Improved microfluidic assembly
AssigneemiDiagnostics NV
InventorsTom CLAES, Thomas WILLSHARE, Marie-Noelle GRIS, Agnese PIOVESAN
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Abstract
The field of the invention relates to microfluidic assemblies, and in particular to microfluidic assemblies for guiding a liquid to a silicon chip for performing a diagnostic test. In particular, a microfluidic assembly is provided with a mechanical arrangement for generating a driving pressure for assisting the liquid provided into the microfluidic assembly by a user to enter into the sample processing path patterned in the microfluidic silicon chip. The present invention also provides a use of a microfluidic assembly for performing one or more diagnostic tests, and a kit of parts comprising a microfluidic assembly.
Claims18
A microfluidic assembly for performing a diagnostic test, the assembly comprising:
- a silicon chip comprising a continuous groove;
- a housing structure for housing the silicon chip;
- a sample well for receiving liquid;
- a first outlet port at the housing structure adapted to guide the liquid to the continuous groove of the silicon chip;
- a feeder channel extending from the sample well to the first outlet port;
- and
- a closing lid comprising a protruding part adapted to close the sample well,
- wherein a volume of the protruding part is adapted to a volume of the feeder channel such that when closing the sample well after providing the liquid thereto, a driving pressure is created that is sufficient to provide an additional push for assisting the liquid present in the feeder channel to pass from the first outlet port to the continuous groove of the silicon chip, thereby initialling a jump of a least a portion of the liquid into the continuous groove, which allows to fill said groove with the liquid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.