Microfluidics devices and methods of diluting samples and reagents
AssigneeTecan Trading AG
InventorsGregory Kellogg, Timothy Johnson, Eric Schilling
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This invention relates to methods and apparatus for performing microanalytic and microsynthetic analyses and procedures. The invention provides a microsystem platform and a micromanipulation device for manipulating the platform that utilizes the centripetal force resulting from rotation of the platform to motivate fluid movement through microchannels. These assays may be performed for a variety of purposes, including but not limited to screening of drug candidate compounds, life sciences research, and clinical and molecular diagnostics. Methods specific for the apparatus of the invention for performing any of a wide variety of microanalytical or microsynthetic processes are provided.
Claims50
A centripetally-motivated microsystems platform comprising:
- a) one or a plurality of sample reservoirs,
- b) an overflow reservoir,
- c) one or a plurality of diluent reservoirs,
- d) one or a plurality of dilution reservoirs,
- e) a metering manifold, wherein the metering manifold is fluidly connected to each of the plurality of dilution reservoirs and the manifold is further fluidly connected to the overflow reservoir, and
- f) a plurality of microchannels embedded in the microsystems platform and in fluidic contact with each of the sample reservoirs, the metering manifold, each of the diluent reservoirs, and each of the dilution reservoirs,
- wherein rotation of the platform motivates flow of a sample and a diluent through the metering manifold and into one or a plurality of dilution reservoirs, and wherein the sample is diluted from a first concentration in the sample reservoir to a lesser, more dilute sample concentration in the one or plurality of dilution reservoirs.
A Microsystems platform comprising:
- a) a main microchannel having a length embedded in the microsystems platform and comprising
- i) an inlet channel,
- ii) a center channel, and
- iii) an outlet channel;
- and wherein the platform further comprises
- b) a mixing unit, comprising one or a plurality of side microchannels positioned substantially parallel to the main microchannel, wherein each of the side microchannels are in fluidic contact with the main microchannel, each side microchannel being in fluidic contact with the main microchannel by first and second openings in the main microchannel, wherein the second opening is at a position in the main microchannel wall distal from the center of the axis of rotation compared with the first opening, wherein fluid movement in the main microchannel at each of the first openings of the side microchannels splits fluid flow into each of side microchannels, and continued fluid flow recombines the fluid from each of the side microchannels into the main microchannel at the position of the second opening of each of the side microchannels.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.