# US 8,465,697 B2 · System and method for regulating flow in fluidic devices

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- Number: US 8,465,697 B2
- Document ID: US8465697B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/811,359
- Filed: 2008-12-31
- Published: 2011-02-24
- Granted: 2013-06-18
- Earliest claimed: 2007-12-31
- Assignees: O.I. Corporation
- Applicants: Gary L. Erickson; Craig Ranger
- Inventors: Gary L. Erickson; Craig Ranger
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8465697B2

## CPC

- F04B 19/006: {Micropumps (F04B43/043 and F04B43/095 take precedence)}
- B01L 3/502738: {characterised by integrated valves (throttle valves in microfluidic sample containers B01L3/502746)}
- F04B 13/02: of two or more fluids at the same time
- F04B 49/106: {Responsive to pumped volume}
- B01L 2200/0621: Control of the sequence of chambers filled or emptied
- B01L 2200/0642: Filling fluids into wells by specific techniques
- B01L 2200/10: Integrating sample preparation and analysis in single entity, e.g. lab-on-a-chip concept
- B01L 2200/14: Process control and prevention of errors
- B01L 2200/16: Reagents, handling or storing thereof
- B01L 2400/0478: pistons
- B01L 2400/082: Active control of flow resistance, e.g. flow controllers
- Y10T 436/11: Automated chemical analysis
- Y10T 436/117497: with a continuously flowing sample or carrier stream
- Y10T 436/118339: with formation of a segmented stream
- Y10T 436/173076: Nitrite or nitrate
- Y10T 436/25: including sample preparation
- Y10T 436/2575: Volumetric liquid transfer
- F04B: POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS (machines for liquids, or pumps, of rotary-piston or oscillating-piston type F04C; non-positive-displacement pumps F04D; pumping of fluid by direct contact of another fluid or by using inertia of fluid to be pumped F04F)
- B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

Disclosed are a system and method for regulating flow in an exemplary fluidic device comprising a fluidic stream carrying a transport medium, sample and one or more reagents for analysis and synthesis of reaction products. The flow rate of the fluidic stream is maintained constant by adjusting the flow rate of transport medium to compensate for the introduction of sample and reagents. An embodiment controls the flow rate of transport medium using a pump, a back pressure regulator, and a variable-sized orifice. Single and multiple channel embodiments are disclosed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for regulating flow in a fluidic device, comprising:
a fluidic conduit adapted and configured to transport an analytical stream comprising a transport medium, the analytical stream comprising the transport medium having a transport medium flow rate;
a sample injector adapted and configured to inject sample into the analytical stream;
a first reagent injector adapted and configured to inject a first reagent into the analytical stream;
a first reaction device adapted and configured to comprise an analyte produced by a reaction in the analytical stream between the sample and the first reagent, the first reaction device coupled to the fluidic conduit downstream of the sample injector and the first reagent injector;
an analyte detector downstream of the first reaction device; and
a pumping system and flow control module adapted and configured to maintain a constant flow rate of the analytical stream comprising the analyte at the analyte detector, comprising:
a transport medium pump;
a transport medium sensor; and
a transport medium flow rate controller.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system for regulating flow in a fluidic device of claim 1, wherein the pumping system and flow control module is upstream of the sample injector and the first reagent injector.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system for regulating flow in a fluidic device of claim 1, wherein the transport medium sensor comprises a pressure sensor.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system for regulating flow in a fluidic device of claim 1, wherein the transport medium flow rate controller comprises a variable sized orifice.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system for regulating flow in a fluidic device of claim 1, wherein the transport medium pump comprises a non-peristaltic pump.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system for regulating flow in a fluidic device of claim 1, further comprising:
a second reagent injector adapted and configured to inject a second reagent into the analytical stream;
a second reaction device adapted and configured to comprise a second analyte produced by a reaction in the analytical stream between the sample, the first reagent, and the second reagent.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The system of claim 5 wherein the non-peristaltic pump comprises a rotary pump.