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US 6,681,788 B2Granted
Non-mechanical valves for fluidic systems
AssigneeCaliper Technologies Corp.
InventorsJ. Wallace Parce, Andrea W. Chow
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods devices and systems that employ non-mechanical valve modules for controllably directing fluid and other material movement through integrated microscale channel networks. These non-mechanical valve modules apply forces that counter the driving forces existing through a given channel segment, via fluidly connected channel segments, so as to selectively arrest flow of material within the given channel segment.
Claims34
A method of controlling material flow in a microscale channel, comprising:
- providing a first channel segment having first and second ends, a second channel segment communicating with the first channel segment at a first fluid junction, the first fluid junction being disposed between the first and second ends of the first channel segment, and a third channel segment communicating with the first channel segment at a second fluid junction, the second fluid junction being disposed between the first fluid junction and the second end of the first channel segment;
- applying a differential driving force between the first and second ends of the first channel segment;
- and
- selectively applying a second differential driving force through the second channel segment that is sufficient to substantially eliminate a differential driving force between the first end of the first channel segment and the first fluid junction, and selectively applying a third differential driving force through the third channel segment sufficient to substantially eliminate a differential driving force between the second fluid junction and the second end of the first channel segment.
1 more element
A microfluidic system, comprising:
- a first channel segment having first and second ends;
- a second channel segment communicating with the first channel segment at a first fluid junction, the first fluid junction being disposed between the first and second ends of the first channel segment;
- a third channel segment communicating with the first channel segment at a second fluid junction, the second fluid junction being disposed between the first fluid junction and the second end of the first channel segment;
- and
- a flow controller operably coupled to at least one of the first and second ends of the first channel segment and the second and third channel segments, and set to:
- apply a first differential driving force between the first and second ends of the first channel segment;
- selectively apply a second differential driving force to the second channel segment that is sufficient to substantially eliminate a differential driving force between the first end of the first channel segment and the first fluid junction;
- and
- selectively apply a third differential driving force through the third channel segment sufficient to substantially eliminate a differential driving force between the second fluid junction and the second end of the first channel segment.
6 more elements
A method of sampling and dispensing materials, comprising:
- providing a microfluidic device that comprises:
- a first channel network comprising at least one valve module, the valve module comprising first, second and third channel segments in the channel network, the second and third channel segments intersecting the first channel segment at an inlet end and an outlet end of the first channel segment, the inlet and outlet ends of the first channel segment forming inlet and outlet sides of the valve module, respectively, and a flow controller that directs flow of fluid through the first, second and third channel segments to selectively stop flow into and out of the inlet and outlet sides of the valve module when the valve module is in a closed configuration, and allowing flow into and out of the inlet and outlet sides of the valve module when the valve module is in an open configuration;
- first and second pipettor elements fluidly connected to the first channel network, wherein the first pipettor element is fluidly connected to the first channel network on an inlet side of the valve module, and the second pipettor element is fluidly coupled to the first channel network on an outlet side of the valve module;
- drawing material into the channel network via the first pipettor while maintaining the valve module in the closed configuration;
- converting the valve module to an open configuration;
- and
- flowing the material out of the second pipettor element.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.