# US 9,518,977 B2 · Microfluidic assay apparatus and methods of use > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,518,977 B2 - Document ID: US9518977B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/058,225 - Filed: 2013-10-19 - Published: 2014-04-24 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2012-10-19 - Assignees: University of Washington through its Center for Commercialization - Applicants: University of Washington through its Center for Commercialization - Inventors: Albert Folch; Raymond J. Monnat; Chi-ting Chang; Lisa Horowitz; Christopher G. Sip; Robert C. Rostomily - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9518977B2 ## CPC - G01N 33/5008: {for testing or evaluating the effect of chemical or biological compounds, e.g. drugs, cosmetics} - B01L 3/502715: {characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces} - C12M 23/12: {Well or multiwell plates (C12M25/04 takes precedence)} - C12M 23/16: {Microfluidic devices; Capillary tubes (integrated microfluidic structures B01L3/5027; microreactors B01J19/0093)} - G01N 33/5304: {Reaction vessels, e.g. agglutination plates (for solid-phase systems G01N33/543)} - B01L 2200/027: for microfluidic devices - B01L 2300/0816: Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions - B01L 2300/0829: Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates - B01L 2300/0867: Multiple inlets and one sample wells, e.g. mixing, dilution - B01L 2300/0877: Flow chambers - B01L 2300/10: Means to control humidity and/or other gases - B01L 2400/0487: fluid pressure, pneumatics - 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) - B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE - C12M: APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; {APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS} ## Abstract Methods and microfluidic apparatus are disclosed for drug prediction. A microfluidic apparatus has (a) a plate, (b) a plurality of wells defined in the plate, (c) a plurality of closed microchannels defined in the plate, and (d) a sample platform defining a plurality of open microchannels, where the plurality of closed microchannels are each in communication with one of the plurality of wells and one of the plurality of open microchannels of the sample platform. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A microfluidic apparatus, comprising: a plate; a plurality of wells defined in the plate; a plurality of closed microchannels defined in the plate, wherein each closed microchannel of the plurality of closed microchannels comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion of each closed microchannel is defined at a higher level in the plate than the second portion of each closed microchannel; and a sample platform defining a plurality of open microchannels, wherein the plurality of closed microchannels are each in communication with one of the plurality of wells and one of the plurality of open microchannels of the sample platform. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The microfluidic apparatus of claim 1, wherein a top surface of the first portion of each closed microchannel is positioned above or even with a top surface of the sample platform. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The microfluidic apparatus of claim 1, wherein a bottom surface of the second portion of each closed microchannel is positioned even with a bottom surface of the plurality of open microchannels. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The microfluidic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first portion of each closed microchannel is coupled to the plurality of wells and the second portion of each closed microchannel is coupled to the plurality of open microchannels. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The microfluidic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first portion of each closed microchannel is arranged horizontally within the plate and the second portion of each closed microchannel is arranged vertically within the plate. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The microfluidic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of open microchannels have a width that ranges from about 10 μm to about 1 mm. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The microfluidic apparatus claim 1, wherein the plurality of open microchannels have a height that ranges from about 10 μm to about 1 mm. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The microfluidic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of wells comprises 10 to 100 wells. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The microfluidic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of open microchannels are arranged parallel to one another in a close but spaced apart configuration. ### Claim 10 A microfluidic apparatus, comprising: a plate; a plurality of wells defined in the plate; a plurality of closed microchannels defined in the plate; a sample platform defining a plurality of open microchannels, wherein the plurality of closed microchannels are each in communication with one of the plurality of wells and one of the plurality of open microchannels of the sample platform; and a removable porous membrane disposed on a top surface of the sample platform. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The microfluidic apparatus of claim 10, wherein the membrane comprises vertical pores. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The microfluidic apparatus of claim 10, wherein the membrane has a high porosity ranging from about 50% to about 90%. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The microfluidic apparatus of claim 10, wherein the membrane comprises polyethylene terephthalate or polytetrafluoroethylene, or combinations thereof. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The microfluidic apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an incubator configured to receive the plate. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A method for use of the microfluidic apparatus of claim 1, the method comprising: providing a first plurality of reagents in a first set of the plurality of open microchannels in the sample platform; providing a control media in a second set of the plurality of open microchannels in the sample platform; providing a tissue sample disposed on a porous membrane, wherein the porous membrane is disposed on the sample platform; providing, via an incubator, humid air in communication with the tissue sample and the porous membrane; and perfusing the first plurality of reagents in the first set of the plurality of open microchannels and the control media in the second set of the plurality of open microchannels through the porous membrane and into the tissue sample via evaporative pumping. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising rotating the membrane on the sample platform and perfusing a second plurality of reagents into the tissue sample. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the first set and the second set of the plurality of open microchannels are arranged parallel to each other, wherein each microchannel of the second set of the plurality of open microchannels is arranged in between two microchannels of the first set of the plurality of open microchannels. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the method is performed for a period of time ranging from about twenty-four hours to about seventy-two hours.