Microfluidic devices, and methods of making and using the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9797899-B2
Application number	US-201414533949-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 5, 2014
Priority date	Nov 6, 2013
Publication date	Oct 24, 2017
Grant date	Oct 24, 2017

Abstract

The present disclosure provides methods and systems for assaying a sample. A microfluidic device to perform an assay of a sample (e.g., biological sample) is described having a sample application site, a porous component and a flow channel. The porous component provides for uniform dissolution of a reagent and mixing of the sample and reagent without filtering the sample.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A microfluidic device comprising:
a sample application site;
a flow channel in fluid communication with the sample application site; and
a porous component positioned between the sample application site and flow channel, wherein the porous component comprises:
a porous matrix comprising pores; and
unbound dry assay reagent positioned within the pores of the porous matrix,

wherein the porous matrix has a length sufficient for the unbound dry assay reagent and a sample to substantially mix, and
wherein the porous matrix is configured to uniformly mix the assay reagent into a sample mixture flowing therethrough upon exit from the porous component and into the flow channel.

2. The microfluidic device according to claim 1 , wherein the porous matrix is configured to be non-filtering with respect to the sample for which the device is configured to assay.

3. The microfluidic device according to claim 1 , wherein the porous matrix comprises pores having diameters between 1 μm and 200 μm.

4. The microfluidic device according to claim 1 , wherein the porous matrix comprises a pore volume between 1 μL and 25 μL.

5. The microfluidic device according to claim 1 , wherein the porous matrix is a frit.

6. The microfluidic device according to claim 1 , wherein the porous component further comprises a buffer.

7. The microfluidic device according to claim 6 , wherein the buffer comprises bovine serum albumin (BSA), trehalose, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) or 2-(N-morpholino) ethanesulfonic acid or a combination thereof.

8. The microfluidic device according to claim 7 , wherein the buffer comprises BSA, trehalose and PVP.

9. The microfluidic device according to claim 1 , wherein the assay reagent comprises an analyte-specific binding member.

10. The microfluidic device according to claim 9 , wherein the analyte-specific binding member comprises an antibody or analyte binding fragment thereof.

11. The microfluidic device according to claim 9 , wherein the analyte specific binding member is coupled to a detectable label.

12. The microfluidic device according to claim 11 , wherein the detectable label comprises a fluorescent dye.

13. The microfluidic device according to claim 1 , wherein the assay reagent comprises a chelating agent.

14. The microfluidic device according to claim 1 , wherein the flow channel comprises an optically transmissive wall.

15. The microfluidic device according to claim 14 , wherein the walls of the flow channel are optically transmissive to one or more of ultraviolet light, visible light and near-infrared light.

16. The microfluidic device according to claim 1 , where the sample application site is configured to receive a sample having a volume ranging from 5 μL to 2000 μL.

17. The microfluidic device according to claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to be hand held.

18. The microfluidic device according to claim 1 , wherein the porous matrix comprises a porous organic polymer.

19. A kit comprising:
a microfluidic device comprising:
a sample application site;
a flow channel in fluid communication with the sample application site; and
a porous component positioned between the sample application site and flow channel, wherein the porous component comprises a porous matrix comprising pores and unbound dry assay reagent positioned within the pores of the porous matrix, wherein the porous matrix has a length sufficient for the unbound dry assay reagent and a sample to substantially mix, and wherein the porous matrix is configured to uniformly mix the assay reagent into a sample mixture flowing therethrough upon exit from the porous component and into the flow channel; and

a container housing the device.

Assignees

• Becton Dickinson Co

Inventors

• Bornheimer Scott Joseph
• Sugarman Jeffrey
• Huang Wei
• Goldberg Edward Michael
• Tan Ming

Classifications

• B01F2215/0431

  Numerical size values, e.g. diameter of a hole or conduit, area, volume, length, width, or ratios thereof · CPC title

• B01L2200/16

  Reagents, handling or storing thereof · CPC title

• B01L2400/0406

  capillary forces · CPC title

• B01L2300/0816

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

• B01L3/5023

  with a sample being transported to, and subsequently stored in an absorbent for analysis · CPC title