Fluid mixing and delivery in microfluidic systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10413899-B2
Application number	US-201715647603-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 12, 2017
Priority date	Nov 24, 2009
Publication date	Sep 17, 2019
Grant date	Sep 17, 2019

Abstract

The specification generally discloses systems and methods for mixing and delivering fluids in microfluidic systems. The fluids can contain, in some embodiments reagents that can participate in one or more chemical or biological reactions.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fluidic device, comprising:
a first microfluidic channel comprising an inlet and an outlet that are in continuous fluid communication;
a first fluid comprising a reducing agent and a wetting agent stored in the first microfluidic channel, wherein the reducing agent is a first reagent for a chemical and/or biological reaction;
a sealing layer completely covering the inlet of the first microfluidic channel and configured to prevent evaporation and/or contamination of the first fluid within the device;
a sealing layer completely covering the outlet of the first microfluidic channel and configured to prevent evaporation and/or contamination of the first fluid within the device; and
a reaction area for performing a chemical and/or biological reaction.

2. A fluidic device as in claim 1 , wherein the reducing agent is a photographic developer.

3. A fluidic device as in claim 1 , comprising a second fluid contained in the fluidic device.

4. A fluidic device as in claim 3 , wherein the fluidic device is configured to prevent mixing between the first and second fluids during storage of the fluids.

5. A fluidic device as in claim 3 , wherein the second fluid comprises a second reagent for the chemical and/or biological reaction, wherein the second reagent is reactive with the first reagent.

6. A fluidic device as in claim 5 , wherein the second reagent is a salt.

7. A fluidic device as in claim 6 , wherein the salt is a silver salt.

8. A fluidic device as in claim 3 , wherein the second fluid is separated from the first fluid by a third fluid that is immiscible with the first and second fluids.

9. A fluidic device as in claim 8 , wherein the third fluid is a gas.

10. A fluidic device as in claim 3 , wherein the second fluid is stored in a second microfluidic channel in fluid communication with the first microfluidic channel.

11. A fluidic device as in claim 10 , wherein the first and second microfluidic channels connect at an intersection and are fluidically connected to a main channel.

12. A fluidic device as in claim 11 , wherein a cross-sectional area of at least one of the first microfluidic channel and the second microfluidic channel are selected such that, when equal pressures are applied to the first and second microfluidic channels, the first and second fluids flow into the intersection substantially simultaneously.

13. A fluidic device as in claim 3 , wherein the second fluid comprises a wetting agent.

14. A fluidic device as in claim 3 , wherein the first and/or second fluid includes an anionic detergent, and wherein the first and/or second fluid includes a non-ionic detergent.

15. A fluidic device as in claim 1 , further comprising a metal colloid.

16. A fluidic device as in claim 15 , wherein the metal colloid is a gold-conjugated antibody.

17. A fluidic device as in claim 1 , further comprising a rinse fluid stored in the fluidic device.

18. A fluidic device as in claim 1 , wherein a silver salt is contained in a second fluid positioned in a second microfluidic channel in fluid communication with the first microfluidic channel.

19. A fluidic device as in claim 1 , wherein the wetting agent is an anionic wetting agent.

Assignees

• Opko Diagnostics Llc

Inventors

• Tan Enqing
• Linder Vincent

Classifications

• Y10T137/0329

  Mixing of plural fluids of diverse characteristics or conditions · CPC title

• Y10T137/0318

  Processes · CPC title

• B01L2400/0694

  vents used to stop and induce flow, backpressure valves · CPC title

• B01L3/502738

  characterised by integrated valves (throttle valves in microfluidic sample containers B01L3/502746) · CPC title

• Y10T137/86292

  System with plural openings, one a gas vent or access opening · CPC title