Implementation of microfluidic components in a microfluidic system

{
  "publication_number": "US2005092662A1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A1",
  "title": "Implementation of microfluidic components in a microfluidic system",
  "abstract": "A system and method for integrating microfluidic components in a microfluidic system enables the microfluidic system to perform a selected microfluidic function. A capping module includes a microfluidic element for performing a microfluidic function. The capping module is stacked on a microfluidic substrate having microfluidic plumbing to incorporate the microfluidic function into the system. An infusion pump for delivering a fluid from a fluid source may be integrated in a microfluidic chip using a capping module having pumping components formed therein.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A microfluidic system, comprising: a first microchannel formed in a substrate; a first communication port coupling the first microchannel to a surface of the substrate; a first capping module defining a chamber, wherein the capping module is adapted to be stacked on the substrate and placed in communication with the microchannel; a movable membrane connected to the chamber, and an external actuator for selectively moving the membrane to vary the size of the chamber to control fluid flow from the first microchannel through the chamber. 2. The microfluidic system of claim 1, wherein the external actuator selectively deflects the membrane to block the first communication port. 3. The microfluidic system of claim 1, wherein the chamber is formed by an opening extending through the capping module. 4. The microfluldic system of claim 1, wherein the chamber is formed by a recess in the capping module in a surface opposite a surface that abuts the substrate when the capping module is stacked on the substrate. 5. The microfluidic system of claim 1, wherein the membrane forms a side wall of the chamber. 6. An infusion pump for delivering a substance, comprising: a substrate having a plurality of microchannels formed therein, wherein each microchannel includes one or more communication ports for connecting the microchannel to a surface of the substrate; a first capping module forming a pump chamber in communication with a first microchannel and second microchannel; a second capping module forming an inlet fluid regulating device in communication with the pump chamber via the first microchannel for controlling fluid flow into the pump chamber; and a third capping module forming an outlet fluid regulating device in communication with the pump chamber via the second microchannel for controlling fluid flow out of the pump chamber. 7. The pump of claim 6, wherein the first capping module includes a membrane for varying the volume of the pump chamber. 8. The pump of claim 7, further comprising an actuator for selectively displacing the membrane to vary the volume of the pump chamber. 9. The pump of claim 6, wherein the second capping module includes a membrane for selectively blocking the flow of fluid through the inlet fluid regulating device. 10. The pump of claim 9, further comprising an actuator for selectively displacing the membrane of the second capping module to selectively block fluid flow through the inlet fluid regulating device 11. The pump of claim 6, wherein the third capping module includes a membrane for selectively blocking the flow of fluid through the outlet fluid regulating device. 12. The pump of claim 11, further comprising an actuator for selectively displacing the membrane of the third capping module to selectively block fluid flow through the outlet fluid regulating device. 13. The pump of claim 6, wherein the inlet fluid regulating device communicates with a reservoir for selectively delivering fluid to the pump chamber through the inlet fluid regulating device. 14. The pump of claim 6, wherein the outlet fluid regulating device communicates with a fluid receiving component for delivering a fluid from the pump chamber to the fluid receiving component. 15. The pump of claim 6, wherein the second capping module forms a valve chamber that is tapered towards a communication port of the first microchannel. 16. The pump of claim 6, wherein the third capping module forms a fluid regulating device chamber that is tapered away from a communication port of the second microchannel. 17. A method of delivering a fluid from a fluid source, comprising the steps of: providing a pump comprising a microfluidic substrate having a first capping module stacked thereon to form a pump chamber, a second capping module stacked thereon to form an inlet fluid regulating device into the pump chamber and a third capping module stacked thereon to form an outlet fluid regulating device from the pump chamber, each capping module defining a chamber in communication with an inlet channel and an outlet channel formed the microfluidic substrate and having a flexible membrane forming a side wall of the chamber to selectively block fluid flow through the chamber; and selectively deflecting at least one of the membranes of the capping modules to pump fluid from the fluid source through the infusion pump. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of selectively deflecting comprises the steps of: deflecting the membrane of the inlet valve to isolate the fluid source from the pump chamber; and deflecting the membrane of the pump chamber to exhaust fluid from the pump chamber through the outlet fluid regulating device. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of selectively deflecting further comprises the steps of: deflecting the membrane of the outlet fluid regulating device to seal the outlet fluid regulating device, while opening the inlet fluid regulating device to allow fluid flow therethrough and maintaining the membrane of the pump chamber in a deflected state to prevent fluid flow through the pump chamber; and releasing the membrane of the pump chamber, causing the pump chamber to draw fluid from the reservoir via the open inlet fluid regulating device. 20. The method of claim 18, wherein the membrane of the inlet fluid regulating device remains in a deflected state to keep the inlet fluid regulating device closed and sealed and prevent backflow of the fluid during the step of deflecting the membrane of the pump chamber."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention relates to a microfluidic system for handling fluid samples on a microfluidic level. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method for implementing microfluidic functions in a microfluidic system.\n\nMicrofluidic devices and systems provide improved methods of performing chemical, biochemical and biological analysis and synthesis. Microfluidic devices and systems allow for the performance of multi-step, multi-species chemical operations in chip-based micro chemical analysis systems. Chip-based microfluidic systems generally comprise conventional ‘microfluidic’ elements, particularly capable of handling and analyzing chemical and biological specimens. Typically, the term microfluidic in the art refers to systems or devices having a network of processing nodes, chambers and reservoirs connected by channels, in which the channels have typical cross-sectional dimensions in the range between about 1.0 μm and about 500 μm. In the art, channels having these cross-sectional dimensions are referred to as ‘microchannels’.\n\nIn the chemical, biomedical, bioscience and pharmaceutical industries, it has become increasingly desirable to perform large numbers of chemical operations, such as reactions, separations and subsequent detection steps, in a highly parallel fashion. The high throughput synthesis, screening and analysis of (bio)chemical compounds, enables the economic discovery of new drugs and drug candidates, and the implementation of sophisticated medical diagnostic equipment.",
  "cpc": [
    "C30B 7/00",
    "B01L 2200/027",
    "B01L 2200/028",
    "B01L 2200/146",
    "B01L 2300/041",
    "B01L 2300/047",
    "B01L 2300/0681",
    "B01L 2400/0481",
    "B01L 2400/0655",
    "B01L 2400/0666",
    "B01L 3/06",
    "B01L 3/502707",
    "B01L 3/502715",
    "B01L 3/50273",
    "B01L 3/502738",
    "B01L 3/502753",
    "C30B 29/58",
    "F04B 43/043",
    "Y10T 137/0324",
    "Y10T 436/2575"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B01L 3/00",
    "C30B 7/00",
    "F04B 43/02",
    "F04B 43/04",
    "B01D 29/01",
    "B01D 35/26",
    "B01D 63/08",
    "G01N 1/02"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Cytonome Inc"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "John Gilbert",
    "Manish Deshpande"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2004-09-27",
  "publication_date": "2005-05-05",
  "priority_date": "2002-09-09",
  "application_number": "US-95147304-A",
  "family_id": "46302928",
  "cited_by_count": 106,
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}