Systems and methods for improved performance of fluidic and microfluidic systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11434458-B2
Application number	US-201715403942-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 11, 2017
Priority date	Jul 14, 2014
Publication date	Sep 6, 2022
Grant date	Sep 6, 2022

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 system for monitoring a biological function associated with cells, comprising:
a microfluidic device having a first microchannel, a second microchannel, and a membrane located at an interface region between the first microchannel and the second microchannel, the membrane including a first side facing toward the first microchannel and a second side facing toward the second microchannel, the membrane having living cells adhered thereto; and
a fluid line for delivering a working fluid to or from the first microchannel from or to, respectively, a fluid reservoir that is disposed outside of the microfluidic device; and
a cartridge configured to removably receive the microfluidic device, the cartridge comprising a fluid-resistance element having an elongated fluid path, thereby having a first fluidic resistance that is 10-50,000 times greater than a second fluidic resistance associated with the first microchannel.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid reservoir is configured to have the pressurized gas force the flow of the working fluid through the fluid-resistance element.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein said fluid-resistance element undergoes multiple windings so as to create said elongated path.

4. The system of claim 2 , further including a pump mechanism to apply pressure to a gas within the fluid reservoir, thereby creating a pressurized gas.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the gas is substantially insoluble in the working fluid.

6. The system of claim 4 , wherein the gas is a mixture of gases, the mixture including a gas that is substantially insoluble in the working fluid.

7. The system of claim 2 , wherein the elongated fluid path is configured to store the working fluid therein.

8. A device for monitoring a biological function associated with cells, comprising:
a body having a first microchannel, a second microchannel, and a membrane located at an interface region between the first microchannel and the second microchannel, the membrane including a first side facing toward the first microchannel and a second side facing toward the second microchannel, the membrane having living cells adhered thereto;
the body further defining an internal fluid-resistance element coupled to the first microchannel, the internal fluid-resistance element comprising a substrate having an elongated fluid path, thereby having a first fluidic resistance that is 10-50,000 times greater than a second fluidic resistance associated with the first microchannel.

9. A system for monitoring a biological function associated with cells, comprising:
a microfluidic device having a first microchannel, a second microchannel, and a membrane located at an interface region between the first microchannel and the second microchannel, the membrane including a first side facing toward the first microchannel and a second side facing toward the second microchannel, the membrane having living cells adhered thereto;
a fluid reservoir disposed outside of the microfluidic device having a working fluid and a pressurized gas;
a pump mechanism in communication with the fluid reservoir to maintain a desired pressure of the pressurized gas; and
a fluid-resistance element located within a cartridge between the fluid reservoir and the first microchannel, the fluid-resistance element comprising a substrate having an elongated fluid path, thereby having a first fluidic resistance that is 10-50,000 times greater than a second fluidic resistance associated with the first microchannel.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein said fluid-resistance element undergoes multiple windings so as to create said elongated path.

11. The system of claim 9 , further including a pressure sensor within the fluid reservoir, the pump mechanism being actuated in response to a predetermined output from the pressure sensor.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the fluid-resistance element is located upstream of the first microchannel.

13. The system of claim 9 , wherein the fluid-resistance element is located downstream from the first microchannel.

14. A system, comprising:
a microfluidic device comprising a first microchannel fluidically coupled to a fluid reservoir comprising a pressurized gas, the fluid reservoir being located outside of the microfluidic device; and;
a cartridge comprising a fluid-resistance element fluidically coupled to the fluid reservoir and the first microchannel, the fluid-resistance element comprising a substrate having an elongated fluid path thereby having a first fluidic resistance that is 10-50,000 times greater than a second fluidic resistance associated with the first microchannel.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein said fluid path is a capillary channel.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein said microfluidic device further comprises a second microchannel, and a membrane located at an interface region between the first microchannel and the second microchannel.

Assignees

• Harvard College

Inventors

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

Classifications

• B01L3/5027 Primary

  by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip · CPC title

• B01L2300/0867

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

• B01L3/50273

  characterised by the means or forces applied to move the fluids · CPC title

• B01L2300/0681

  Filter · CPC title

• B01L2400/0487

  fluid pressure, pneumatics · CPC title