Microfluidic system based on active control of flow resistance in microfluidic channels and methods of use thereof
Inventors
Hodko, Dalibor • HODKO, Nives • Petit, Anne-Laure • Niemann, Ulrich
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11806713-B2
Publication Date
2023-11-07
Expiration Date
Abstract
The invention relates to a microfluidic system based on active control of flow resistance and balancing pressures in microfluidic channels and an improved method for disposable microfluidic devices and cartridges for use in, but not limited to, in-vitro diagnostics. The microfluidic system and device of the invention does not utilize mechanical moving parts to control the fluid flow and has no external fluidic connection to the instrument or fluidics controller.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a microfluidic system based on active control of flow resistance in microfluidic channels. The system comprises a microfluidic device housing with a top end and a bottom end, including a plurality of reagent chambers and a plurality of pressure-generating chambers. The pressure-generating chambers produce a pressure-generating fluid using no mechanical moving parts, and the pressure-generating fluid is directed toward the reagent chambers through fluidic connections that include at least one gas channel at the top end and one or more liquid channels at the bottom end.
A top substrate enclosing the pressure-generating fluid chambers includes fluidic channels that connect the pressure-generating chambers to one or more vent holes, thereby enabling movement of one or more reagent fluids in the one or more liquid channels at the bottom end of the housing. Active control is performed by controlling and balancing the pressure of the pressure-generating fluid to achieve active flow resistance, resulting in movement of the one or more reagent fluids in a desired direction.
The system achieves passive flow resistance during filling of the microfluidic device with the pressure-generating fluid to prevent mixing of the pressure-generating fluid with the reagents when the microfluidic system is not in operation. In method form, the invention provides a method for actively controlling flow resistance in microfluidic channels of a microfluidic system using the same pressure-generating chambers, gas channels, liquid channels, and vent holes.
Claims Coverage
The document includes two independent claims. Across these independent claims, there are three main inventive features: a pressure-generating, no-mechanical-moving-parts microfluidic architecture that connects pressure generation to reagent chambers through vent-hole-connected substrate channels; active pressure control to achieve active flow resistance and drive reagent movement in a desired direction; and achieving passive flow resistance during filling to prevent mixing when the system is not in operation.
No-mechanical-moving-parts pressure generation integrated with reagent chambers via vent-hole-connected substrate channels
A microfluidic device having a housing with top end and bottom end, a plurality of reagent chambers and a plurality of pressure-generating chambers positioned in the housing, wherein the pressure-generating chambers produce a pressure-generating fluid using no mechanical moving parts; wherein the reagent chambers are connected by at least one gas channel at the top end of the housing to at least one of the pressure-generating chambers, and the reagent chambers are connected by one or more liquid channels at the bottom end of the housing to one or more of the pressure-generating chambers; and wherein a top substrate enclosing the pressure-generating fluid chambers comprises fluidic channels connecting the pressure-generating chambers to one or more vent holes, thereby enabling movement of one or more reagent fluids in the one or more liquid channels at the bottom end of the housing.
Active pressure balancing to achieve active flow resistance for desired-direction reagent movement
Activating the one or more pressure-generating chambers to pump the pressure-generating fluid toward the one or more reagent chambers and controlling and balancing pressure of the pressure-generating fluid to achieve active flow resistance resulting in the movement of one or more reagent fluids in a desired direction.
Passive flow resistance during filling to prevent mixing when not in operation
Configuring the microfluidic system to achieve passive flow resistance during filling of the microfluidic device with the pressure-generating fluid to prevent mixing of the pressure-generating fluid with the reagents when the microfluidic system is not in operation.
Actively controlling flow resistance by combining passive filling resistance with active pressure-balanced pumping
A method providing a microfluidic system configured to achieve passive flow resistance during filling of the microfluidic device with the pressure-generating fluid to prevent mixing of the pressure-generating fluid with the reagents when the microfluidic system is not in operation, and activating the one or more pressure-generating chambers to pump the pressure-generating fluid toward the one or more reagent chambers and controlling and balancing pressure of the pressure-generating fluid to achieve active flow resistance resulting in the movement of the one or more reagent fluids in a desired direction.
The independent claims cover a microfluidic system and method that combine pressure-generating chambers producing pressure without mechanical moving parts and connected to reagent chambers via gas/liquid channels and vent-hole-connected substrate channels, active and balanced pressure control to achieve active flow resistance for movement in a desired direction, and passive flow resistance during filling to prevent mixing with reagents when not in operation.
Stated Advantages
Achieves passive flow resistance during filling to prevent mixing of the pressure-generating fluid with the reagents when the microfluidic system is not in operation.
Enables movement of one or more reagent fluids in a desired direction by achieving active flow resistance through controlling and balancing pressure of the pressure-generating fluid.
Documented Applications
An in-vitro diagnostics workflow is described, including sample-to-answer processing with cartridge-based microfluidic device functions such as sample preparation and waste handling, directional control toward a detection array, and filling of a detection array.
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