamber comprises a flexible membrane for forcing the sample fluid;
- and
- conveying the sample fluid a second time over the sensor region;
- wherein the sensor region includes at least one of:
- an antibody, an antibody fragment, an antigen, a protein, a nucleic acid, an oligonucleotide, a peptide, a lipid, a lectin, an inhibitor, an activator, a ligand, a hormone, a cytokine, a sugar, an amino acid, a fatty acid, a phenol, or an alkaloid.
A microfluidic cartridge device, comprising:
- a cartridge body comprising a sample chamber, a microchannel, and a reservoir;
- the microchannel comprising a lumen extending from the sample chamber at a first end to the reservoir at a second end opposite the first end;
- a sensor region positioned within the lumen of the microchannel;
- and
- a squeezable bulb in fluid communication with the reservoir and with the microchannel, wherein the squeezable bulb is enabled to recirculate a fluid in the reservoir from the sensor region through the microchannel back to the sensor region.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.