Arrangement in a capillary driven fluidic system and a diagnostic device comprising the arrangement
Inventors
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11458471-B2
Publication Date
2022-10-04
Expiration Date
Abstract
The disclosure relates to an arrangement (100′) in a capillary driven fluidic system for preventing wicking of a fluid along an edge (105) between a first substrate (110′) and a second substrate (120′), said arrangement comprising: a first substrate (110′) including a microfluidic channel (114) arranged to house the fluid, a second substrate (120′) arranged to cover a portion of the first substrate (110′), wherein the microfluidic channel (134) of the first substrate (110′) meets the second structure (120′) at a position (124) along an edge (105) defined between the first (110′) and second (120′) substrates, wherein the first and the second substrate collectively define a trench (130) for stopping wicking of the fluid along the edge (105), said trench (130) being arranged in at least one of the first substrate (110′) and the second substrate (120′), and located at a distance from said position (124) along the edge (105) and intersecting the edge (105).
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an arrangement in a capillary driven fluidic system for preventing wicking of a fluid along an edge between a first substrate and a second substrate. The first substrate includes a microfluidic channel arranged to house the fluid, and the second substrate covers a portion of the first substrate. An edge is defined between a portion of the first substrate which is not covered by the second substrate and the portion of the first substrate which is covered by the second substrate.
In the arrangement, the microfluidic channel of the first substrate meets the second substrate at a position along the edge. First and second substrates collectively define a trench configured to stop wicking of the fluid along the edge. The trench is arranged in at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate, located at a distance from the position along the edge, and intersecting the edge.
The trench includes a proximal side wall which connects to the microfluidic channel via the edge. The proximal side wall forms a right angle, or an obtuse angle, or an acute angle, with respect to at least one of the first surface of the first substrate and the first surface of the second substrate. Multiple trench embodiments and trench placement based on surface wettability are also described, including coupling arrangements where the first channel is fluidically connected to a further channel in the second substrate.
Claims Coverage
The claim set covers one independent arrangement for preventing wicking along an edge, with additional features that refine trench geometry, placement, multi-channel coupling, and diagnostic device use.
Trench configured to stop wicking along an edge
A first substrate including a microfluidic channel arranged to house the fluid, and a second substrate arranged to cover a portion of the first substrate, wherein an edge between the first and the second substrate is defined between a portion of the first substrate which is not covered by the second substrate and the portion of the first substrate which is covered by the second substrate, the microfluidic channel of the first substrate meets the second substrate at a position along the edge, and first and second substrates collectively define a trench configured to stop wicking of the fluid along the edge, said trench being arranged in at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate, located at a distance from said position along the edge and intersecting the edge.
Proximal side wall angle geometry at the trench
The trench includes a proximal side wall which connects to said microfluidic channel via the edge, wherein the proximal side wall forms a right angle, or an obtuse angle, or an acute angle, with respect to at least one of the first surface of the first substrate and the first surface of the second substrate.
The inventive concept is the use of a trench intersecting the edge and positioned at a distance from the microfluidic channel meeting position to stop wicking, together with proximal side wall angle geometry relative to at least one substrate surface.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
Diagnostic device comprising the arrangement described in claim 1, including a sample cell for optical measurements.
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