Microfluidic device with surface-micromachined dialysis section

Abstract

A microfluidic device for removing cell debris from a biological sample, the microfluidic device having a dialysis section with a large constituent channel, a small constituent channel and a plurality of apertures for fluid communication between the large constituent channel and the small constituent channel, the large constituent channel having an upstream end for receiving the biological sample, the biological sample being a liquid carrying a mixture of cell debris and target molecules, the small constituent channel having a downstream end for connection to a hybridization section with an array of probes for reaction with the target molecules to form probe-target complexes, wherein, the apertures are spaced along the large constituent channel at a spacing between 1 micron and 10 microns and each of the apertures is sized to allow the target molecules to flow into the small constituent channel but retain the cell debris larger than a threshold size in the large constituent channel.

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:GBS001USGBS002USGBS003USGBS005USGBS006USGSR001USGSR002USGAS001USGAS002USGAS003USGAS004USGAS006USGAS007USGAS008USGAS009USGAS010USGAS012USGAS013USGAS014USGAS015USGAS016USGAS017USGAS018USGAS019USGAS020USGAS021USGAS022USGAS023USGAS024USGAS025USGAS026USGAS027USGAS028USGAS030USGAS031USGAS032USGAS033USGAS034USGAS035USGAS036USGAS037USGAS038USGAS039USGAS040USGAS041USGAS042USGAS043USGAS044USGAS045USGAS046USGAS047USGAS048USGAS049USGAS050USGAS054USGAS055USGAS056USGAS057USGAS058USGAS059USGAS060USGAS061USGAS062USGAS063USGAS065USGAS066USGAS067USGAS068USGAS069USGAS070USGAS080USGAS081USGAS082USGAS083USGAS084USGAS085USGAS086USGAS087USGAS...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention provides a microfluidic device for removing cell debris from a biological sample. The device includes a dialysis section with a large constituent channel and a small constituent channel, and a plurality of apertures that allow fluid communication between the channels. The large constituent channel has a upstream end for receiving the sample, while the small constituent channel has a downstream end connected to a hybridization section with a plurality of probes for reaction with target molecules. The device also has a waste reservoir, a nucleic acid amplification section, and CMOS circuitry for operative control of the nucleic acid amplification section. The device is easily usable, mass-producible, and inexpensive. The dialysis section allows for the separation of sample constituents of different dimensions, improving the sensitivity and dynamic range of the assay system."

Problems solved by technology

Insufficient stringency can result in a high degree of nonspecific binding.

Excessive stringency can lead to a failure of appropriate binding, which results in diminished sensitivity.

Despite the advantages that molecular diagnostic tests offer, the growth of this type of testing in the clinical laboratory has been slower than expected and remains a minor part of the practice of laboratory medicine.

This is primarily due to the complexity and costs associated with nucleic acid testing compared with tests based on methods not involving nucleic acids.

However, controlling fluid flow through the LOC device, adding reagents, controlling reaction conditions and so on necessitate bulky external plumbing and electronics.

Connecting a LOC device to these external devices effectively restricts the use of LOC devices for molecular diagnostics to the laboratory setting.

The cost of the external equipment and complexity of its operation precludes LOC-based molecular diagnostics as a practical option for point-of-care settings.

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