US 7,401,972 B2 · On chip dilution system

Abstract

An on-chip chemical compound dilution system for providing dilution of a chemical compound in a microfluidic application includes at least one sample well for providing a selected chemical compound to be diluted, a dilution well for providing a diluent for diluting the chemical compound, a network of channels for carrying the chemical compound and diluent, a first syringe pump for effecting dilution, a second syringe pump, a detector and a plurality of valves for selectively controlling the flow of liquid through the channels. The dilution system may be a multiple-stage dilution system for precisely mixing a plurality of chemical compounds in a diluent. The dilution system allows for accurate calibration to compensate for variations due to manufacturing, thereby providing precise dilution ratios. The dilution system further enables flushing to allow re-use of the system with another chemical compound.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A method for diluting a sample, comprising:

providing a dilution system having:
a sample well for holding chemical standard;
a dilution well for providing a diluent;
a dilution channel for transmitting the diluent;
a sample channel for transmitting the chemical standard to the dilution channel to form a diluted chemical standard;
a high precision variable flow valve for varying the flow of diluent through the dilution channel, wherein the variable flow valve has a plurality of settings corresponding to different dilution ratios;
and
a detector capable measuring the ratio of standard chemicals to diluent when chemical standards are introduced into the system through the sample well;
setting the variable flow valve to a first setting corresponding to a first dilution ratio;
introducing the chemical standard into the sample well to cause dilution of the chemical standard at the first dilution ratio;
and
measuring a ratio of the chemical to diluent using the detector.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

On chip dilution system

Life of this patent

On chip dilution system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13