Recirculation of a sample fluid for analysis in a microfluidic device
Inventors
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12631660-B2
Publication Date
2026-05-19
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present invention provides devices and methods for generating a pulsatile fluid flow in a microchannel by means of external actuation of a thin flexible film. With the devices described herein, cycles of positive and negative actuation can be used to infuse or withdrawal fluid in a microchannel. Fluid can be recirculated over one or more microfluidic feature, such as a chemical or molecular receptor, biosensor, electrode, cell or biological material, chromatography feature, mixer, etc., in a way that would represent an advantage over the single-pass flow techniques common to most microfluidic devices. The devices and methods are particularly useful in vitro diagnostics (IVD), analytical chemistry, chromatography, and mixing applications in a variety of fields.
Core Innovation
A microfluidic device is provided with a housing that includes a sample chamber and a reservoir, and a microchannel extending from the sample chamber to the reservoir. A sensor region is positioned within a lumen of the microchannel and includes an array of sensing elements positioned on an inner surface of the lumen. The device further includes an actuating chamber that is enabled to recirculate a fluid from the sensor region through the microchannel back to the sensor region.
The recirculation is achieved by forcing the sample fluid from the reservoir back into the microchannel using an actuating chamber, wherein the actuating chamber comprises a flexible membrane for forcing the sample fluid. During operation, the sample fluid is conveyed a first time over the sensor region, moved into the reservoir, and then conveyed a second time over the sensor region. The sensor region includes sensing elements selected from antibodies, antibody fragments, antigens, proteins, nucleic acids, oligonucleotides, peptides, lipids, lectins, inhibitors, activators, ligands, hormones, cytokines, sugars, amino acids, fatty acids, phenols, and alkaloids.
A microfluidic cartridge device is also provided comprising a cartridge body with a sample chamber, a microchannel, and a reservoir, with a sensor region positioned within the lumen of the microchannel. The cartridge further includes a squeezable bulb in fluid communication with the reservoir and the microchannel, wherein the squeezable bulb is enabled to recirculate a fluid in the reservoir from the sensor region through the microchannel back to the sensor region.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims cover three main aspects: a microfluidic device with an actuating chamber for recirculation over a sensor region, a method that performs first and second conveying passes over the sensor region using an actuating chamber with a flexible membrane, and a microfluidic cartridge device using a squeezable bulb to recirculate fluid back over the sensor region. Across the independent claims, there are five principal inventive features involving recirculation architecture, sensor-region configuration, and flexible/bulb actuation, with recognition components defined for the sensor region.
Recirculating actuating-chamber microfluidic device
A microfluidic device comprising a housing with a sample chamber and a reservoir; a microchannel extending from the sample chamber to the reservoir; a sensor region positioned within a lumen of the microchannel, comprising an array of sensing elements on an inner surface of the lumen; and an actuating chamber in fluid communication with the reservoir and the microchannel, wherein the actuating chamber is enabled to recirculate a fluid in the reservoir from the sensor region through the microchannel back to the sensor region.
Second pass over sensor region using flexible-membrane forcing
A method of operating a microfluidic device comprising conveying a sample fluid a first time over a sensor region positioned within a lumen of a microchannel; conveying the sample fluid from the microchannel into a reservoir; using an actuating chamber, forcing the sample fluid from the reservoir back into the microchannel, wherein the actuating chamber comprises a flexible membrane for forcing the sample fluid; and conveying the sample fluid a second time over the sensor region, wherein the sensor region includes at least one of an antibody, an antibody fragment, an antigen, a protein, a nucleic acid, an oligonucleotide, a peptide, a lipid, a lectin, an inhibitor, an activator, a ligand, a hormone, a cytokine, a sugar, an amino acid, a fatty acid, a phenol, or an alkaloid.
Squeezable-bulb recirculating microfluidic cartridge device
A microfluidic cartridge device comprising a cartridge body with a sample chamber, a microchannel, and a reservoir; the microchannel comprising a lumen extending from the sample chamber at a first end to the reservoir at a second end opposite the first end; a sensor region positioned within the lumen of the microchannel; and a squeezable bulb in fluid communication with the reservoir and with the microchannel, wherein the squeezable bulb is enabled to recirculate a fluid in the reservoir from the sensor region through the microchannel back to the sensor region.
Across the independent claims, the core inventive coverage is the recirculation of fluid from a sensor region through a microchannel back to the sensor region, enabled either by an actuating chamber with a flexible membrane (device and method) or by a squeezable bulb (cartridge). The claims further establish a sensor region in the microchannel with sensing elements, and the method claim ties the sensor region to a specified set of recognition components.
Stated Advantages
Improved signal intensity from recirculation.
Good precision for IgG assays.
Improved fentanyl detection sensitivity/LOD with recirculating flow and repeatability metrics.
Documented Applications
IgG antibody assay using recirculation over a sensor region with repeatability/precision results.
Fentanyl competitive immunoassay using recirculating flow, reporting improved sensitivity/LOD.
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