# US 8,480,975 B2 · Structures for controlling light interaction with microfluidic devices

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- Number: US 8,480,975 B2
- Document ID: US8480975B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/490,055
- Filed: 2012-06-06
- Published: 2012-09-20
- Granted: 2013-07-09
- Earliest claimed: 2009-02-02
- Assignees: OPKO Diagnostics, LLC
- Applicants: David Steinmiller; Vincent Linder
- Inventors: David Steinmiller; Vincent Linder
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8480975B2

## CPC

- B01L 3/502707: {characterised by the manufacture of the container or its components}
- B01L 3/5027: {by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip}
- B01L 3/502715: {characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces}
- C12Y 304/21077: Semenogelase (3.4.21.77), i.e. prostate specific antigen or PSA or kallikrein 3
- G01N 21/0303: {Optical path conditioning in cuvettes, e.g. windows; adapted optical elements or systems; path modifying or adjustment (G01N21/031 - G01N21/15 take precedence)}
- G01N 21/59: Transmissivity (G01N21/25 takes precedence)
- G01N 33/53: Immunoassay; Biospecific binding assay; Materials therefor
- G01N 33/54366: {Apparatus specially adapted for solid-phase testing}
- G01N 33/54373: {involving physiochemical end-point determination, e.g. wave-guides, FETS, gratings}
- G01N 33/545: Synthetic resin
- G01N 33/57585: {involving compounds identifiable in body fluids}
- B01L 2200/12: Specific details about manufacturing devices
- B01L 2300/04: Closures and closing means
- B01L 2300/0627: Sensor or part of a sensor is integrated
- B01L 2300/0654: Lenses; Optical fibres
- B01L 2300/0861: Configuration of multiple channels and/or chambers in a single devices
- B01L 2300/12: Specific details about materials
- G01N 2333/96455: Kallikrein (3.4.21.34; 3.4.21.35)
- Y10T 436/11: Automated chemical analysis
- B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
- C12Y: ENZYMES
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

Systems and methods for improved measurement of absorbance/transmission through fluidic systems are described. Specifically, in one set of embodiments, optical elements are fabricated on one side of a transparent fluidic device opposite a series of fluidic channels. The optical elements may guide incident light passing through the device such that most of the light is dispersed away from specific areas of the device, such as intervening portions between the fluidic channels. By decreasing the amount of light incident upon these intervening portions, the amount of noise in the detection signal can be decreased when using certain optical detection systems.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A fluidic device comprising:
an article including first and second sides;
first and second adjacent microfluidic channel segments positioned at the first side of the article;
an intervening portion positioned substantially between the first and second microfluidic channel segments; and
a first optical element positioned at the second side of the article and positioned substantially between the first and second channel segments,
wherein the first optical element is adapted and arranged such that when a portion of the article is exposed to light at a first intensity, the first optical element redirects at least a portion of the light away from the intervening portion, such that the intervening portion is not exposed to the light or is exposed to the light at a second intensity lower than an intensity of the light at the intervening portion absent the first optical element.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A fluidic device as in claim 1, wherein the optical element is integral to a surface of the article.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A fluidic device as in claim 1, comprising a plurality of microfluidic channel segments, wherein the first optical element is adapted and arranged such that when the second side of the article is exposed to light at the first intensity at an angle of incidence between 80° to 95°, the intervening portion is not exposed to light or is exposed to the light at a second intensity lower than the intensity of the light at the intervening portion absent the first optical element.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A fluidic device as in claim 1, comprising a plurality of optical elements.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A fluidic device as in claim 1, comprising a plurality of intervening portions.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A fluidic device as in claim 1, wherein the first optical element is substantially triangular.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A fluidic device as in claim 1, wherein the first optical element is concave.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A fluidic device as in claim 1, wherein the first optical element is convex.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

A fluidic device as in claim 1, wherein no line drawn between any first point on or within the first microfluidic channel segment and any second point on or within the second microfluidic channel segment intersects any point on or within the first optical element.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

A fluidic device as in claim 1, further comprising a second optical element, wherein no line drawn between any first point on or within the first optical element and any second point on or within the second optical element intersects any point on or within the first or second microfluidic channel segments.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

