Microfluidic thermalization chip with variable temperature cycles, system using such a chip and PCR method for detecting DNA sequences
Inventors
Le Berre, Maël • Plecis, Adrien • MINNELLA, WALTER
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11198120-B2
Publication Date
2021-12-14
Expiration Date
Abstract
A microfluidic thermalization chip, a system using such a chip and a PCR method for detecting DNA sequences. The chip contains a block of material in which a cavity is configured to contain at least one fluid. The cavity includes at least one inlet orifice and at least one outlet orifice. The inlet orifice for the fluid is connected to at least one, preferably at least two, fluid-injecting channels. Further, the chip includes at least one microfluidic channel for bypassing the cavity. The channel is connected by a first end to at least one of the fluid-injecting channels. The junction between the bypassing channel and the fluid-injecting channel is located at a distance L from the inlet orifice of the fluid-injecting channel. The distance L is preferably smaller than 2 cm.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a micro-fluidic thermalization chip with variable temperature cycles. It includes a block of material in which a fluid injection zone is arranged with at least one micro-fluidic injection channel to inject a fluid, and a parallelepiped-shaped cavity with a heat exchange zone at an upper side, including a thermalization zone with at least one micro-fluidic circulation channel to circulate the fluid, and with a fluid inlet orifice and a fluid outlet orifice between which the heat exchange zone extends.
The chip further includes at least one micro-fluidic bypass channel configured to bypass the parallelepiped-shaped cavity. The bypass channel is directly connected at a first end to the at least one micro-fluidic injection channel, and a junction is disposed at an intersection of the bypass channel and the injection channel, at a distance L from the fluid inlet orifice, with L<S/a, where S is the surface of the thermalization zone at the upper side of the cavity and a is a correction coefficient equal to 0.005 m.
The document also describes variants with added homogenization zones, micro-fluidic circulation arrangements, and valve-based switching, including pneumatically controlled valves. It further describes a micro-fluidic, multi-chamber disposable sample chip with optical access and pressure control, and a pressure-based thermal contact system supporting spatially resolved fluorescence.
Claims Coverage
The document provides one independent claim (clm-00001). It defines the core claim architecture and includes explicit geometric constraints for the bypass connection, with dependent claims refining the chip and related system features through additional zones and control components.
Micro-fluidic thermalization chip with variable temperature cycles
A micro-fluidic thermalization chip with variable temperature cycles formed by a block of material arranged successively with a fluid injection zone comprising at least one micro-fluidic injection channel; a parallelepiped-shaped cavity with an upper-side heat exchange zone provided with a thermalization zone with at least one micro-fluidic circulation channel to circulate the fluid, and with a fluid inlet orifice and a fluid outlet orifice between which the heat exchange zone extends; and at least one micro-fluidic bypass channel configured to bypass the parallelepiped-shaped cavity.
Bypass channel directly connected to injection with a constrained junction distance
The at least one micro-fluidic bypass channel is directly connected at a first end to the at least one micro-fluidic injection channel, with a junction at the intersection of the bypass channel and the injection channel. The junction is disposed at a distance L from the fluid inlet orifice, with L<S/a where S is the surface of the thermalization zone at the upper side of the cavity and a is a correction coefficient equal to 0.005 m.
Across the independent claim, the coverage focuses on the micro-fluidic thermalization chip structure combining a parallelepiped-shaped heat exchange thermalization zone with micro-fluidic circulation channels and a bypass channel that connects to the injection channel through a junction at a constrained distance L satisfying L<S/a (a=0.005 m).
Stated Advantages
Rapid temperature change and controlled variable temperature cycles.
PCR performance with real-time fluorescence measurement and melting curves.
Spatially resolved optical sensing supported by a pressure-based thermal contact system.
Documented Applications
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), including real-time PCR with fluorescence measurement and melting curves, using a micro-fluidic sample chip with optical access and pressure control.
Spatially resolved fluorescence optical sensing supported by pressure-based thermal contact using a multi-chamber disposable sample chip.
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