Microfluidic device with flow-channel structure having active valve for capillary-driven fluidic propulsion without trapped air bubbles

Abstract

A microfluidic device for processing a fluid sample, the microfluidic device having a first channel configured to fill with the sample by capillary action, a second channel configured to fill with the sample by capillary action, a plurality of fluid connections between the first channel and the second channel, one of the fluid connections having an active valve to arrest the sample flow into the second channel and the remaining fluid connections each being configured to pin a meniscus of the sample that arrests capillary flow between the first channel and the second channel, the fluid connection with the active valve being upstream of the remaining fluid connections, wherein during use, the sample flow into the second channel is initiated by activation of the active valve such that the sample flow in the second channel progressively removes the meniscus at each of the meniscus anchors.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to diagnostic devices that use microsystems technologies (MST). In particular, the invention relates to microfluidic and biochemical processing and analysis for molecular diagnostics.CO-PENDING APPLICATIONS[0002]The following applications have been filed by the Applicant which relate to the present application:GBS001USGBS002USGBS003USGBS005USGBS006US GSR001USGSR002US GAS001USGAS002USGAS003USGAS004USGAS006USGAS007US GAS008USGAS009US GAS010USGAS012USGAS013USGAS014US GAS015USGAS016US GAS017USGAS018US GAS019USGAS020USGAS021USGAS022USGAS023USGAS024USGAS025USGAS026US GAS027USGAS028US GAS030USGAS031USGAS032USGAS033USGAS034USGAS035US GAS036USGAS037US GAS038USGAS039US GAS040USGAS041USGAS042USGAS043USGAS044USGAS045US GAS046USGAS047USGAS048USGAS049USGAS050USGAS054US GAS055USGAS056US GAS057USGAS058USGAS059USGAS060US GAS061USGAS062USGAS063USGAS065USGAS066USGAS067US GAS068USGAS069US GAS070USGAS080USGAS081USGAS082US GAS083USGAS084US GAS085U...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0116]The easily usable, mass-producible, and inexpensive microfluidic device accepts a biochemical sample, uses a dialysis section for separating the cells of different dimensions, and separately processes the nucleic acid content of the cells separated based on their dimensions.

[0117]The dialysis section functionality extracts additional information from the sample and increases the sensitivity, signal-to-noise ratio, and dynamic range of the assay system. The dialysis section being integral to the device, provides for the low system component-count and simple manufacturing procedures, leading into an inexpensive assay system. The special flow-channel structure with an active valve provides for capillary-driven priming of the dialysis section without trapped air bubbles.

Problems solved by technology

the aperture has a geometry that does not allow a meniscus of the fluid flow to anchor to the aperture, such that fluid flow from the inlet towards the outlet is uninterrupted.

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