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US 2026/0273528 A1Published application
Microfluidic sample handling
AssigneeVital Biosciences Inc.
InventorsVitali BORISENKO, Laura PIÑEROS
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Structures, devices and methods for handling fluids are provided. A valve includes a first channel having a first inlet connected to an upstream chamber. The first inlet of the first channel has a cross-section perpendicular to a flow direction that is the same as or smaller than the upstream chamber and thus forms a hydrophobic junction with the upstream chamber at the first inlet. The valve also includes a compartment connected to a first outlet of the first channel. The compartment has a cross-section perpendicular to the flow direction that is larger than the first outlet of the first channel, and thus forms a hydrophilic junction at the first outlet of the first channel.
Claims32
A valve comprising:
- a first channel having a first inlet and a first outlet, wherein the first inlet is connected to an upstream chamber and has a cross-section perpendicular to a flow direction that is the same as or smaller than the upstream chamber, thereby forming a hydrophobic junction with the upstream chamber at the first inlet;
- and
- a compartment connected to the first outlet of the first channel, wherein the compartment has a cross-section perpendicular to the flow direction that is larger than the first outlet of the first channel, thereby form a hydrophilic junction at the first outlet of the first channel.
A device comprising:
- a rotational axis;
- and
- a channel for transferring a fluid by rotating the device around the rotational axis, the channel comprising an inlet, an outlet radially outwards of the inlet with respect to the rotational axis and a first portion between the inlet and outlet;
- and
- a structure connected to a first side of the first portion of the channel and configured to (i) allow transferring of the fluid when the device rotates at a first speed, (ii) collect fluid residue when the device rotates at a second speed that is greater than the first speed, and (iii) entrap the collected fluid residue within the structure when the device is subjected to an acceleration, a deceleration, or both.
2 more elements
A method comprising:
- (A) obtaining a device comprising a rotational axis and a mixing chamber with a curved side that is not coaxial with the rotational axis, wherein the mixing chamber contains a fluid comprising two or more different components;
- (B) accelerating the device to a first speed in a direction towards the curved side of the mixing chamber;
- and
- (C) decelerating abruptly the device such that the fluid moves towards the curved side of the mixing chamber due to inertia, wherein the curved side of the mixing chamber translates movement of the fluid into a circular motion that produces vortices, thereby promoting mixing of the two or more different components in the fluid.
1 more element
A method comprising:
- (A) obtaining a device having a rotational axis and a chamber having a pathway that is not coaxial with the rotational axis, wherein the chamber contains a fluid;
- (B) accelerating the device in a direction towards the pathway of the chamber;
- and
- (C) decelerating abruptly the device such that the fluid moves towards the pathway of the chamber due to inertia.
1 more element
A capillary channel comprising:
- an open end;
- a dead end positioned radially outwards of the open end with respect to a rotational axis;
- and
- first, second and third lanes, wherein
- the first lane has an inlet at the open end for receiving a fluid;
- the third lane has an outlet at the open end for venting air;
- and
- the second lane is formed between and connected to the first and third lanes, wherein the second lane has a flow resistance different than the first and third lanes, thereby allowing the fluid to flow first through the first lane from the open end to the dead end and then flow through the second lane, the third lane or both from the dead end to the open end to facilitate bubble-free priming.
5 more elements
A device comprising:
- a chamber;
- and
- a channel connected to the chamber for delivering a fluid to the chamber, wherein the chamber and channel collectively form a junction that minimizes or eliminates capillary flow when the fluid exits from an outlet of the channel into the chamber.
A method comprising:
- (A) obtaining a device comprising a structure filled with an absorbing dye, wherein the structure comprises a first portion having a first depth and a second portion having a second depth, wherein the first and second depths are different from each other but the nominal depth difference between the first and second depths is known;
- (B) measuring a first optical density of the absorbing dye at the first portion of the structure and a second optical density of the absorbing dye at the second portion of the structure;
- (C) calculating an optical density difference between the first and second optical densities;
- (D) calculating a ratio of the optical density difference to the nominal depth difference, wherein the ratio represents a product of an extinction coefficient and a concentration of the absorbing dye;
- and
- (E) using the ratio to determine the first depth of the first portion of the structure, the second depth of the second portion of the structure, a depth of any additional structure of the device, or any combination thereof.
3 more elements
A device comprising:
- one or more structures, each comprising a first portion having a first depth and a second portion having a second depth, wherein the first and second depths are different from each other but a nominal depth difference between the first and second depths is known, thereby allowing self-calibration of a depth of any structure of the device independent of variations in manufacturing the device.
A method comprising:
- (A) obtaining a device comprising a structure located in a pathway of a mixture having a first component, wherein the structure comprises a first portion having a first depth and a second portion having a second depth, wherein the first and second depths are different from each other but the nominal depth difference between the first and second depths is known;
- (B) measuring a first optical density of the first component at the first portion of the structure and a second optical density of the first component at the second portion of the structure;
- (C) calculating an optical density difference between the first and second optical densities;
- and
- (D) determining a concentration of the first component in the mixture based at least in part on the optical density difference and the nominal depth difference.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.