The present invention relates to a fluid supply unit and to a method of supplying a fluid to a microfluidic device.
Droplet-based liquid transfer is known e.g. from US 2004/0058452 A1, WO 95/17965 A1, WO 03/004275 A1, DE 10017791 A1, or U.S. Pat. No. 5,204,268 A.
It is an object of the invention to provide an improved droplet-based liquid transfer in particular for supplying a fluid to a microfluidic device. The object is solved by the independent claim(s). Further embodiments are shown by the dependent claim(s).
A fluid supply unit according to embodiments of the present invention comprises a fluid dispenser with an orifice adapted for dispensing a fluid, and a microfluidic device having an inlet port located at one of the faces of the microfluidic device. The fluid supply unit is adapted for establishing a fluidic contact between a droplet formed at the fluid dispenser's orifice and an inlet port of a microfluidic device. The fluid supply unit is further adapted for electrophoretically moving charged compounds from the droplet towards the inlet port.
According to embodiments of the present invention, a droplet of fluid is formed at the fluid dispenser's orifice, and when the droplet gets in touch with the inlet port of a microfluidic device, fluidic contact between the droplet and the inlet port is established. By making the droplet adhere to the inlet port, fluids like e.g. solvents, fluid samples, and buffer solutions can be supplied to the inlet port.
In prior art solutions, the microfluidic device comprised a number of wells, with a fluids being supplied to a respective one of these wells. In order to avoid carry over, the number of fluids to be processed has often been limited by the number of wells.
According to embodiments of the present invention, droplet-based fluidic coupling is used for supplying fluids to a microfluidic device. Here, carry over is not a problem, because both the fluid dispenser and the surface area around the inlet port can easily be rinsed, in order to remove traces of fluids that have been supplied earlier. Using droplet-based fluidic coupling, the amount of dead volume in the fluid supply flow path is significantly reduced. As a consequence, carry over is no longer a problem.
Droplet-based fluidic coupling might e.g. be used for consecutively supplying a large number of different fluids to an inlet port of a microfluidic device. Thus, a single microfluidic chip may perform a large number of different processing tasks before it has to be replaced, and the price per measurement may be considerably reduced.
The concept of droplet-based coupling is well-suited for microfluidic systems, because only a small volume of fluid is required. This is particularly advantageous when analysing valuable samples.
Another advantage is that the tasks of supplying a droplet of fluid to the inlet port of a microfluidic chip, processing the fluid, and removing the droplet may be carried out in an automated manner. Embodiments of the present invention provide a contribution to automated handling and processing of large numbers of different fluids. For example, the fluid supply unit according to embodiments of the present invention might cooperate with an auto sampler unit capable of supplying well-defined volumes of various different fluids.
According to a preferred embodiment, the fluid supply unit comprises a positioning unit, with the fluid dispenser being mounted to the positioning unit. Thus, the fluid dispenser can be moved relative to the microfluidic device. For example, the positioning unit might be used for moving the fluid dispenser's orifice to a well-defined position relative to the inlet port before establishing fluidic contact between the droplet and the inlet port. Furthermore, the positioning unit might e.g. be used for moving the fluid dispenser to a flush position, in order to flush the fluid dispenser with solvent or new sample. In case the microfluidic device comprises several inlet ports, the positioning unit might e.g. be used for driving the fluid dispenser to a selected inlet port. The movements and positioning operations performed by the positioning unit might e.g. be specified by using some kind of programming language, in order to realize an automatic operation of the fluid supply unit.
In a further preferred embodiment, the inlet port is formed by an inlet channel that extends to one of the faces of the microfluidic device. Preferably, the width and the height of the inlet port correspond to the width and the height of the inlet channel. The sample supply flow path does not comprise any fluid reservoirs or wells. Hence, the amount of dead volume is considerably reduced, and due to the reduced dead volume, sample carry over is reduced. After a droplet of fluid sample has adhered to the inlet port, sample compounds may be directly supplied to the inlet channel.
According to a preferred embodiment, the positioning unit is adapted for moving the fluid dispenser to a position vis-à-vis the inlet port, with the fluid dispenser's orifice being aligned with the inlet port. Thus, it is made sure that a droplet formed at the fluid dispenser's orifice will get in contact with the inlet port.
There exist two different possibilities for establishing fluidic contact between the droplet and the inlet port. According to a first embodiment, the fluid dispenser is moved to a position vis-à-vis the inlet port, at a predefined distance from the inlet port. Then, a droplet is formed at the fluid dispenser's orifice. By further supplying fluid to the orifice, the size of the droplet is continuously increased until the droplet gets in contact with the inlet port. Now, the droplet adheres both to the fluid dispenser and to the microfluidic device and bridges the gap between the fluid dispenser's orifice and the inlet port. When fluidic contact is established, supply of fluid to the fluid dispenser is stopped. This first embodiment allows for a precise control of the fluidic coupling between the droplet and the microfluidic device.
According to a second embodiment of the invention, fluidic contact between a droplet adhering to the fluid dispenser's orifice and the microfluidic device is established by forming a droplet at the fluid dispenser's orifice, and by moving the fluid dispenser in the direction towards the inlet port until the droplet gets in touch with the inlet port. When the droplet adheres both to the fluid dispenser and the microfluidic device, the forward movement is stopped. In this second embodiment, droplet formation precedes the movement of the fluid dispenser in the direction towards the inlet port.
Charged compounds in the droplet are electrokinetically moved from the droplet to the inlet port and into the inlet channel. The fluid itself is not drawn into the inlet channel, but the charged compounds dissolved in the fluid are conveyed towards the inlet channel.
