Systems and Methods Using External Heater Systems in Microfluidic Devices
AssigneeCanon U.S. Life Sciences, Inc.
InventorsJohnathan S. Coursey, Kenton C. Hasson
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Abstract
The present invention relates to methods and systems that result in high quality, reproducible, thermal melt analysis on a microfluidic platform. The present invention relates to methods and systems using thermal systems including heat spreading devices, including interconnection methods and materials developed to connect heat spreaders to microfluidic devices. The present invention also relates to methods and systems for controlling, measuring, and calibrating the thermal systems of the present invention.
Claims63
1-33. (canceled)
A method of uniformly heating a microfluidic device comprising:
- a) providing a microfluidic device having one or more fluidic channels or reservoirs wherein the microfluidic device has a thermally conductive heat spreader in thermal contact with the microfluidic device;
- b) using a heating means to increase the temperature of the heat spreader to create a substantially uniform temperature zone on the microfluidic device;
- c) using a measuring means to determine the temperature of the heat spreader or the one or more fluidic channels or reservoirs.
The method of claim 25f, wherein the heat spreader is permanently affixed to the microfluidic device.
The method of claim 25g wherein the permanent bond is made with cyanoacrylate adhesive.
A method of calibrating heating means on a microfluidic device, comprising:
- a) providing a microfluidic device comprising:
- i. one or more microfluidic channels;
- ii. heating means in thermal communication with the microfluidic device, wherein the heating means comprises a heat spreader affixed to the microfluidic device and one or more temperature sensors in thermal communication with the heat spreader;
- iii. means for moving fluid through the microfluidic channels;
- and
- iv. temperature measuring means;
- b) introducing a control sample with known thermal properties into one or more microfluidic channels;
- c) causing the control sample to move into the microfluidic channel;
- d) causing the heating means to gradually increase the temperature of the microfluidic channel;
- e) monitoring the control sample for optical signals with an optical detection system and or monitoring temperature data from at least one sensor in contact with the heat spreader;
- f) analyzing the temperature data with a system controller to determine whether a smooth heating profile exists, and;
- g) adjusting the heating means if necessary to obtain a smooth heating profile.
A method of performing nucleic acid melt analysis on a microfluidic device, comprising:
- a) providing a microfluidic device comprising:
- i. one or more microfluidic channels;
- ii. heating means in thermal communication with the microfluidic device, wherein the heating means comprises a heat spreader affixed to the microfluidic device, an external heater, and one or more temperature sensors in thermal communication with the heat spreader;
- iii. means for moving fluid through the microfluidic channels;
- and
- iv. temperature measuring means;
- b) introducing a biological sample into the microfluidic channel;
- c) causing the sample to move into the microfluidic channel;
- d) causing the heating means to gradually increase the temperature of the microfluidic channel;
- e) monitoring the sample for optical signals with an optical detection system;
- f) analyzing the detected optical signals with a controller to determine the melting temperature of the sample.
A microfluidic system comprising:
- a microfluidic device comprising one or more microfluidic channels;
- heating means in thermal communication with the microfluidic device, wherein the heating means comprises a heat spreader affixed to the microfluidic device, an external resistive heater and one or more temperature sensors, all in thermal communication with the heat spreader;
- means for moving fluid through the microfluidic channels;
- temperature measuring means;
- an optical detection system;
- and
- analysis means.
The system of claim 1, wherein the heating means is selected from the group consisting of:
- peltier devices, contact with a hot gas or fluid, photon beams, lasers, infrared radiation, and other forms of electro-magnetic radiation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.