Systems and methods for improved performance of fluidic and microfluidic systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11034926-B2
Application number	US-201715403949-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 11, 2017
Priority date	Jul 14, 2014
Publication date	Jun 15, 2021
Grant date	Jun 15, 2021

Abstract

Systems and methods for improved flow properties in fluidic and microfluidic systems are disclosed. The system includes a microfluidic device having a first microchannel, a fluid reservoir having a working fluid and a pressurized gas, a pump in communication with the fluid reservoir to maintain a desired pressure of the pressurized gas, and a fluid-resistance element located within a fluid path between the fluid reservoir and the first microchannel. The fluid-resistance element includes a first fluidic resistance that is substantially larger than a second fluidic resistance associated with the first microchannel.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of pressure driven flow, comprising:
a) providing:
a microfluidic device having a microchannel;
a fluid reservoir comprising a fluid; and
a fluid-resistance element, wherein the fluid-resistance element has a first fluidic resistance that is substantially larger than a second fluidic resistance associated with the microchannel;
b) introducing cells in said microchannel;
c) removably connecting said fluid-resistance element to said microchannel after step b); and
d) forcing the fluid through the fluid-resistance element with pressurized gas such that said fluid flows through said microchannel at a flow rate.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluid reservoir includes the pressurized gas.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluid-resistance element comprises a fluid path channeled into a substrate.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the substrate of said fluid-resistance element comprises an elongated fluid path, the first fluidic resistance being created by the elongated fluid path.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the elongated fluid path undergoes multiple windings so as to create said elongated fluid path.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising a cartridge interfaced with said microfluidic device.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the gas is substantially insoluble in the fluid.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the gas is a mixture of gases, the mixture including a gas that is substantially insoluble in the fluid.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first fluidic resistance is at least about 100 times greater than the second fluidic resistance.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluid reservoir includes an elongated fluid path, the elongated fluid path being configured to store the fluid therein.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein said microfluidic device further comprises a membrane, and said cells of step b) are introduced on said membrane.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein a pressure of 500 Pa and up is used in step d) to flow the fluid through the microchannel at a rate of about 30 μL/min or less.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluid reservoir is substantially air-tight sealed with a moveable cap.

14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising the step of culturing said living cells on said membrane after step b).

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein said pressurized gas has a vacuum pressure.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the pressure of 6000 Pa is used in step d) to flow the fluid through the microchannel at a rate of about 6 μL/min.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the pressure of 6000 Pa is applied to the fluid reservoir to force the fluid through the fluid-resistance element.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the pressure is applied by a displacement-driven pump.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluid reservoir is a capillary reservoir configured to inhibit mixing of the fluid within the fluid reservoir.

20. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluid-resistance element is removably connected to the microchannel between the microfluidic device and the fluid reservoir.

21. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluid-resistance element is removably connected to the microchannel downstream from the microfluidic device and the fluid reservoir.

Assignees

• Harvard College

Inventors

• Hinojosa Christopher David
• Sliz Josiah
• Levner Daniel
• Thompson Guy
• Geisler Hubert
• Fernandez-Alcon Jose
• Ingber Donald E

Classifications

• B01L2300/0867

  Multiple inlets and one sample wells, e.g. mixing, dilution · CPC title

• C12M33/12

  by pressure · CPC title

• C12M23/16 Primary

  Microfluidic devices; Capillary tubes (integrated microfluidic structures B01L3/5027; microreactors B01J19/0093) · CPC title

• B01L3/502746

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

• B01L2300/0816

  Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions · CPC title