Pulsed laser triggered high speed microfluidic switch and applications in fluorescent activated cell sorting

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016296933-A1
Application number	US-201615094919-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 8, 2016
Priority date	Aug 8, 2009
Publication date	Oct 13, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

In certain embodiments this invention provides a pulsed-laser triggered microfluidic switching mechanism that can achieve a switching time of 70 μs. This switching speed is two orders of magnitude shorter than that of the fastest switching mechanism utilized in previous μFACS.

First claim

1 . A high-speed microfluidic switch, said switch comprising:
a first microfluidic channel comprising a split into a plurality of paths, said plurality comprising at least a first path and a second path; and a chamber or second channel adjacent to said microfluidic channel and disposed such that formation of a gas or plasma bubble in said chamber or second channel redirects particles flowing into said first path so they flow into said second path.

2 . The switch of claim 1 , wherein said switch further comprises a port, a wall, or a channel between said chamber or second channel and said first channel.

3 . The switch of claim 1 , wherein said switch further comprises a wall between said between said chamber or second channel and said first channel where said wall is disposed so that formation of a gas or plasma bubble in said chamber or adjacent channel deforms the wall of said first microfluidic channel to redirect particles flowing into said first path so they flow into said second path.

4 . A high-speed microfluidic switch, said switch comprising:
a first microfluidic channel comprising a split into a plurality of paths, said plurality comprising at least a first path and a second path; a chamber or second microfluidic channel adjacent to said first microfluidic channel; a connecting port or channel connecting said chamber or microfluid channel to said first microfluidic channel; and a third channel or chamber adjacent to said chamber or second microfluidic channel disposed such that the formation of a bubble in said third channel or chamber induces a fluid flow or pressure through said connecting port or channel that redirects particles flowing into said first path so they flow into said second path.

5 . The switch of claim 1 , wherein said first microfluidic channel is a Y-shaped microchannel.

6 . The switch of claim 1 , wherein said first microfluidic channel is formed from an elastomeric material.

7 . The switch of claim 6 , wherein said elastomeric material is PDMS.

8 . The switch of claim 1 , wherein said switch has a switching time of less than about 100 μsec.

9 . (canceled)

10 . The switch of claim 1 , wherein said switch is present in a system comprising an energy source capable of forming a bubble in said chamber or adjacent channel.

11 . The switch of claim 10 , wherein said energy source is an optical energy source or microwave emitter.

12 . The switch of claim 10 , wherein said energy source is a laser.

13 . The switch of claim 1 , wherein laser excited vapor bubbles are excited in a channel next to the main sample channel.

14 . The switch of claim 1 , wherein laser excited vapor bubbles are excited in the main sample channel, or the middle channel with a nozzle opening.

15 . The switch of claim 1 , wherein vapor bubbles are excited in a liquid or gel medium.

16 . The switch of claim 15 , wherein said liquid or gel comprises light-absorbing nanoparticles and/or microparticles.

17 . The switch of claim 1 , wherein said switch is disposed on a substrate comprising a material selected from the group consisting of a polymer, a plastic, a glass, quartz, a dielectric material, a semiconductor, silicon, germanium, ceramic, and a metal or metal alloy.

18 . The switch of claim 1 , wherein said switch is integrated with other microfluidic components selected from the group consisting of PDMS channels, wells, valves.

19 . The switch of claim 1 , wherein said switch is a component of a lab-on-a-chip.

20 . The switch of claim 1 , wherein said switch is a component of a cell sorter.

21 . A system for controlling microfluidic flow, said system comprising a switch according to claim 1 , and an excitation source for forming gas bubbles in a fluid.

22 . The system of claim 21 , wherein said excitation source is a laser, a microwave source, or an ultrasonic energy source.

23 . The system of claim 21 , wherein said system further comprises components for detecting particles or cells in said system.

24 . A method for detecting or sorting particles or cells, said method comprising flowing said particle or cells through a switch according to claim 1 , and activating said switch to channel desired particles into a desired flow path.

25 . A method for detecting or sorting particles or cells, said method comprising flowing said particle or cells through a switch according to claim 4 , and activating said switch to channel desired particles into a desired flow path.

Assignees

• Univ California

Inventors

• Chiou Pei-Yu E
• Wu Ting-Hsiang S
• Teitell Michael A

Classifications

• B01L2200/0652

  Sorting or classification of particles or molecules · CPC title

• B01L3/502761 Primary

  specially adapted for handling suspended solids or molecules independently from the bulk fluid flow, e.g. for trapping or sorting beads or physically stretching molecules · CPC title

• F16K99/0028

  Valves having multiple inlets or outlets · CPC title

• B01L2300/0816

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

• F16K2099/0084

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