# US 2013/0156643 A1 · Device and method for manipulating or analysing a liquid sample

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- Number: US 2013/0156643 A1
- Document ID: US20130156643A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/583,788
- Filed: 2011-03-14
- Published: 2013-06-20
- Earliest claimed: 2010-03-15
- Assignees: Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH
- Inventors: Tobias Rodenfels; Gert Blankenstein; Dirk Osterloh
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130156643A1

## CPC

- F16K 99/0017: {Capillary or surface tension valves, e.g. using electro-wetting or electro-capillarity effects}
- 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}
- B01L 3/50273: {characterised by the means or forces applied to move the fluids}
- B01L 3/502769: {characterised by multiphase flow arrangements}
- G01N 33/5304: {Reaction vessels, e.g. agglutination plates (for solid-phase systems G01N33/543)}
- G01N 33/54326: {Magnetic particles}
- G01N 33/54366: {Apparatus specially adapted for solid-phase testing}
- B01L 2200/0647: Handling flowable solids, e.g. microscopic beads, cells, particles
- B01L 2300/0636: Integrated biosensor, microarrays
- B01L 2400/043: magnetic forces
- B01L 2400/0475: specific mechanical means and fluid pressure
- B01L 2400/0688: surface tension valves, capillary stop, capillary break
- Y10T 137/2202: By movable element
- Y10T 137/2218: Means [e.g., valve] in control input
- Y10T 137/2224: Structure of body of device
- F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)}
- 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)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A device and a method for manipulating or analysing a liquid sample in a microfluidic channel are proposed. In order to implement an immunoassay, a movable substrate having a binding region is inserted in the channel. The substrate is embodied as a plate-like plastic part and is microstructured in the binding region. It is magnetically movable in the channel and for optical detection can be moved into a gas space.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A device (1) for the manipulation or analysis of a liquid sample (2), having a microfluidic channel (3) for receiving the sample (2) and having a substrate (4) that is movable in the channel (3), which comprises at least one detection or binding region (5) for a substance, the substance being or containing an analyte of the sample (2), a complex (6) formed thereby or a reaction product dependent thereon or a reagent that interacts or binds with an analyte of the sample (2), a complex (6) formed thereby or a reaction product dependent thereon,
characterised in that
the device (1) comprises a gas space, the substrate (4) being movable out of the sample (2) into the gas space in order to detect the substance or the substrate (4) being movable through the gas space into a liquid that is different from the sample (2) or vice versa.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, characterised in that the device (1) is configured for optical detection of the substance on the substrate (4) in the gas space.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The device (1) for manipulating or analysing a liquid sample (2), according to claim 1, having a microfluidic channel (3) for receiving the sample (2) and having a substrate (4) that is movable in the channel (3), which comprises at least one detection or binding region (5) for a substance, the substance being or containing an analyte of the sample (2), a complex (6) formed thereby or a reaction product dependent thereon or a reagent that interacts or binds with an analyte of the sample (2), a complex (6) formed thereby or a reaction product dependent thereon,
characterised in that
the substrate (4) is guided in a defined alignment by the channel (3) and is at least substantially planar or plate-shaped in configuration.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, characterised in that the substrate (4) comprises an at least substantially flat top with a detection or binding region (5).

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, characterised in that the substrate (4) has a length that is greater than the maximum cross-section of the channel (3).

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, characterised in that the substrate (4) fills the cross-section of the channel (3) by more than 30% by area.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, characterised in that the substrate (4) is of dimensionally stable configuration with a defined shape.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, characterised in that the substrate (4) is a plastics part or an injection moulded part.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, characterised in that a manipulating device (8) is provided for moving the substrate (4) out of the sample (2).

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, characterised in that the detection or binding region (5) is microstructured.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, characterised in that the substrate (4) has a plurality of different detection or binding regions (5), particularly on a flat side.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, characterised in that the substrate (4) is movable magnetically and/or in contactless manner.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, characterised in that the substrate (4) is movable substantially in a straight line in the channel (3) and/or is movable back and forth.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, characterised in that the reagent is an antibody (7) or contains antibodies (7).

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, characterised in that the detection or binding region (5) is formed by or covered with immobilised antibodies (7).

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, characterised in that the device (1) forms an immunoassay.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, characterised in that the device (1) comprises only a single substrate (4) or only a single movable substrate (4) is provided in the channel (3).

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, characterised in that the substrate (4) is of elongate configuration.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, characterised in that the channel (3) comprises at least one means for holding the sample (2) in a region of the channel (3) that forms a reaction chamber.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, characterised in that adjoining a region of the channel (3) that forms a reaction chamber, with the sample (2), is a gas space of the channel (3) and the substrate (4) is movable beyond a phase boundary and/or into the gas space or through the latter.

### Claim 21 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, characterised in that a binding of the substance or other changes in the detection or binding region (5)—particularly for determining an analyte in the sample (2)—are optically detectable, particularly when the substrate (4) is located in a gas space.

### Claim 22 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, characterised in that the substrate (4) is selectively movable into different regions of the channel (3), into different reaction chambers and/or into at least one liquid that is different from the sample (2), or vice versa.

### Claim at position 23

-24. (canceled)