Microfluidic element for analyzing a liquid sample

#The present disclosure relates to diagnostic test devices and, more particularly, to a microfluidic element for analyzing a liquid sample, typically in a bodily fluid sample.

#Microfluidic elements for analyzing a liquid sample and for blending a liquid with a reagent are used in diagnostic tests (in vitro diagnostics). In these tests, bodily fluid samples are determined for an analyte contained therein for medical purposes. The term blending comprises the possibility that the reagent is provided in liquid form, i.e., that two liquids are mixed with one another. In addition, the term comprises the possibility that the reagent is provided as a solid and is dissolved in a liquid and homogenized. In many applications, the solid dry reagent is introduced in liquid form into the fluidic element and dried in a further step, before the element is used for the analysis.

#An important component during the analysis are test carriers, on which microfluidic elements having channel structures for accommodating a liquid sample are provided, to allow the performance of complex and multistep test protocols. A test carrier can comprise one or more fluidic elements.

#The following detailed description of the embodiments of the present disclosure can be best understood when read in conjunction with the following drawings, where like structure is indicated with like reference numerals and in which:

#FIG. 1 shows a microfluidic element according to one embodiment of the disclosure, implemented as a test carrier, having three identical channel structures;

#FIGS. 2a, b, c show sectional views through a channel structure from FIG. 1;

#Skilled artisans appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exagerated relative to other elements to help improve understanding of the embodiment(s) of the present disclosure.

#In the context of the present disclosure, a microfluidic element is understood as an element having a channel structure, in which the smallest dimension of the channel structure is at least 1 μm and its largest dimension (for example, length of the channel) is at most 10 cm. Because of the small dimensions and the capillary channel structures, laminar flow conditions predominantly prevail in the channels or channel sections. The poor conditions resulting therefrom for blending of liquid and solid in such capillary channels are significantly improved by the microfluidic element according to the embodiments of the instant disclosure.

#The microfluidic element rotates around a rotational axis. The rotational axis typically extends through the microfluidic element. It extends through a predetermined position, e.g., typically through the center of gravity or the center point of the element. In a typical embodiment, the rotational axis extends perpendicularly to the surface of the fluidic element, which typically has a flat, disc-like form and can be a round disc, for example. For this purpose, the microfluidic element is held in a holder of an analysis device, for example, the rotational axis being formed by a rotating shaft of the device.