US 7,323,140 B2Granted

Moving microdroplets in a microfluidic device

AssigneeHandyLab, Inc.

InventorsKalyan Handique, Gene Parunak

Life of this patent

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Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and method for moving samples, such as fluid, within a microfluidic system using a plurality of gas actuators for applying pressure at different locations within the microfluidic. The system includes a substrate which forms a fluid network through which fluid flows, and a plurality of gas actuators integral with the substrate. One such gas actuator is coupled to the network at a first location for providing gas pressure to move a microfluidic sample within the network. Another gas actuator is coupled to the network at a second location for providing gas pressure to further move at least a portion of the microfluidic sample within the network. A valve is coupled to the microfluidic network so that, when the valve is closed, it substantially isolates the second gas actuator from the first gas actuator.

Claims53

Dependent claims

A microfluidic device, comprising:

a microfluidic network, wherein the microfluidic network comprises several modules, including:
an enrichment module configured to accept a particle-containing fluid sample, and to create an enriched sample therefrom;
a microdroplet preparation module configured to receive the enriched sample and to create a microdroplet therefrom;
a cell lysing module configured to lyse the microdroplet of enriched sample;
a mixing module configured to mix one or more reagents and the enriched sample;
and
a DNA manipulation module configured to receive the enriched sample mixed with one or more reagents;
wherein the several modules are operatively connected to one another by one or more channels;
and wherein at least one of the several modules is isolatable by a valve;
and wherein at least one actuator is configured to move a microdroplet of fluid from one of the several modules to another of the several modules.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/075,371Filed 15 Feb 2002 · continuation in part
Priority: 28 Mar 2001
Published: US 2002/0142471 A13 Oct 2002
Granted: 29 Jan 2008
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification40 codes

C12Q 1/686
Nucleic acid amplification reactions: polymerase chain reaction [PCR]
B01L 3/502723
By integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g.…
B01L 3/50273
By integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g.…
B01L 3/502738
By integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g.…

Family

Application09/819,105Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 28 Mar 2001
Application60/307,638Us provisional application · filed 26 Jul 2001
Application09/953,921Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 18 Sep 2001
Application10/014,519Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 14 Dec 2001
US 2002/0142471 A1Pre-grant publication · published 3 Oct 2002
US 7,192,557 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 6,575,188 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 7,010,391 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 2002/0142482 A1Published application
US 2002/0143437 A1Published application
US 2003/0019522 A1Published application
US 7,323,140 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.