Microfluidic device

A method of treating cell cultures in a microfluidic device comprising:

• providing a microfluidic device comprising:
• a chamber having a fluid inlet, and a fluid outlet and a sealable port, wherein the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet are positioned to direct fluid flowing from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet through the chamber, and wherein the sealable port is aligned with the chamber to allow material to be placed directly into, or removed from, the chamber from the exterior of the device when the sealable port is open, and to prevent fluid escaping through the sealable port when the sealable port is sealed, and a lid configured to seal the sealable port in a sealed position when the lid fills part of a volume of the chamber in a closed position, wherein the chamber has a smaller volume in the sealed position, wherein the lid is configured to unseal the sealable port in an unsealed position when the lid is removed from the part of a volume of the chamber in an open position, wherein the chamber has a larger volume in the open position, wherein the lid is in contact with the side walls of the chamber when the sealable port is closed, wherein the device is operable when the sealable port is open or closed, and wherein the sealable port can be opened or closed during use of the device, wherein the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet comprise a plurality of flow restrictors that partially obstruct the fluid inlet and fluid outlet to form a plurality of equally sized channels which at least partially homogenize a flow velocity and shear stress profile across the chamber, wherein a first conduit carries fluid to the fluid inlet and the first conduit increases in cross sectional area as it approaches the fluid inlet, and a second conduit carries fluid away from the fluid outlet and the second conduit decreases in cross sectional area as it becomes more distant from the fluid outlet, wherein each of the first and second conduits comprises a plurality of flow dividers positioned in the portion of the conduit which is changing in cross sectional area, wherein the flow dividers are configured to increase a uniformity of the flow velocity;
• configuring the device to culture or produce cells;
• culturing or producing the cells;
• configuring the device to perform cell-based or enzymatic assays within the same device;
• performing cell-based or enzymatic assays;
• and increasing the uniformity of flow velocity via the one or more flow dividers.

A method of using a microfluidic device comprising:

• providing a microfluidic device comprising:
• a chamber having a fluid inlet, and a fluid outlet and a sealable port, wherein the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet are positioned to direct fluid flowing from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet through the chamber, and wherein the sealable port is aligned with the chamber to allow material to be placed directly into, or removed from, the chamber from the exterior of the device when the sealable port is open, and to prevent fluid escaping through the sealable port when the sealable port is sealed, and a lid configured to seal the sealable port in a sealed position when the lid fills part of a volume of the chamber in a closed position, wherein the chamber has a smaller volume in the sealed position, wherein the lid is configured to unseal the sealable port in an unsealed position when the lid is removed from the part of a volume of the chamber in an open position, wherein the chamber has a larger volume in the open position, wherein the lid is in contact with the side walls of the chamber when the sealable port is closed, wherein the device is operable when the sealable port is open or closed, and wherein the sealable port can be opened or closed during use of the device, wherein the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet comprise a plurality of flow restrictors that partially obstruct the fluid inlet and fluid outlet to form a plurality of equally sized channels which at least partially homogenize a flow velocity and shear stress profile across the chamber, wherein a first conduit carries fluid to the fluid inlet and the first conduit increases in cross sectional area as it approaches the fluid inlet, and a second conduit carries fluid away from the fluid outlet and the second conduit decreases in cross sectional area as it becomes more distant from the fluid outlet, wherein each of the first and second conduits comprises a plurality of flow dividers positioned in the portion of the conduit which is changing in cross sectional area, wherein the flow dividers are configured to increase a uniformity of the flow velocity;
• seeding cells in the device when the sealable port is open;
• perfusing the cells when the sealable port is closed;
• and increasing the uniformity of flow velocity via the one or more flow dividers.

A method of treating cells in a microfluidic device of comprising:

• providing a microfluidic device comprising:
• a chamber having a fluid inlet, and a fluid outlet and a sealable port, wherein the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet are positioned to direct fluid flowing from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet through the chamber, and wherein the sealable port is aligned with the chamber to allow material to be placed directly into, or removed from, the chamber from the exterior of the device when the sealable port is open, and to prevent fluid escaping through the sealable port when the sealable port is sealed, and a lid configured to seal the sealable port in a sealed position when the lid fills part of a volume of the chamber in a closed position, wherein the chamber has a smaller volume in the sealed position, wherein the lid is configured to unseal the sealable port in an unsealed position when the lid is removed from the part of a volume of the chamber in an open position, wherein the chamber has a larger volume in the open position, wherein the lid is in contact with the side walls of the chamber when the sealable port is closed, wherein the device is operable when the sealable port is open or closed, and wherein the sealable port can be opened or closed during use of the device, wherein the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet comprise a plurality of flow restrictors that partially obstruct the fluid inlet and fluid outlet to form a plurality of equally sized channels which at least partially homogenize a flow velocity and shear stress profile across the chamber, wherein a first conduit carries fluid to the fluid inlet and the first conduit increases in cross sectional area as it approaches the fluid inlet, and a second conduit carries fluid away from the fluid outlet and the second conduit decreases in cross sectional area as it becomes more distant from the fluid outlet, wherein each of the first and second conduits comprises a plurality of flow dividers positioned in the portion of the conduit which is changing in cross sectional area, wherein the flow dividers are configured to increase a uniformity of the flow velocity;
• configuring the device to seed or produce cells in the device;
• seeding or producing the cells in the device;
• configuring the device to perfuse the cells in the same device;
• perfusing the cells;
• and increasing the uniformity of flow velocity via the one or more flow dividers.