A fluidic device as in claim 1, wherein the first side is a first surface of the article.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

A fluidic device as in claim 11, wherein the second side is a second surface of the article.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

A fluidic device as in claim 1, wherein the first optical element comprises a cross-sectional dimension of at least about 50 microns.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

A fluidic device as in claim 1, wherein the first optical element comprises a substantially opaque material.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

A fluidic device as in claim 1, wherein the first optical element comprises a reflective surface.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

A fluidic device as in claim 1, wherein the first optical element comprises an open channel.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

A fluidic device as in claim 1, wherein the first optical element comprises a substantially enclosed channel.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

A fluidic device as in claim 1, wherein the first optical element comprises a fluid.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

A fluidic device as in claim 18, wherein the fluid comprises a dye.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

A fluidic device as in claim 1, wherein the first optical element has a draft angle between about 12° and about 60°.

### Claim 21 (depends on 1)

A fluidic device as in claim 1, wherein the first optical element has a draft angle between about 30° and about 40°.

### Claim 22 (depends on 1)

A fluidic device as in claim 1, wherein the first microfluidic channel segment is part of a serpentine channel.

### Claim 23 (depends on 1)

A fluidic device as in claim 1, wherein the article is a single, integral piece of material without joined layers.

### Claim 24 (depends on 1)

A fluidic device as in claim 1, wherein the article is formed of a polymeric material.

### Claim 25 (depends on 1)

A fluidic device as in claim 1, wherein the first optical element directs at least 50% of the incident light away from the intervening portion.

### Claim 26 (depends on 1)

A fluidic device as in claim 1, wherein the article is made by injection molding.

### Claim 27 (depends on 24)

A fluidic device as in claim 24, wherein the polymeric material is selected from polystyrene, cyclo-olefin-copolymer, polymethylmethacrylate, and polycarbonate.

### Claim 28 (depends on 1)

A fluidic device as in claim 1, wherein the first optical element has a longest width greater than or equal to the width of the intervening portion positioned substantially between the first microfluidic channel segment and the second microfluidic channel segment, but less than the combination of the widths of the two microfluidic channel segments and the width of the intervening portion.

### Claim 29 (depends on 1)

A fluidic device as in claim 1, further comprising a cover positioned over one or more microfluidic channel segments to substantially enclose the one or more microfluidic channel segments, wherein the cover comprises a tape.

### Claim 30 (depends on 1)

A fluidic device as in claim 1, further comprising a reaction site in fluid communication with the first microfluidic channel segment.

### Claim 31 (depends on 30)

A fluidic device as in claim 30, wherein the reaction site comprises a binding partner associated with a surface of the first microfluidic channel segment.

### Claim 32 (depends on 31)

A fluidic device as in claim 31, wherein the binding partner comprises an antibody or an antigen.

### Claim 33 (depends on 1)

A fluidic device as in claim 1, further comprising a detector associated with one or more microfluidic channel segments, wherein the detector is adapted and arranged to determine light transmission through the one or more microfluidic channel segments.

### Claim 34 (depends on 1)

A fluidic device as in claim 1, wherein the first optical element is adapted and arranged such that when a portion of the article is exposed to light at a first intensity, the first optical element redirects at least a portion of the light away from the intervening portion, such that the intervening portion is exposed to the light at a second intensity at least 25% lower than an intensity of the light at the intervening portion absent the first optical element.

### Claim 35 (depends on 1)

A fluidic device as in claim 1, wherein the first optical element is adapted and arranged such that when a portion of the article is exposed to light at a first intensity, the first optical element redirects at least a portion of the light away from the intervening portion, such that the intervening portion is exposed to the light at a second intensity at least 75% lower than an intensity of the light at the intervening portion absent the first optical element.

### Claim 36 (depends on 3)

A fluidic device as in claim 3, wherein the second intensity is at least 50% lower than the first intensity.

### Claim 37 (depends on 1)

A fluidic device as in claim 1, wherein the first and/or second microfluidic channel segments are sections of a microfluidic channel comprising a meandering configuration including multiple turns, each turn of the meandering channel being a different channel segment.

### Claim 38 (depends on 1)

A fluidic device as in claim 1, wherein the first and/or second microfluidic channel segments has a length of at least 1 cm.