Flow regulation in fluidic systems using a phase-change material at system ports

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11325123-B2
Application number	US-201414450069-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 1, 2014
Priority date	Aug 2, 2013
Publication date	May 10, 2022
Grant date	May 10, 2022

Abstract

Control of fluid flow in a fluidic network is provided by controlling phase transitions of a phase-change material between a liquid phase and a non-fluid phase. The phase-change material is disposed at ports of the fluidic network where the fluidic network is in communication with an ambient. This advantageously provides control of pressure-driven flow within the fluidic network without altering properties of fluids within the fluidic network.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for controlling fluid flow in a microfluidic system, the method comprising:
loading a liquid to a microfluidic flow network, wherein the microfluidic flow network includes two or more input/output nodes connected by one or more channels, and wherein the liquid is loaded to at least a selected input/output node;
wherein the two or more input/output nodes permit fluid to enter or leave the microfluidic flow network;
dispensing a phase-change material in a liquid phase to at least the selected input/output node after the loading the liquid to the selected input/output node, wherein the phase-change material is distinct from the liquid;
and
transitioning the phase-change material from the liquid phase to a non-fluid phase within at least the selected input/output node, wherein the phase-change material is transitioned to the non-fluid phase in some but not all of the two or more input/output nodes;
wherein the non-fluid phase is a gel.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the phase-change material causes pH buffering.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transitioning the phase-change material from the liquid phase to the non-fluid phase is governed by temperature.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the phase-change material is dispensed at a temperature other than ambient temperature and wherein the phase-change material transitions from the liquid phase to the non-fluid phase as its temperature approaches ambient temperature.

5. A method for sample analysis comprising:
performing a sample analysis procedure in a microfluidic system; and
performing the method of claim 1 wherein the phase-change material is in the non-fluid phase during the sample analysis procedure, whereby pressure-driven flow during the sample analysis procedure is reduced.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the sample analysis procedure is selected from the group consisting of: electrophoresis, isotachophoresis, chromatography, electrochromatography, enzymatic processes, chemical reactions involving one or more species in solution, chemical reactions between a species in solution and a surface-bound species, hybridization, antibody and antigen reactions, optical analyses, electrochemical sensing, and spectral analyses.

7. A method for sample analysis comprising:
performing a sample analysis procedure in a microfluidic system; and
performing the method of claim 1 wherein the phase-change material is in the liquid phase during the sample analysis procedure, whereby pressure-driven flow during the sample analysis procedure is enabled.

Assignees

• Univ Leland Stanford Junior

Inventors

• Rogacs Anita
• Santiago Juan G

Classifications

• F16K2099/0084

  Chemistry or biology, e.g. "lab-on-a-chip" technology · CPC title

• B01L2400/084

  Passive control of flow resistance · CPC title

• B01L3/502746 Primary

  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

• B01L2400/0677

  phase change valves; Meltable, freezing, dissolvable plugs; Destructible barriers · CPC title