Device and method for handling liquid
Inventors
MOURA PIRES DE ANDRADE TENREIRO, Tania • DIAS MARTINS, Luis Miguel • ROLO PEREIRA, Fábio Miguel • Esteves Reis, Nuno Alexandre
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11285479-B2
Publication Date
2022-03-29
Expiration Date
Abstract
Devices and methods for handling liquids are provided. The devices and methods make use of specifically controlled centrifugal forces to drive liquid flow between two cavities connected by a conduit such that as liquid flows into the second cavity, a gas volume is trapped in the second cavity and a pressure of the gas increases, allowing for pneumatic control of liquid flow. The devices and methods facilitate one or more of the mixing, metering and sequencing of liquids, for example on a microfluidic device.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a centrifugal microfluidic lab-on-a-disc device configured for rotation about an axis of rotation. The device includes a first cavity with a first port and a second cavity with a second port, each having a proximal portion radially inwards of a distal portion. Liquid is guided between the first and second ports via a first conduit structure, and a downstream cavity is provided with an outlet conduit that connects the outlet port of the first cavity to an inlet of the downstream cavity through specified radial bends.
The first and second ports are disposed in the respective distal portions of the first and second cavities, with the second port radially outwards of the first port. The outlet conduit extends radially inwards of the outlet port to a first bend, then radially outwards of the first bend to the inlet of the downstream cavity, and the outlet conduit further comprises a second bend radially outwards of the outlet port. The second cavity is configured such that as liquid flows into the second cavity, a gas volume is trapped in the second cavity and a pressure of the gas increases.
The described configuration uses the trapped gas volume in the second cavity as an air-ballast to control liquid behavior during centrifugal operation, including repeatable mixing, metering, sequencing, and reagent resuspension. The downstream fluidic routing includes vented cavity and outlet conduit structures including bent outlet conduits such as a U-bend, for controlled aliquot delivery and reduction of siphon priming. Additional device structures in the described layouts include adjustable metering portions formed by radial cross-sectional reduction via pillars or steps and branched or meandering conduits for splitting and recombining flow to enhance mixing.
Claims Coverage
The provided independent claim defines the core device architecture for rotating liquid handling with specific cavity, port, and conduit geometry and a trapped gas volume that increases pressure upon liquid inflow. The claim set mainly refines this architecture with additional chamber structures and geometric constraints that further define how liquid is retained, metered, routed, and potentially used for detection and fractionation.
Rotating liquid-handling device with first and second cavities and connected ports
A device for rotation about an axis of rotation including a first cavity with a first port and a second cavity with a second port, with proximal and distal portions and a first conduit structure connecting the first and second ports to guide liquid flow therebetween.
Downstream routing via outlet conduit with specified first and second bends
An outlet conduit connecting an outlet port of the first cavity to an inlet of a downstream cavity, where the outlet conduit extends radially inwards of the outlet port to a first bend and radially outwards of the first bend to the inlet of the downstream cavity, and wherein the outlet conduit comprises a second bend radially outwards of the outlet port.
Trapped gas volume in the second cavity with increasing gas pressure
The second cavity is configured such that as liquid flows into the second cavity, a gas volume is trapped in the second cavity and a pressure of the gas increases.
Peripheral constraints on radial regions of cavity cross-sectional area
The device further defines that the first cavity comprises a proximal portion radially inward of a distal portion, and that a first radial region and a second radial region have different cross-sectional area relationships, including that a cross-sectional area of the first cavity in the first radial region is smaller than in the second radial region.
Pillars reducing cross-sectional area in a radial region
One or more pillars in a first cavity reduce a cross-sectional area in a first radial region compared with a second radial region.
Liquid-retaining portion defined by radially inward wall between portion and second port
The second cavity includes a liquid-retaining portion defined by a wall section extending radially inward between the liquid-retaining portion and the second port, and the portion is configured to retain liquid.
Second cavity as a detection chamber for retained liquid
The second cavity is configured such that the second cavity serves as a detection chamber for detecting retained liquid and/or its properties.
Third cavity with restricted fluidic flow only via a third port and specified radial placement
A third cavity with a third port is added, and a second conduit structure provides a fluid flow path between the first cavity and the third port such that the only fluidic flow into and out of the third cavity occurs through the third port, with the third port positioned radially outward of the first port and radially inward of the second conduit.
Across the independent claim and its refinements in the provided claim set, the core inventive concept is a rotating liquid-handling device with first and second cavities and ports connected by conduit structures, including an outlet conduit with specified radial bends that route to a downstream cavity, and a second cavity configured to trap gas such that gas pressure increases upon liquid inflow. Dependent features further specify radial placement and cross-sectional constraints, pillar-based cross-sectional reduction, a liquid-retaining portion, potential detection in the second cavity, and an optional third cavity with restricted flow connectivity.
Stated Advantages
Pneumatic control of liquid flow using trapped gas volume pressure increases during liquid inflow.
Repeatable mixing.
Repeatable metering.
Repeatable sequencing of reagents.
Reagent resuspension.
Controlled aliquot delivery.
Reduction of siphon priming.
Enhanced mixing through splitting and recombining flow paths.
Retention of liquid in a second cavity for detection.
Detection of retained liquid properties using optical access.
Pressure-controlled release for fractionating/density separation.
Documented Applications
Fractionating/density separation by pressure-controlled release, including blood into cellular material and plasma.
Detection of retained liquid properties using a detection chamber with optical access for imaging, photometry, and spectra.
Reagent handling operations including mixing, metering, sequencing, and reagent resuspension on a lab-on-a-disc.
Controlled aliquot delivery through downstream vented cavity routing using bent outlet conduits, including a U-bend.
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