Methods and apparatus for perfusion and environment control of microplate labware

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10633624-B2
Application number	US-201916458863-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 1, 2019
Priority date	Jan 19, 2017
Publication date	Apr 28, 2020
Grant date	Apr 28, 2020

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatuses of controlling fluid flow are disclosed. An apparatus includes a first microplate having a first open portion and defining one or more first wells therein, a second microplate having a second open portion and defining one or more second wells therein, and a pneumatic lid constructed of styrene ethylene butylene styrene (SEBS). The pneumatic lid extends over the first open portion and the second open portion and includes one or more microfluidic channels that fluidly couple the one or more first wells to the one or more second wells. The pneumatic lid provides an airtight seal over the first microplate and the second microplate.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A pneumatic lid comprising:
A) a body comprising one or more microfluidic channels, wherein at least a portion of the body is constructed of styrene ethylene butylene styrene (SEBS);
one or more first extension pieces fluidly coupled to the one or more microfluidic channels and extending from the body; and
one or more second extension pieces fluidly coupled to the one or more microfluidic channels and extending from the body, wherein the one or more second extension pieces are further fluidly coupled to the one more first extension pieces via the one or more microfluidic channels; or
(B) a first portion comprising one or more first microfluidic channels that are configured to be fluidly coupled to one or more first wells;
a second portion comprising one or more second microfluidic channels that are configured to be fluidly coupled to one or more second wells that are separate from the one or more first wells; and
a removable bridge portion extending between the first portion and the second portion, wherein the removable bridge portion, when coupled to the first portion and the second portion, fluidly couples the one or more first microfluidic channels to the one or more second microfluidic channels,
wherein the first portion and the second portion, when coupled to the one or more first wells and the one or more second wells, respectively provide an airtight seal over the one or more first wells and the one or more second wells.

2. The pneumatic lid of claim 1 , wherein the pneumatic lid comprises option (B), and wherein the first portion and the second portion, when coupled to the one or more first wells and the one or more second wells, respectively provide the airtight seal over the one or more first wells and the one or more second wells via a non-mechanical device.

3. The pneumatic lid of claim 1 , further comprising one or more valves that selectively control fluid flow within the one or more microfluidic channels.

4. The pneumatic lid of claim 1 , wherein a fluid flow rate and a duration are controlled by activation of a differential pressure.

5. The pneumatic lid of claim 1 , wherein the pneumatic lid comprises option (B), and wherein the airtight seal is a reversible airtight seal.

6. The pneumatic lid of claim 1 , further comprising one or more pneumatic control fittings fluidly coupled to at least a portion of the pneumatic lid.

7. An apparatus comprising:
(A) a first microplate having a first open portion and defining one or more first wells therein;
a second microplate having a second open portion and defining one or more second wells therein; and
a pneumatic lid constructed of styrene ethylene butylene styrene (SEBS), the pneumatic lid positioned on top of the first microplate and the second microplate such that the pneumatic lid extends over the first open portion and the second open portion, the pneumatic lid comprising one or more microfluidic channels that fluidly couple the one or more first wells to the one or more second wells when the pneumatic lid is positioned over the first open portion and the second open portion, wherein the pneumatic lid provides an airtight seal over the first microplate and the second microplate; or
(B) a first microplate having a first open portion and defining one or more first wells therein;
a second microplate having a second open portion and defining one or more second wells therein; and
a pneumatic lid positioned on top of the first microplate and the second microplate such that the pneumatic lid extends over the first open portion and the second open portion, the pneumatic lid comprising one or more microfluidic channels that fluidly couple the one or more first wells to the one or more second wells when the pneumatic lid is positioned over the first open portion and the second open portion, wherein the pneumatic lid provides an airtight seal over the first microplate and the second microplate; or
(C) a first microplate having a first open portion and defining one or more first wells therein;
a second microplate having a second open portion and defining one or more second wells therein; and
a pneumatic lid comprising:
a first portion extending over the first open portion, the first portion comprising one or more first microfluidic channels that are fluidly coupled to the one or more first wells,
a second portion extending over the second open portion, the second portion comprising one or more second microfluidic channels that are fluidly coupled to the one or more second wells, and
a removable bridge portion extending between the first portion and the second portion, wherein the removable bridge portion, when coupled to the first portion and the second portion, fluidly couples the one or more first microfluidic channels to the one or more second microfluidic channels,

wherein the pneumatic lid provides an airtight seal over the first microplate and the second microplate.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the pneumatic lid is constructed of a thermoplastic elastomer that forms a reversible and gas impermeable bond with the first microplate and the second microplate.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the thermoplastic elastomer is styrene ethylene butylene styrene (SEBS).

10. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the pneumatic lid further comprises:
one or more first extension pieces extending into the one or more first wells of the first microplate; and
one or more second extension pieces extending into the one or more second wells of the second microplate,
wherein the one or more microfluidic channels fluidly couple the one or more first extension pieces to the one or more second extension pieces.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the pneumatic lid further comprises:
one or more extension pieces extending into the one or more first wells of the first microplate; and
one or more polymer plugs extending into the one or more second wells of the second microplate, each one of the one or more polymer plugs comprising one or more bores therein,
wherein the one or more microfluidic channels fluidly couple the one or more extension pieces to the one or more bores.

12. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the pneumatic lid comprises:
a first portion extending over the first open portion, the first portion comprising one or more first microfluidic channels that are fluidly coupled to the one or more first wells,
a second portion extending over the second open portion, the second portion comprising one or more second microfluidic channels that are fluidly coupled to the one or more second wells, and
a removable bridge portion extending between the first portion and the second portion, wherein the removable bridge portion, when coupled to the first portion and the second portion, fluidly couples the one or more first microfluidic channels to the one or more second microfluidic channels.

13. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the first microplate does not contact the second microplate.

14. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the pneumatic lid is coupled to the first microplate and the second microplate via a non-mechanical device.

15. The apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising one or more valves that selectively control fluid flow within the one or more microfluidic channels.

16. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein a fluid flow rate and a duration are controlled by activation of a differential pressure.

17. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the airtight seal is a reversible airtight seal.

18. The apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising one or more p

Assignees

• Essen Instr Inc
• Nat Res Council Canada

Inventors

• Schroeder Kirk S
• Neagle Bradley D
• Endsley Eric
• Appledorn Daniel
• Morton Keith

Classifications

• C12M23/20

  Material Coatings (immunocoatings C12M25/00) · CPC title

• C12M23/12 Primary

  Well or multiwell plates (C12M25/04 takes precedence) · CPC title

• C12M41/40

  of pressure · CPC title

• C12M37/04

  Seals · CPC title

• C12M29/10

  Perfusion · CPC title