Device and method for contacting picoliter volumes of fluid
AssigneeThe General Hospital Corporation
InventorsDaniel Irimia, Mehmet Toner
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Abstract
The invention features devices for mixing fluids, e.g., for lysing cells, and methods of use thereof. One device is based on the ability to control the flow of fluids, e.g., by contact angle and channel size. Fluids in this device can be divided to form segments of controlled volume, which are then brought together to initiate mixing. An exemplary use of the device is for the lysis of single cells. Another device is based on the ability to two mix two fluids in a channel and affinity capture of analytes. The devices can be integrated on the same chip with other devices, for example, for cell handling or analysis of DNA, mRNA, and proteins released from the lysis of a cell.
Claims17
A device for contacting a first fluid and a second fluid, the device comprising:
- a first channel;
- a first fluid divider operable to isolate the first fluid in an isolated segment of the first channel from other first fluid in the first channel;
- a second channel;
- a second fluid divider operable to isolate the second fluid in an isolated segment of the second channel from other second fluid in the second channel;
- and
- a third channel connecting the isolated segment of the first channel and the isolated segment of the second channel, wherein the third channel is configured such that capillary pressure of an aqueous solution entering the third channel from the first channel or the second channel is negative.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.