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US 2026/0084151 A1Published application
Microfluidic cartridge having a vent channel and method of filling a reaction chamber using same
AssigneeCanon Virginia, Inc.
InventorsPatrick David Erb, Maxwell Pierce Hensley
Life of this patent
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Abstract
There is provided a valve design for use in a microfluidic cartridge and a method of filling a microfluidic cartridge wherein a reaction chamber can be sealed such that the accidental entrapment of air at the sealing interface is prevented.
Claims19
A microfluidic valve comprising:
- a sealing chamber comprising:
- at least one fluid inlet;
- a raised platform protruding from the bottom surface of the sealing chamber;
- wherein the upper surface of the sealing chamber is a sealing surface, wherein the at least one fluid inlet traverses upwards through the raised platform and opens onto the sealing surface;
- a moat area surrounding the raised platform and bounded by walls of the sealing chamber;
- a helical ramp circumnavigating the raised platform and extending from the bottom of the sealing chamber to the sealing surface;
- and
- a sealing device, that when depressed, seals against the sealing surface and isolates fluid in the sealing chamber or in the fluid inlet.
5 more elements
A microfluidic cartridge comprising:
- at least one sample inlet having connected thereto at least one sample channel(s);
- wherein each inlet channel comprises at least one valve comprising:
- a sealing chamber comprising:
- at least one fluid inlet;
- a raised platform protruding from the bottom surface of the sealing chamber;
- wherein the upper surface of the sealing chamber is a sealing surface, wherein the at least one fluid inlet traverses upwards through the raised platform and opens onto the sealing surface;
- a moat area surrounding the raised platform and bounded by walls of the sealing chamber;
- a helical ramp circumnavigating the raised platform and extending from the bottom of the sealing chamber to the sealing surface;
- and
- a sealing device, that when depressed, seals against the sealing surface and isolates fluid in the sealing chamber or in the fluid inlet;
- at least one reaction chamber fluidically connected to each sample channel;
- and, an outlet port.
9 more elements
A method of filling a microfluidic cartridge with a sample to avoid air bubbles, comprising the steps of:
- providing a microfluidic cartridge have at least one microfluidic channel, wherein at a proximal end, there is provided at least one inlet and at least one inlet valve, wherein at least one vent channel and at least one vent valve are fluidically connected to the inlet, wherein at a distal end of the microfluidic channel there is provided at least one outlet and at least one outlet valve;
- and wherein disposed between the inlet and outlet is at least one reaction chamber;
- inserting the microfluidic cartridge into an analysis instrument;
- sealing the at least one inlet valve;
- degassing the at least one reaction chamber;
- sealing the at least one outlet valve;
- adding a sample to the inlet, such that the sample enters the inlet, the inlet valve, the vent channel and the vent valve;
- sealing the at least one vent valve;
- opening the at least one inlet valve;
- pulling the sample fluid into the at least one reaction chamber;
- sealing the at least one inlet valve;
- and
- performing a reaction on the sample.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.