Methods and apparatus for perfusion and environment control of microplate lab ware

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11149242-B2
Application number	US-202016827609-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 23, 2020
Priority date	Jan 19, 2017
Publication date	Oct 19, 2021
Grant date	Oct 19, 2021

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 body comprising one or more microfluidic channels, wherein at least a portion of the body is constructed of a gas impermeable thermoplastic elastomer;
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.

2. The pneumatic lid of claim 1 , wherein the gas impermeable thermoplastic elastomer comprises styrene ethylene butylene styrene (SEBS).

3. The pneumatic lid of claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a first portion including a first microfluidic channel of the one or more microfluidic channels and the first portion further includes the one or more first extension pieces,
wherein the one or more first extension pieces are configured to be fluidly coupled to one or more first wells,
wherein the body comprises a second portion including a second microfluidic channel of the one or more microfluidic channels and the second portion further includes the one or more second extension pieces, and
wherein the one or more second extension pieces are configured to be fluidly coupled to one or more second wells that are separate from the one or more first wells.

4. The pneumatic lid of claim 3 , wherein the body further comprises:
a bridge portion extending between the first portion of the body and the second portion of the body,
wherein the bridge portion, when coupled to the first portion of the body and the second portion of the body, fluidly couples the first microfluidic channel to the second microfluidic channel, and
wherein the first portion of the body and the second portion of the body, 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.

5. The pneumatic lid of claim 4 , wherein the bridge portion is removable.

6. The pneumatic lid of claim 1 , further comprising:
one or more valves that selectively control fluid flow within the one or more microfluidic channels; and
one or more pneumatic control fittings fluidly coupled to a pneumatic controller.

7. The pneumatic lid of claim 1 , wherein the gas impermeable thermoplastic elastomer is transparent.

8. The pneumatic lid of claim 1 , wherein the one or more second extension pieces each comprise a solid polymer plug that contains one or more bores therein.

9. The pneumatic lid of claim 1 , wherein the body comprises:
a top layer comprising a hardened polymer;
a second layer positioned below the top layer, wherein the second layer comprises a thermoplastic elastomer;
a third layer including the one or more microfluidic channels; and
a fourth layer positioned below the third layer, wherein the fourth layer comprises the thermoplastic elastomer to thereby provide a sealing surface.

10. The pneumatic lid of claim 1 , wherein the one or more second extension pieces each comprise:
a first tube configured to provide a fluid inlet, wherein the first tube extends a first distance from the body; and
a second tube configured to provide a fluid outlet, wherein the second tube extends a second distance from the body that is different than the first distance.

11. A kit for transferring fluid, the kit comprising:
a first microplate having at least one first open portion and defining one or more first wells therein;
a second microplate having at least one second open portion and defining one or more second wells therein; and
a pneumatic lid providing an airtight seal over the first microplate and the second microplate, the pneumatic lid comprising:
a body including one or more microfluidic channels, wherein at least a portion of the body is constructed of a gas impermeable thermoplastic elastomer;
one or more first extension pieces extending from the body into the one or more first wells of the first microplate such that the one or more first extension pieces are fluidly coupled to the one or more first wells, and wherein the one or more first extension pieces are fluidly coupled to the one or more microfluidic channels; and
one or more second extension pieces extending from the body into the one or more second wells of the second microplate such that the one or more second extension pieces are fluidly coupled to the one or more second wells, one or more second extension pieces are fluidly coupled to the one or more microfluidic channels, 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.

12. The kit of claim 11 , wherein the gas impermeable thermoplastic elastomer is transparent.

13. The kit of claim 11 , wherein the body of the pneumatic lid comprises two or more separate portions that are configured to be coupled to one another via one or more bridge portions to thereby form the body of the pneumatic lid.

14. The kit of claim 13 , wherein the body of the pneumatic lid comprises:
a first portion including a first microfluidic channel of the one or more microfluidic channels and the first portion further includes at least some of the one or more first extension pieces;
a second portion including a second microfluidic channel of the one or more microfluidic channels and the second portion further includes at least some of the one or more second extension pieces, wherein the one or more second extension pieces are configured to be fluidly coupled to the one or more second wells; and
a bridge portion extending between the first portion of the body and the second portion of the body, wherein the bridge portion, when coupled to the first portion of the body and the second portion of the body, fluidly couples the first microfluidic channel to the second microfluidic channel, wherein the first portion of the body and the second portion of the body, 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.

15. The kit of claim 14 , wherein the bridge portion is removable.

16. The kit of claim 11 , further comprising:
one or more valves fluidly coupled to the pneumatic lid, the one or more valves configured to selectively control fluid flow within the one or more first extension pieces and the one or more second extension pieces,
wherein the fluid is transferred between the first microplate and the second microplate via the pneumatic lid and the one or more valves.

17. The kit of claim 11 , wherein the one or more second extension pieces each comprise a solid polymer plug that contains one or more bores therein.

18. The kit of claim 11 , wherein the body of the pneumatic lid comprises:
a top layer comprising a hardened polymer;
a second layer positioned below the top layer, wherein the second layer comprises a thermoplastic elastomer;
a third layer including the one or more microfluidic channels; and
a fourth layer positioned below the third layer, wherein the fourth layer comprises the thermoplastic elastomer to thereby provide a sealing surface.

19. The kit of claim 11 , wherein the one or more second extension pieces each comprise:
a first tube configured to provide a fluid inlet, wherein the first tube extends a fir

Assignees

• Essen Instr Inc
• Nat Res Council Canada

Inventors

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

Classifications

• C12M23/12 Primary

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

• C12M41/40

  of pressure · CPC title

• C12M23/16 Primary

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

• C12M37/04

  Seals · CPC title

• C12M29/14

  Pressurized fluid · CPC title