Capillary barriers for staged loading of microfluidic devices
Inventors
Santiago, Juan G. • Marshall, Lewis A. • Rogacs, Anita
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12435329-B2
Publication Date
2025-10-07
Expiration Date
Abstract
Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward methods and apparatuses for interacting a first liquid and a second liquid in one or more fluidic channels of a capillary structure. The methods and apparatuses can include providing at least one capillary barrier that positions a meniscus of the first liquid at a fluid-interface region using capillary forces within the capillary structure. Additionally, a path is provided along one of the channels for the second liquid to flow toward the fluid-interface region. Additionally, gas pressure is released, via a gas-outflow port, from the fluid-interface region while flow of the first liquid is arrested. Further, the first liquid and the second liquid contact in the fluid-interface region with the capillary barrier holding the first liquid at the fluid-interface region.
Core Innovation
The invention is an isotachophoresis (ITP) apparatus that includes a first microfluidic channel and a second microfluidic channel that both have a terminus at a fluid-interface region. A capillary barrier is positioned at the fluid-interface region, and the capillary barrier comprises a ramp. The capillary barrier pins or holds a first-liquid meniscus at the fluid-interface region while a second liquid can flow to the fluid-interface region.
The apparatus enables staged loading by providing an escape path fluidically coupled to the fluid-interface region. When gas pressure is released through a gas-outflow port, the flow of the first liquid is arrested while the second liquid can reach the fluid-interface region. A fluid-flow limiter is used to reduce fluid loss through the outflow port.
The disclosure describes microfluidic/ITP context in which nucleic acid purification is performed, including DNA/RNA examples and fluorescence quantification of DNA. Reported results include DNA recovery efficiency and qPCR amplification of BRAC2, in a system using the capillary barrier and staged loading behavior at the fluid-interface region.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims cover an isotachophoresis (ITP) microfluidic apparatus with first and second microfluidic channels meeting at a fluid-interface region separated by a capillary barrier that includes a ramp, and a method that uses that apparatus to cause the first liquid to flow until the capillary barrier arrests the first-liquid flow. Across the independent claims, the core inventive features are the specific three-part microfluidic/channel arrangement and the ramped capillary barrier that arrests the first-liquid flow at the fluid-interface region.
Ramped capillary barrier at a fluid-interface region for staged microfluidic loading
An isotachophoresis (ITP) apparatus comprising a first microfluidic channel having a terminus at a fluid-interface region and a second microfluidic channel having a terminus at the fluid-interface region, with a capillary barrier at the fluid-interface region wherein the capillary barrier comprises a ramp.
Arresting first-liquid flow at the fluid-interface region using the ramped capillary barrier
A method comprising providing an apparatus with a first microfluidic channel comprising a first liquid with a terminus at a fluid-interface region, a second microfluidic channel comprising a second liquid with a terminus at the fluid-interface region, and a capillary barrier at the fluid-interface region wherein the capillary barrier comprises a ramp, and causing the first liquid to flow in the first microfluidic channel until the capillary barrier arrests flow of the first liquid in the first microfluidic channel.
The independent claims focus on an ITP microfluidic architecture where two channels terminate at a shared fluid-interface region and a ramped capillary barrier at that region arrests the first-liquid flow as part of staged loading.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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