Arrangement in a capillary driven microfluidic system for dissolving a reagent in a fluid
Inventors
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11253855-B2
Publication Date
2022-02-22
Expiration Date
Abstract
There is provided an arrangement in a capillary driven microfluidic system for dissolving a reagent in a fluid. The arrangement (200) comprises a channel (102) for receiving a fluid at a first end, a valve (105) arranged at a second end of the channel so as to control a flow of the fluid to stop as it reaches the second end of the channel, and an actuator (108) for opening the valve (105) a predetermined time after receipt of the fluid by the channel (102). The arrangement further comprises one or more structures (106) for holding a dried reagent. The one or more structures (106) each has a width (W2) which is larger than a width (W1) of the channel (102), and the one or more structures are coupled to a side wall of the channel such that the fluid is allowed to enter the one or more structures from the channel, dissolve the dried reagent held therein, and diffuse back into the channel.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a capillary driven microfluidic system for dissolving a reagent in a fluid. The system includes a channel for receiving a fluid at a first end and a valve arranged at a second end of the channel to stop flow as it reaches the second end. One or more structures for holding a dried reagent are fluidly coupled to a side wall of the channel via a passage, so fluid enters the structures from the channel, dissolves the dried reagent held therein, and diffuses back into the channel via the passage.
The system further includes an actuator configured to open the valve a predetermined time after receipt of the fluid by the channel. The predetermined time is used to control when the valve opens, after the dried reagent has dissolved and diffused back into the channel. The dissolution timing and behavior are addressed through design parameters such as the number and array of the one or more structures, their equidistant spacing along the channel, and dependence on molecule size.
A further aspect includes dissolving and managing dissolution of different dried reagent types by using first and second pluralities of structures on opposite side walls with different spacing and different passage lengths, as well as different structure widths, to control dissolution times. The disclosure also recites use of the capillary driven arrangement in a diagnostic device together with a corresponding capillary-method flow.
Claims Coverage
The document provides two independent claims, a system claim and a method claim, with a common inventive architecture: capillary-driven filling of a channel, side-wall-coupled structures that dissolve dried reagent and allow diffusion back into the channel, and an actuator-driven valve opening after a predetermined time. Across dependent claims, the inventive features are further specified with timing constraints relative to homogeneous dissolution, molecule size dependence, geometric constraints, equidistant spacing, and differentiation between multiple reagent types using different spacing and passage lengths, with at least one dependent claim tying the arrangement to a diagnostic device.
Capillary channel with valve-controlled stopping and actuator timing
A channel for receiving a fluid at a first end, a valve arranged at a second end configured to stop the flow when it reaches the second end, and an actuator configured to open the valve a predetermined time after receipt of the fluid by the channel.
Side-wall-coupled dried reagent structures that dissolve and diffuse back
One or more structures for holding dried reagent, each fluidly coupled to a side wall of the channel via a passage, wherein the fluid enters the structures from the channel via the passage, dissolves the dried reagent held therein, and diffuses back into the channel via the passage.
Width constraint between structures and channel
Each structure has a width larger than a width of the channel.
Equidistant spacing of pluralities of structures
A plurality of structures equidistantly spaced along the channel length.
Multiple reagent types using first and second pluralities with different passage lengths
First and second pluralities of structures holding different reagent types, where each structure is fluidly connected to the channel through passages with different passage lengths.
Diagnostic device using the capillary driven arrangement
A diagnostic device including the arrangement and a corresponding capillary-method flow.
The independent claims cover a capillary driven microfluidic system and method in which a valve at a channel end is stopped during capillary-driven filling, side-wall-coupled structures holding dried reagent dissolve the reagent through passages and then allow diffusion back into the channel, and an actuator opens the valve after a predetermined time. Dependent claims further constrain the predetermined time relative to homogeneous dissolution and link it to molecule size and structure spacing, while adding geometric constraints and enabling differentiation of different reagent types using different spacing and passage lengths, with at least one dependent claim directed to a diagnostic device.
Stated Advantages
Allows control of fluid flow by stopping at the valve and opening the valve a predetermined time after receipt of the fluid.
Enables dissolving dried reagent in side-wall-coupled structures and diffusion of the dissolved reagent back into the channel.
Uses structure-to-channel geometry and passage coupling to manage dissolution behavior in the channel.
Supports dissolution-time control based on predetermined time coordinated with homogeneous dissolution, molecule size, and structural spacing.
Enables managing dissolution for different reagent types using first and second pluralities of structures with different spacing and different passage lengths.
Enables use in a diagnostic device with a corresponding capillary-method flow.
Documented Applications
A diagnostic device including the capillary driven arrangement together with a corresponding capillary-method flow.
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