On-demand particle dispensing system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10343165-B2
Application number	US-201615396175-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 30, 2016
Priority date	Sep 5, 2013
Publication date	Jul 9, 2019
Grant date	Jul 9, 2019

Abstract

Systems, including apparatus and methods, for the microfluidic manipulation, dispensing, and/or sorting of particles, such as cells and/or beads.

First claim

We claim:

1. A system for diverting a particle from a fluid sample, the system comprising:
a channel network including
a sample channel having an upstream region, a downstream region, and an intermediate region extending between the upstream and downstream regions,
a pair of inlet channels intersecting the sample channel at an upstream end and a downstream end of the intermediate region of the sample channel, and
an outlet channel intersecting the intermediate region of the sample channel;

a pressure source operatively connected to the pair of inlet channels;
a detector configured to detect a signal from a particle in a fluid sample flowing in the upstream region of the sample channel; and
a controller configured to create a diversion signal, if the signal detected from the particle meets one or more criteria;
wherein the diversion signal activates the pressure source to urge diverting fluid into the sample channel from the pair of inlet channels, while the particle is located in the intermediate region of the sample channel, such that the particle is flushed out of the sample channel via the outlet channel.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the channel network includes a branched channel including a branched section forming an upstream branch and a downstream branch, wherein the upstream branch and the downstream branch are the pair of inlet channels, and wherein the downstream branch forms a shorter pathway to the sample channel than the upstream branch.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the inlet channels intersects the sample channel at a substantially right angle.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the diversion signal causes diverting fluid to be urged into the sample channel at the upstream end and the downstream end non-simultaneously, such that the diverting fluid at the downstream end blocks flow from proceeding in the sample channel, and such that the diverting fluid at the upstream end pushes the particle toward the outlet channel.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the inlet channel intersecting the sample channel at the downstream end of the intermediate region is aligned with the outlet channel.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the detector is a photodetector.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one valve that is adjusted in response to the diversion signal, to activate the pressure source.

8. The system of claim 7 , further comprising a microfluidic chip that defines each of the channels, wherein the at least one valve is spaced from the microfluidic chip.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the at least one valve includes one or more valves that open in response to the diversion signal, to create fluid communication between the pressure source and each of the inlet channels.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the channel network includes a sheath channel configured to add sheathing fluid to the sample channel at a location in the upstream region.

11. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a microfluidic chip that defines the channel network, wherein the diversion signal causes the particle to be dispensed from the microfluidic chip.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the outlet channel is a nozzle channel having a wide section proximal to the sample channel and a narrow section distal to the sample channel, and wherein the narrow section is configured to provide sufficient capillary pressure to prevent leakage.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the outlet channel includes a coating to increase capillary pressure.

14. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a source of diverting fluid connected to the pair of inlet channels.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the pressure source includes a pump.

16. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a microfluidic chip defining the channel network, wherein the microfluidic chip is made of a first layer and a second layer, wherein the first layer has a surface in which each of the channels is formed, and wherein the second layer is bonded to the first layer to cover each of the channels.

Assignees

• Bio Rad Laboratories

Inventors

• Sadri Amir
• Guo Kun
• Chu Daniel Y
• Kircanski Nenad
• Patt Paul J
• Rosenzweig Tal

Classifications

• B01L2400/0406

  capillary forces · CPC title

• B01L2400/0688

  surface tension valves, capillary stop, capillary break · CPC title

• B01L2400/0655

  pinch valves · CPC title

• C12Q1/24

  Methods of sampling, or inoculating or spreading a sample; Methods of physically isolating an intact microorganisms · CPC title

• Y10T436/25

  including sample preparation · CPC title