Handheld fluid handling systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10300484-B2
Application number	US-201515128207-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 26, 2015
Priority date	Mar 26, 2014
Publication date	May 28, 2019
Grant date	May 28, 2019

Abstract

A handheld system includes a reference pressure source configured to generate a reference pressure. The handheld system also includes a primary pressure source coupled to the reference pressure source. The primary pressure source is configured to generate a primary pressure in a primary pressure range. The primary pressure is less than the reference pressure, and the primary pressure is induced by the reference pressure source. The handheld system also includes a secondary pressure source coupled to the primary pressure source. The secondary pressure source is configured to generate a secondary pressure in a secondary pressure range. The secondary pressure is less than the primary pressure, and the secondary pressure is induced by the primary pressure source.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A handheld system, comprising:
a reference pressure source configured to generate a reference pressure;
a primary pressure source coupled to the reference pressure source, the primary pressure source configured to generate a primary pressure in a primary pressure range, the primary pressure less than the reference pressure, the primary pressure induced by the reference pressure source;
a secondary pressure source coupled to the primary pressure source, the secondary pressure source configured to generate a secondary pressure in a secondary pressure range, the secondary pressure less than the primary pressure, the secondary pressure induced by the primary pressure source;
a first valve configured to couple the primary pressure source to the secondary pressure source, the first valve configured to remain closed when the secondary pressure is above a lower bound of the secondary pressure range, the first valve further configured to open when the secondary pressure falls below the lower bound of the secondary pressure range; and
a second valve coupled to the secondary pressure source, the second valve configured to regulate the secondary pressure, the second valve configured to remain closed when the secondary pressure is below an upper bound of the secondary pressure range, the second valve further configured to open when the secondary pressure exceeds the upper bound of the secondary pressure range.

2. The handheld system of claim 1 , wherein the reference pressure source is a pressure pump, the primary pressure source is a primary reservoir coupled to the pressure pump, and the secondary pressure source is a secondary reservoir coupled to the primary reservoir.

3. The handheld system of claim 1 , wherein the primary pressure source is a primary reservoir having a primary reservoir volume and the secondary pressure source is a secondary reservoir having a secondary reservoir volume, the secondary reservoir volume greater than the primary reservoir volume.

4. The handheld system of claim 1 , wherein the reference pressure source includes one or more of the following: a DC diaphragm pump, DC brushless pump, a valve, and a gas source.

5. The handheld system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first valve and the second valve includes a flow restrictor.

6. The handheld system of claim 1 , wherein the second valve includes a normally closed two-way solenoid valve.

7. The handheld system of claim 6 , wherein at least one of the first valve and the second valve includes a flow restrictor.

8. The handheld system of claim 1 , wherein:
the reference pressure source is configured to maintain the primary pressure within the primary pressure range.

9. The handheld system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a primary pressure sensor coupled to the primary pressure source, the primary pressure sensor configured to sense pressure in the primary pressure source; and
a secondary pressure sensor coupled to the secondary pressure source, the second pressure sensor configured to sense pressure in the secondary pressure source,
the reference pressure source configured to maintain the primary pressure within the primary pressure range based on feedback from the primary pressure sensor, and
the second valve and the first valve configured to maintain the secondary pressure within the secondary pressure range based on feedback from the secondary pressure sensor.

10. The handheld system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a control component coupled to, and configured for control of, the reference pressure source, the first valve, and the second valve,
the control component further configured to maintain the primary pressure in the primary pressure range and to maintain the secondary pressure in the secondary pressure range.

11. The handheld system of claim 1 , further comprising a control component configured to maintain pressure in the primary pressure source in the first pressure range and to maintain pressure in the secondary pressure source in the second pressure range, the control component including a wireless controller.

12. The handheld system of claim 1 , further comprising a microfluidic component coupled to the primary pressure source and to the secondary pressure source, the microfluidic component fabricated at least in part from an elastomeric material.

13. The handheld system of claim 1 , further comprising a microfluidic component coupled to the primary pressure source and to the secondary pressure source, the microfluidic component selected from an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) device, a fluorescence immunoassay device, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) device, a fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) device, a flow cytometry device, a nucleic acid sequencing device, and a quality testing device.

14. The handheld system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a microfluidic component coupled to the primary pressure source and the secondary pressure source; and
a control component configured to maintain pressure in the primary pressure source in the primary pressure range for controlling operation of the microfluidic component, and to maintain the pressure in the secondary pressure source in the second pressure range for controlling reagent input to the microfluidic component.

15. The handheld system of claim 1 , wherein the primary pressure range is from about 0 psi to about the reference pressure.

16. The handheld system of claim 1 , wherein the secondary pressure range is from about 0 psi to about the primary pressure.

17. The handheld system of claim 1 , further comprising a reference valve configured to couple the reference pressure source to the primary pressure source, the reference valve including a solenoid valve.

18. A handheld system, comprising:
a reference pressure source configured to generate a reference pressure;
a primary pressure source coupled to the reference pressure source, the primary pressure source configured to generate a primary pressure in a primary pressure range, the primary pressure less than the reference pressure, the primary pressure induced by the reference pressure source;
a secondary pressure source coupled to the primary pressure source, the secondary pressure source configured to generate a secondary pressure in a secondary pressure range, the secondary pressure less than the primary pressure, the secondary pressure induced by the primary pressure source;
a first valve configured to couple the primary pressure source to the secondary pressure source;
a second valve coupled to the secondary pressure source, the second valve configured to regulate the secondary pressure;
a third valve configured to couple the primary pressure source to a primary pressure outlet;
a primary pressure sensor coupled to the primary pressure source, the first pressure sensor configured to sense pressure in the primary pressure source;
a fourth valve configured to couple the secondary pressure source to a secondary pressure outlet; and
a secondary pressure sensor coupled to the secondary pressure source, the second pressure sensor configured to sense pressure in the secondary pressure source,
the primary pressure source including a primary reservoir having a primary reservoir volume defined by the reference pressure source, the primary pressure sensor, the first valve, and the third valve,
the secondary pressure source including a secondary reservoir having a secondary reservoir volume defined by the first valve, the secondary pressure sensor, the second valve, and the fourth valve.

Assignees

• Li Zhenyu
• Li Baichen
• Univ George Washington

Inventors

• Li Zhenyu
• Li Baichen

Classifications

• B01L3/50273 Primary

  characterised by the means or forces applied to move the fluids · CPC title

• B01L2200/146

  Employing pressure sensors · CPC title

• B01L2200/10

  Integrating sample preparation and analysis in single entity, e.g. lab-on-a-chip concept · CPC title

• G01N35/00871

  Communications between instruments or with remote terminals · CPC title

• G05D7/0694

  by action on throttling means or flow sources of very small size, e.g. microfluidics (microvalves F16K99/0001; microstructural devices per se B81B) · CPC title