Microfluidic device including displaceable material trap, and system
AssigneeApplied Biosystems, LLC
InventorsDavid M. Cox, Sean M. Desmond
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A microfluidic device is provided that can include at least one trap for receiving displaceable adhesion material displaced during a closing operation of a deformable valve. The trap can be formed as a recess or chamber in a substrate of the microfluidic device. A system including a deformer for opening such a valve is also provided as are methods of opening such a valve.
Claims24
A device comprising:
- a first liquid-containment feature having a first depth;
- a second liquid-containment feature having a second depth;
- a deformable valve separating the first liquid-containment feature from the second liquid-containment feature and capable of being opened to provide a fluid communication between the first liquid-containment feature and the second liquid-containment feature, the deformable valve including a substrate, a cover layer, and a displaceable adhesion material between the substrate and the cover layer;
- and
- a recess arranged adjacent the deformable valve, adjacent the first liquid-containment feature, having a third depth and being capable of receiving the displaceable adhesion material upon opening of the deformable valve.
A device comprising:
- a substrate including;
- a first surface,
- a first liquid-containment feature formed in the first surface,
- a second liquid-containment feature formed in the first surface,
- an intermediate wall at least partially defined by the first surface and separating the first liquid-containment feature from the second liquid-containment feature, and
- a trap recessed in relation to the first surface of the substrate and arranged adjacent the intermediate wall;
- an elastically deformable cover sheet;
- and
- a layer of displaceable adhesion material applied to at least a portion of a side of the cover sheet;
- wherein the cover sheet is adhered to the first surface of the substrate at, at least the intermediate wall when the cover sheet is in a non-deformed state.
The device of claim. 11, wherein the displaceable adhesion material comprises at least one of a resin, glue, adhesive, epoxy, silicone, urethane, wax, plastic, polyolefin, polymer, isocyanate, pressure sensitive adhesive, hot melt adhesive, or combination thereof
A system comprising:
- a microfluidic device comprising:
- a first liquid-containment feature;
- a second liquid-containment feature;
- a deformable valve separating the first liquid-containment feature from the second liquid-containment feature and being capable of selectively controlling a fluid communication between the first liquid-containment feature and the second liquid-containment feature, the deformable valve including a substrate and a cover layer, the cover layer being attached to the substrate by way of a layer of displaceable adhesion material;
- and
- a trap adjacent the deformable valve and capable of receiving at least a portion of the displaceable adhesion material that is displaced upon actuation of the deformable valve;
- a platen including at least one holder for holding the microfluidic device;
- a first deformer;
- and
- a drive unit capable of driving the first deformer toward the microfluidic device while the microfluidic device is positioned in the holder, and capable of applying a deforming force to the cover sheet and the substrate to displace the adhesion material from the displaceable adhesion material layer and into the trap.
A method of actuating a deformable valve, comprising:
- providing a microfluidic device, the microfluidic device comprising first and second liquid-containment features, a deformable valve capable of selectively controlling fluid communication between the first liquid-containment feature and the second liquid-containment feature, and a trap recessed with respect to, and adjacent the deformable valve, the deformable valve including a substrate, a cover layer, and a layer of displaceable adhesion material disposed in contact with and between the substrate and the cover layer;
- deforming the cover layer and the substrate, with a deformer;
- and
- forcing displaceable adhesion material displaced from the layer of displaceable adhesion material, into the trap.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.