Assembly of a microfluidic device for analysis of biological material
AssigneeSTMicroelectronics S.r.l.
InventorsPierangelo Magni, Roberto Brioschi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In a microfluidic assembly, a microfluidic device is provided with a body in which at least a first inlet for loading a fluid for analysis, and a buried area in fluid communication with the first inlet are defined. An analysis chamber is in fluid communication with the buried area and an interface cover is coupled in a fluid-tight manner above the microfluidic device. The interface cover is provided with a sealing portion in correspondence to the analysis chamber, operable to assume a first configuration, in which it leaves the analysis chamber open, and a second configuration, in which it closes the analysis chamber in a fluid-tight manner.
Claims34
A microfluidic assembly comprising:
- a body in which a first inlet, and a buried area in fluid communication with said first inlet are defined;
- an analysis chamber in fluid communication with said buried area;
- and
- an interface cover coupled in a fluid-tight manner above said body and having a sealing portion in correspondence to said analysis chamber operable to assume a first configuration, in which it leaves said analysis chamber open, and a second configuration, in which it seals said analysis chamber.
An analysis system, comprising:
- a microfluidic assembly, including:
- a substrate of semiconductor material,
- a buried channel formed in the substrate and having an inlet at a first end and an outlet at a second end,
- an analysis chamber positioned such that the outlet of the buried channel opens therein, and
- an interface cover positioned above said substrate and having a sealing portion positioned over the analysis chamber and movable between a closed position, in which the analysis chamber is sealed, and an open position, in which the analysis chamber is open;
- at least one analysis device operable to cooperate with said microfluidic assembly;
- and
- a control unit configured to control the operation of said analysis device.
A method of operating a microfluidic assembly, comprising:
- applying a pressure to a sealing portion of the microfluidic assembly such that the sealing portion moves to a closed position over an analysis chamber in which it closes the analysis chamber in a fluid-tight manner;
- applying heat to a buried channel that extends in a substrate of the microfluidic assembly;
- releasing the pressure from the sealing portion such that the sealing portion moves to an open position over the analysis chamber;
- and
- moving fluid from the buried channel to the analysis chamber via an outlet of the buried channel, positioned in the analysis chamber.
A microfluidic assembly, comprising:
- a substrate of semiconductor material having an upper surface lying parallel to a first plane;
- a buried channel extending in the substrate and having an inlet at a first end and an outlet at a second end;
- an analysis chamber positioned such that the outlet of the buried channel opens therein;
- an interface cover positioned over the substrate with a lower surface facing the upper surface of the substrate and lying parallel to the first plane;
- an inlet hole opening to an upper surface of the interface cover, extending transverse to the first plane, and positioned away from the inlet of the buried channel;
- and
- an inlet channel extending in the interface cover parallel to the first plane and placing the inlet hole and the inlet of the buried channel in fluid communication.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.