A method of performing cell seeding and microfluidics in a multifunctional dual mode microfluidic device comprising:

• providing a microfluidic device comprising:
• a chamber having a fluid inlet, and a fluid outlet and a sealable port, wherein the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet are positioned to direct fluid flowing from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet through the chamber, and wherein the sealable port is aligned with the chamber to allow material to be placed directly into, or removed from, the chamber from the exterior of the device when the sealable port is open, and to prevent fluid escaping through the sealable port when the sealable port is sealed, and a lid configured to seal the sealable port in a sealed position when the lid fills part of a volume of the chamber in a closed position, wherein the chamber has a smaller volume in the sealed position, wherein the lid is configured to unseal the sealable port in an unsealed position when the lid is removed from the part of a volume of the chamber in an open position, wherein the chamber has a larger volume in the open position, wherein the lid is in contact with the side walls of the chamber when the sealable port is closed, wherein the device is operable when the sealable port is open or closed, and wherein the sealable port can be opened or closed during use of the device, wherein the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet comprise a plurality of flow restrictors that partially obstruct the fluid inlet and fluid outlet to form a plurality of equally sized channels which at least partially homogenize a flow velocity and shear stress profile across the chamber, wherein a first conduit carries fluid to the fluid inlet and the first conduit increases in cross sectional area as it approaches the fluid inlet, and a second conduit carries fluid away from the fluid outlet and the second conduit decreases in cross sectional area as it becomes more distant from the fluid outlet, wherein each of the first and second conduits comprises a plurality of flow dividers positioned in the portion of the conduit which is changing in cross sectional area, wherein the flow dividers are configured to increase a uniformity of the flow velocity;
• configuring the device into a first operating configuration;
• performing static cell seeding in the first operating configuration of the device;
• configuring the device into a second operating configuration;
• performing perfusion via microfluidics in the second operating configuration of the device,
• wherein the device is configured to switch between the first operating configuration and the second operating configuration;
• and increasing the uniformity of flow velocity in the multifunctional dual mode microfluidic device.

A method of using a microfluidic device comprising:

• providing a microfluidic device comprising:
• a chamber having a fluid inlet, and a fluid outlet;
• a sealable port, wherein the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet are positioned to direct fluid flowing from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet through the chamber, and wherein the sealable port is aligned with the chamber to allow material to be placed directly into, or removed from, the chamber from the exterior of the device when the sealable port is open, and to prevent fluid escaping through the sealable port when the sealable port is sealed, wherein the chamber is formed on a first layer of the device, wherein a base of the chamber is formed from a substrate for supporting biological material, and the chamber is formed on at least a portion of the substrate, wherein the substrate is formed on another layer of the device;
• and a lid configured to seal the sealable port in a sealed position when the lid fills part of a volume of the chamber in a closed position, wherein the chamber has a smaller volume in the sealed position, wherein the lid is configured to unseal the sealable port in an unsealed position when the lid is removed from the part of a volume of the chamber in an open position, wherein the chamber has a larger volume in the open position, wherein the lid is in contact with the side walls of the chamber when the sealable port is closed, wherein the device is operable when the sealable port is open or closed, and wherein the sealable port can be opened or closed during use of the device, wherein the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet comprise a plurality of flow restrictors that partially obstruct the fluid inlet and fluid outlet to form a plurality of equally sized channels which at least partially homogenize a flow velocity and shear stress profile across the chamber, wherein a first conduit carries fluid to the fluid inlet and the first conduit increases in cross sectional area as it approaches the fluid inlet, and a second conduit carries fluid away from the fluid outlet and the second conduit decreases in cross sectional area as it becomes more distant from the fluid outlet, wherein each of the first and second conduits comprises a plurality of flow dividers positioned in the portion of the conduit which is changing in cross sectional area, wherein the flow dividers are configured to increase a uniformity of the flow velocity;
• culturing or producing cells and/or performing cell-based or enzymatic assays;
• and increasing the uniformity of flow velocity via the one or more flow dividers.