Microfluidic chips including a gutter to facilitate loading thereof and related methods
Inventors
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12551894-B2
Publication Date
2026-02-17
Expiration Date
Abstract
A microfluidic chip can comprise a body and a microfluidic network defined by the body. The network can include one or more inlet ports, a test volume, and one or more flow paths extending between the inlet port(s) and the test volume. Along each of the flow path(s), fluid is permitted to flow from one of the inlet port(s), through at least one droplet-generating region in which a minimum cross-sectional area of the flow path increases along the flow path, and to the test volume. The network can include a gutter disposed along at least a portion of a periphery of the test volume such that fluid from the flow path(s) is not permitted to flow into the gutter without flowing through the test volume, wherein, along the gutter, a depth of the gutter is at least 10% larger than the depth of the test volume at the periphery.
Core Innovation
The invention describes a microfluidic chip with flow paths that pass through droplet-generating regions into a test volume. A gutter extends along at least part of the test volume periphery and is arranged so fluid from the flow paths reaches the gutter only after passing through the test volume. The gutter receives droplets from the test volume and is deeper than the test volume at its periphery.
The described problem is droplet overlap, stacking, and compression as droplets enter a test volume, which can affect accurate analysis. The gutter arrangement receives excess droplets as the test volume reaches capacity. The disclosure also describes loading methods, including vacuum-assisted loading, and states that the arrangement supports parallel loading of multiple networks without complex independent flow control.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims specify two inventive features directed to a microfluidic chip and a method of loading a microfluidic chip.
Microfluidic chip with a peripheral gutter
A body defines a microfluidic network with inlet ports, a test volume, and flow paths that pass through droplet-generating regions in which the minimum cross-sectional area increases along the flow path. A gutter lies along at least part of the test volume periphery, receives droplets from the test volume, and is arranged so fluid from the flow paths cannot enter it without first passing through the test volume.
Loading a microfluidic chip with generated droplets
The method directs liquid through a flow path and a droplet-generating region into the test volume, where droplets then flow into the peripheral gutter. The gutter is arranged so liquid from the flow paths cannot reach it without passing through the test volume.
The independent claims cover a chip structure that directs droplets into a test volume and a peripheral gutter, and a loading method that uses that arrangement to direct generated droplets through the test volume into the gutter.
Stated Advantages
Reduces droplet overlap, stacking, and compression as the test volume reaches capacity.
Supports accurate analysis.
Supports parallel loading of multiple networks without complex independent flow control.
Documented Applications
Microorganism analysis.
Parallel loading of multiple microfluidic networks.
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