Abstract:
The invention provides systems, including apparatus, methods, and kits, for the microfluidic manipulation and/or detection of particles, such as cells and/or beads. The invention provides systems, including apparatus, methods, and kits, for the microfluidic manipulation and/or analysis of particles, such as cells, viruses, organelles, beads, and/or vesicles. The invention also provides microfluidic mechanisms for carrying out these manipulations and analyses. These mechanisms may enable controlled input, movement/positioning, retention/localization, treatment, measurement, release, and/or output of particles. Furthermore, these mechanisms may be combined in any suitable order and/or employed for any suitable number of times within a system. Accordingly, these combinations may allow particles to be sorted, cultured, mixed, treated, and/or assayed, among others, as single particles, mixed groups of particles, arrays of particles, heterogeneous particle sets, and/or homogeneous particle sets, among others, in series and/or in parallel. In addition, these combinations may enable microfluidic systems to be reused. Furthermore, these combinations may allow the response of particles to treatment to be measured on a shorter time scale than was previously possible. Therefore, systems of the invention may allow a broad range of cell and particle assays, such as drug screens, cell characterizations, research studies, and/or clinical analyses, among others, to be scaled down to microfluidic size. Such scaled-down assays may use less sample and reagent, may be less labor intensive, and/or may be more informative than comparable macrofluidic assays.
Abstract:
The present invention provides assay methods that increase the number of samples and/or target nucleic acids that can be analyzed in a single assay.
Abstract:
Multilevel microfluidic devices include a control line that can simultaneously actuate valves for both sample and reagent lines. Microfluidic devices are configured to contain a first reagent in a first chamber and a second reagent in a second chamber, where either or both of the first and second reagents are contained at a desired or selected pressure. Operation of a microfluidic device includes transmitting second reagent from the second chamber to the first chamber, for mixing or contact with the first reagent. Microfluidic device features such as channels, valves, chambers, can be at least partially contained, embedded, or formed by or within one or more layers or levels of an elastomeric block.
Abstract:
An apparatus for imaging one or more selected fluorescence indications from a microfluidic device. The apparatus includes an imaging path coupled to least one chamber in at least one microfluidic device. The imaging path provides for transmission of one or more fluorescent emission signals derived from one or more samples in the at least one chamber of the at least one microfluidic device. The chamber has a chamber size, the chamber size being characterized by an actual spatial dimension normal to the imaging path. The apparatus also includes an optical lens system coupled to the imaging path. The optical lens system is adapted to transmit the one or more fluorescent signals associated with the chamber.
Abstract:
An integrated fluidic circuit includes a substrate layer and a first structure coupled to the substrate layer and including a plurality of channels. The first structure is configured to provide for flow of one or more materials through the plurality of channels. The integrated fluidic circuit also includes a second structure coupled to the substrate layer. The second structure includes a plurality of control channels configured to receive an actuation pressure. The integrated fluidic circuit is characterized by a thickness of less than 1.5 mm.
Abstract:
The present invention methods and systems for determining copy number variation of a target polynucleotide in a genome of a subject including amplification based techniques. Methods can include pre-amplification of the sample followed by distribution of sample and a plurality of reaction volumes, quantitative detection of a target polynucleotide and a reference polynucleotide, and analysis so as to determine the relative copy number of the target polynucleotide sequence in the genome of the subject.
Abstract:
A variety of elastomeric-based microfluidic devices and methods for using and manufacturing such devices are provided. Certain of the devices have arrays of reaction sites to facilitate high throughput analyses. Some devices also include reaction sites located at the end of blind channels at which reagents have been previously deposited during manufacture. The reagents become suspended once sample is introduced into the reaction site. The devices can be utilized with a variety of heating devices and thus can be used in a variety of analyses requiring temperature control, including thermocycling applications such as nucleic acid amplification reactions, genotyping and gene expression analyses.
Abstract:
The present invention provides microfabricated fluidic systems and methods. Microfabricated fluidic devices of the present invention include switches that can be opened and closed to allow or block the flow of fluid through a channel in response to the pressure level in a gate of the switch. The microfabricated fluidic switches may be coupled together to perform logic functions and Boolean algebra, such as inverters, AND gates, NAND, gates, NOR gates, and OR gates. The logic gates may be coupled together to form flip-flops that latch signals. The present invention also includes microfabricated fluidic pressure multipliers that increase the pressure in a second chamber relative to a first chamber. Microfabricated fluidic devices of the present invention also include pressure sources. A pressure source of the present includes a pump coupled to a reservoir through unidirectional valves. The pressure source may be high pressure source or a low pressure source. Microfabricated fluidic devices of the present invention may also include devices that perform analog functions such as switching regulator.
Abstract:
A valve structure comprises an elastomeric block formed with first and second microfabricated recesses separated by a membrane portion of the elastomeric block. The valve is actuated by positioning a compliant electrode on a first side of the first recess proximate to and in physical communication with the membrane. Where the valve is to be electrostatically actuated, a second electrode is positioned on a second side of the first recess opposite the first side. Application of a potential difference across the electrodes causes the compliant electrode and the membrane to be attracted into the flow channel. Where the valve is to be electrostrictively actuated, a second electrode is positioned on the same side of the recess as the compliant electrode. Application of a potential difference across the electrodes causes the electrodes to be attracted such that elastomer membrane portion material between them is compressed and bows into the flow channel. Either of the electrostrictively or the electrostatically-actuated valve structures may include an electrically-conducting fluid in the second recess to serve as the compliant electrode.
Abstract:
Embodiments of the invention provide devices, methods and systems for performing microfluidic chromatography. Particular embodiments provide microfluidic chromatography column devices which can perform chemical separation using small sample volumes and low pressure differentials across the column. One embodiment provides a microfluidic chromatography column device comprising a first, second and third capillary tube. A chromatographic packing is disposed in the second tube with a first and second support layer disposed on opposite ends of the second tube. The support layers are disposed in a substantially flat orientation within the tube. An external coupling joins the tubes such that the tubes are fluidically sealed. The device is configured to have a fluidic resistance such that a pressure differential across the column of less than about 10 psi produces a flow rate through the device of at least about 0.5 ml/min for a liquid solution.