Microfluidic system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10732649-B2
Application number	US-201715639151-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 30, 2017
Priority date	Jul 2, 2004
Publication date	Aug 4, 2020
Grant date	Aug 4, 2020

Abstract

The present invention provides microfluidic technology enabling rapid and economical manipulation of reactions on the femtoliter to microliter scale.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A microfluidic system for forming and collecting a plurality of plugs, the system comprising:
a microfluidic device comprising at least a first channel and a second channel intersecting with each other at a junction and a microchannel extending from the junction and having an outlet downstream of the junction, wherein the first channel includes at least a first plug fluid within and the second channel includes a carrier fluid that is immiscible with the first plug fluid within the second channel;
a detachable holding component comprising a microchannel having an inlet and an outlet, wherein the inlet is detachably couplable to the outlet of the microchannel of the microfluidic device; and
a pump operably couplable to the holding component and configured to apply a suction force thereto such that, upon application of a suction force thereto, the suction force is further applied to the microchannel of the microfluidic device to thereby cause at least the first plug fluid and immiscible carrier fluid to flow through the first and second channels, respectively and toward the junction to thereby cause formation of a plurality of plugs of the first plug fluid in the immiscible carrier fluid at the junction and subsequent transfer of the plurality of plugs from the microfluidic device to the holding component, wherein each plug is separated from an immediately adjacent plug within the microchannel of the holding component.

2. The microfluidic system of claim 1 , wherein the holding component comprises coiled tubing.

3. The microfluidic system of claim 2 , wherein the tubing comprises a material selected from the group consisting of glass, silicon, a silicone elastomer, and a polymer.

4. The microfluidic system of claim 3 , wherein the tubing material comprises polypropylene or polyethylene.

5. The microfluidic system of claim 4 , wherein the tubing comprises polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS).

6. The microfluidic system of claim 5 , wherein the holding component is a PDMS-based preformed cartridge.

7. The microfluidic system of claim 3 , wherein at least a portion of the tubing is transparent.

8. The microfluidic system of claim 1 , further comprising a receiving component comprising a microchannel having an inlet, wherein the outlet of the microchannel of the holding component is detachably couplable to the inlet of the microchannel of the receiving component.

Assignees

• Univ Chicago

Inventors

• Ismagilov Rustem F
• Zheng Bo
• Gerdts Cory John

Classifications

• B01J19/0046 Primary

  Sequential or parallel reactions, e.g. for the synthesis of polypeptides or polynucleotides; Apparatus and devices for combinatorial chemistry or for making molecular arrays (synthesis methods per se C40B50/00) · CPC title

• B01F33/3021

  the components to be mixed being combined in a single independent droplet, e.g. these droplets being divided by a non-miscible fluid or consisting of independent droplets · CPC title

• B01F25/314

  wherein additional components are introduced at the circumference of the conduit · CPC title

• B01L2400/049

  vacuum · CPC title

• B01L3/502746

  characterised by the means for controlling flow resistance, e.g. flow controllers, baffles or throttle valves · CPC title