Microorganism culture device and method of operation thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10155923-B2
Application number	US-201013257320-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 4, 2010
Priority date	Mar 20, 2009
Publication date	Dec 18, 2018
Grant date	Dec 18, 2018

Abstract

A microorganism culture device and a method of using the device. The device includes an open chamber, wherein microorganisms are likely to be deposited within a liquid for subsequent study. The open chamber simplifies the deposition of the microorganisms. The chamber is further provided with retention features, whereby microorganisms can be retained therein. In addition, the device includes an overflow area, wherein capillary structures are configured to retain excess liquid overflowing from the open chamber, e.g. when covering the device with a cover. As such, it allows for confining microorganism in the chamber, while excess fluid is captured externally, e.g. to seal the device with a cover.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A microorganism culture device, comprising:
an open chamber having microorganism retention features, wherein the open chamber retains at least one microorganism;
an overflow area surrounding the open chamber, comprising capillary structures configured to retain, in operation, excess liquid overflowing from the open chamber, the capillary structures defining a lattice with a compactness ratio configured to retain the excess liquid in space between outer surfaces of the capillary structures; and
a dewetting zone deprived of any particular structures and having a width separating a wall of the chamber and the overflow area, wherein the width of the dewetting zone is greater than the space between the outer surfaces of the capillary structures such that a capillary pressure in the dewetting zone is lower than a capillary pressure in the overflow area, in absolute term.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein:
the overflow area is an open area, the chamber and the overflow area have a same open side;
the device further comprises a transparent cover movable to a close position where it covers the open side; and
the capillary structures are further configured such that liquid retained by the capillary structures retains the cover in the close position, by capillarity.

3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the device is configured such that the cover is self sealable on the device.

4. The device of claim 2 , wherein:
the chamber comprises one or more liquid passages allowing closed circulation of the liquid inside the device; and
the cover comprises one or more vias connectable to the passages in the close position.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the capillary structures define a lattice allowing for filling at least 30% of a surface of the lattice with liquid retained in the lattice.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the chamber further comprises one or more distribution structures configured to distribute a liquid flow in the chamber.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the device is a microfluidic culture device.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the device further comprises vents configured to remove, in operation, excess fluid from the capillary structures.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the overflow area is substantially at a periphery of the chamber.

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the capillary structures define a lattice allowing for filling at least 50% of a surface of the lattice with liquid retained in the lattice.

11. The device of claim 3 , wherein:
the chamber comprises one or more liquid passages allowing closed circulation of the liquid inside the device; and
the cover comprises one or more vias connectable to the passages in the close position.

12. The device of claim 1 , wherein an average separation distance of the capillary structures is less than 60 μm.

13. The device of claim 1 , wherein:
the overflow area is an open area, the chamber and the overflow area have a same open side; and
the wall limits flow of liquid between the open chamber and the overflow area to liquid passing through the open side.

14. The device of claim 1 , wherein an average separation distance of the capillary structures is less than 200 μm.

Assignees

• Delamarche Emmanuel
• Lovchik Robert
• IBM

Inventors

• Delamarche Emmanuel
• Lovchik Robert

Classifications

• B01L2300/0816

  Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions · CPC title

• B01L2200/0642

  Filling fluids into wells by specific techniques · CPC title

• B01L2400/0406

  capillary forces · CPC title

• C12M23/16 Primary

  Microfluidic devices; Capillary tubes (integrated microfluidic structures B01L3/5027; microreactors B01J19/0093) · CPC title

• B01L3/502723

  characterised by venting arrangements · CPC title