Self-digitization of sample volumes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016354777-A1
Application number	US-201414900926-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 25, 2014
Priority date	Jun 25, 2013
Publication date	Dec 8, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Devices, systems and apparatuses for the discretization and manipulation of sample volumes are provided. Related methods are also provided.

First claim

1 - 139 . (canceled)

140 . A microfluidic device, comprising:
a disc-shaped body having a center region and an outer edge, the body being configured for rotating about a central axis and further comprising: a fluid inlet port located in the center region of the disc-shaped body; a flow channel having a proximal end, a distal end, and a flow axis, the flow channel in fluidic communication with the fluid inlet port; a plurality of fluidic harbors in fluidic communication with the flow channel and offset from the flow axis; and a fluid outlet port in communication with the flow channel, wherein the fluid outlet port is located closer to the center region of the disc-shaped body than the distal end of the flow channel.

141 . The microfluidic device of claim 140 , further comprising a flow cell, wherein the flow cell comprises the fluid inlet port, the fluid outlet port, and a plurality of the flow channels, wherein each of the flow channels is in fluidic communication with the fluid inlet port and the fluid outlet port.

142 . The microfluidic device of claim 141 , wherein the plurality of flow channels is configured such that the flow axis of each flow channel is perpendicular to the outer edge of the disc-shaped body.

143 . The microfluidic device of claim 141 , wherein the plurality of flow channels is configured such that the flow channels are arranged in parallel.

144 . The microfluidic device of claim 140 , wherein at least one of the fluidic harbors is at an angle other than orthogonal to the flow axis.

145 . The microfluidic device of claim 140 , wherein at least one of the fluidic harbors is at an angle orthogonal to the flow axis.

146 . The microfluidic device of claim 140 , wherein each of the fluidic harbors are in fluidic communication with the flow channel by an opening conduit.

147 . The microfluidic device of claim 140 , wherein at least one of the fluidic harbors further comprises at least one channel in fluidic communication with the flow channel.

148 . The microfluidic device of claim 140 , wherein at least one of the flow channel and the plurality of fluidic harbors comprise a hydrophobic surface.

149 . The microfluidic device of claim 140 , wherein at least one of the flow channel and the plurality of fluidic harbors comprise a fluorophilic surface.

150 . The microfluidic device of claim 141 , further comprising a common fluid reservoir, wherein the common fluid reservoir is in fluidic communication with the distal end of each of the flow channels and wherein the common fluid reservoir is in fluidic communication with the fluid outlet port.

151 . The microfluidic device of claim 140 , wherein the fluid outlet port is located closer to a center of the disc-shaped body than the fluid inlet port.

152 . The microfluidic device of claim 140 , wherein the fluid outlet port is located farther from a center of the disc-shaped body than the fluid inlet port.

153 . The microfluidic device of claim 140 , wherein the fluid outlet port is located as close to a center of the disc-shaped device as the fluid inlet port.

154 . The microfluidic device of claim 140 , further comprising a plurality of flow cells, wherein each flow cell comprises:
a plurality of flow channels; a fluid inlet port; and a fluid outlet port, wherein the fluid outlet port is located closer to the center region of the disc-shaped body than the distal ends of the flow channels.

155 . The microfluidic device of claim 141 , further comprising a plurality of the flow cells.

156 . The microfluidic device of claim 154 , wherein each of the flow cells comprises a plurality of the fluid inlet ports, a plurality of the fluid outlet ports, or a combination thereof.

157 . A microfluidic device, comprising:
a disc-shaped body having a center region, an outer edge and a central axis, the disc-shaped body being configured for rotating about the central axis and further comprising: a fluid inlet port positioned in the center region of the disc-shaped body; a flow channel having a flow axis and an outermost region, wherein the outermost region of the flow channel is the region of the flow channel that is farthest from the center region, and wherein the flow channel is in fluidic communication with the fluid inlet port; a plurality of fluidic harbors in fluidic communication with the flow channel and offset from the flow axis; and a fluid outlet port in fluidic communication with the flow channel, wherein the distance from the center region to the fluid outlet port is smaller than the distance from the center region to the outermost region of the flow channel.

158 . A method for introducing a first fluid into a microfluidic device, the method comprising:
providing a microfluidic device, comprising:
a disc-shaped body having a center region and an outer edge, the body being configured for rotating about a central axis and further comprising:
a fluid inlet port located in the center region of the disc-shaped body;
a flow channel having a proximal end, a distal end, and a flow axis, the flow channel in fluidic communication with the fluid inlet port;
a plurality of fluidic harbors in fluidic communication with the flow channel and offset from the flow axis; and
a fluid outlet port in communication with the flow channel, wherein the fluid outlet port is located closer to the center region of the disc-shaped body than the distal end of the flow channel; and
providing a second fluid to a second fluid inlet port of the microfluidic device.

159 . The method of claim 158 , further comprising rotating the microfluidic device about its central axis to load the flow channel of the microfluidic device with the second fluid.

160 . The method of claim 158 , further comprising applying pressure to the second fluid, wherein the pressure is sufficient to urge the second fluid through the flow channel of the microfluidic device.

161 . The method of claim 160 , wherein the pressure is a positive or negative pressure.

162 . The method of claim 158 , further comprising introducing a first fluid into a first fluid inlet port of the microfluidic device, wherein the first fluid inlet port and the second fluid inlet port are independently the same ports or different ports, and wherein the first fluid comprises an oil.

163 . The method of claim 158 , further comprising introducing a third fluid to a third fluid inlet port of the microfluidic device, wherein the first fluid inlet port, the second fluid inlet port, and the third fluid inlet port are independently the same ports or different ports, and wherein the third fluid comprises an oil.

Assignees

• Univ Washington Through Its Center For Commercialization

Inventors

• Chiu Daniel T
• Schneider Thomas
• Kreutz Jason E

Classifications

• B01L2200/0642

  Filling fluids into wells by specific techniques · CPC title

• B01L2200/0673

  Handling of plugs of fluid surrounded by immiscible fluid · CPC title

• B01L2400/0409

  centrifugal forces · CPC title

• B01L2200/0605

  Metering of fluids · CPC title

• B01L2400/0487

  fluid pressure, pneumatics · CPC title