In a preferred embodiment, at least one of a voltage or a current is applied between the fluid dispenser and the fluid in the inlet channel. As a result, charged compounds in the droplet are subjected to an electric field that moves them in the direction towards the inlet port. The charged compounds in the fluid are electrokinetically moved to the microfluidic device's inlet channel.
In a preferred embodiment, the fluid dispenser comprises a first electrode adapted for contacting the droplet formed at the fluid dispenser's orifice. Further preferably, the microfluidic device comprises a second electrode adapted for contacting the fluid in the inlet channel of the microfluidic device. Further preferably, at least one of a voltage or a current is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode. Thus, an electric field is generated, the electric field being adapted for moving charged compounds from the droplet towards the inlet channel of the microfluidic device.
According to a preferred embodiment, the fluid supply unit is adapted for detecting when the droplet formed at the fluid dispenser's tip gets in fluidic contact with the inlet port of the microfluidic device. In a further preferred embodiment, the fluid supply unit comprises a detection unit adapted for detecting an electrical property indicating fluidic contact between the droplet and the inlet port. For example, the detection unit might be adapted for detecting the onset of a current related to charged compounds moving from the droplet to the inlet channel. Alternatively, the detection unit might e.g. be adapted for determining one of AC conductivity, DC conductivity, AC resistance, DC resistance.
In a further preferred embodiment, the detection unit is connected to a first electrode electrically coupled with the droplet and to a second electrode electrically coupled with the fluid in the inlet channel. Further preferably, the detection unit is connected between the above-described first and second electrode.
In a further preferred embodiment, the electrical property determined by the detection unit is used for controlling operation of the fluid supply unit. For example, if fluidic contact between the droplet and the inlet port is established by continuously increasing the size of the droplet, supply of further fluid might be stopped as soon as the droplet has adhered to the microfluidic device's inlet port. For example, a metering device fluidically coupled with the fluid dispenser's orifice might be controlled in accordance with the electrical property determined by the detection unit.
Alternatively, if fluidic contact between the droplet and the inlet port is established by moving the fluid dispenser in the direction towards the microfluidic device, the forward movement of the fluid dispenser might be stopped as soon as the droplet has touched the microfluidic device's inlet port. For example, in this embodiment, the positioning unit might be controlled in accordance with the electrical property determined by the detection unit.
According to a preferred embodiment, a metering device is fluidically connected to the fluid dispenser. The metering device is capable of precisely metering a volume of fluid. For example, by controlling the piston movement of the metering device, a well-defined volume of fluid may be supplied to the fluid dispenser. For example, the metering device might supply a volume of fluid required for forming a droplet of fluid at the fluid dispenser's orifice. In a preferred embodiment, the fluid supplied to the fluid dispenser is one of: a solvent, a fluid sample, a buffering solution.
According to an alternative embodiment, the fluid supply unit comprises a piston pump fluidically connected to the fluid dispenser. A piston pump is capable of supplying a volume of fluid with the required accuracy.
In a further preferred embodiment, an auto-sampling unit capable of supplying a plurality of different fluids is fluidically connected to the fluid dispenser. The auto-sampling unit might e.g. comprise a plurality of wells filled with different fluids, with the auto-sampling unit being adapted for selecting one of the plurality of different fluids, for aspirating the respective fluid, and for supplying a well-defined volume of said fluid to the fluid dispenser. The fluids might e.g. comprise one or more of fluid samples, solvents, buffer solutions. In a preferred embodiment, the fluid dispenser is flushed before supplying a droplet of fluid sample to an inlet port of a microfluidic device. By flushing the fluid dispenser, traces of former samples are removed.
According to further preferred embodiments, the inlet port of the microfluidic device is either located at a side face of the microfluidic device, or at the top surface of the microfluidic device. In a further preferred embodiment, the microfluidic device comprises a throughhole extending from the top surface to the bottom surface, with an inlet channel extending into the throughhole. Preferably, the dimensions of the throughhole are chosen such that a droplet supplied to the throughhole is held by adhesive forces. Now, charged compounds in the droplet may be electrokinetically transported into the inlet channel.
In a further preferred embodiment, the microfluidic device comprises a plurality of inlet ports. For example, by supplying different fluid samples to different inlet ports, problems related to carry over can be reduced.
According to a preferred embodiment, the inlet port of the microfluidic device is enclosed by a hydrophilic surface patch. When a droplet of aqueous solution gets in fluidic contact with the surface patch, the aqueous solution wets the surface patch. Hence, the hydrophilic surface patch defines the area where the droplet adheres to the microfluidic device. In a further preferred embodiment, the hydrophilic surface patch is surrounded by a ring-shaped hydrophobic region. Aqueous solution does not adhere to the hydrophobic surface region. The ring-shaped hydrophobic region is helpful for defining the spot where the droplet adheres to the microfluidic device. In a further preferred embodiment, at least one of the hydrophilic region and the hydrophobic region is created by subjecting a surface of the microfluidic device to some kind of surface treatment. The surface treatment might e.g. comprise plasma treatment, treatment with chemicals, treatment with silanes, treatment with fluorine agents, etc.
In a preferred embodiment, the microfluidic device comprises a separation system adapted for separating compounds of a fluid sample, with the fluid sample being supplied via the inlet channel. Further preferably, the separation system is an electrophoresis system adapted for electrophoretically separating charged compounds according to their respective mobilities. For example, charged compounds introduced via droplet-based coupling may be electrokinetically moved to an injection point of the electrophoretic separation system. Then, the charged compounds are separated according to their respective mobilities.
In a further preferred embodiment, the microfluidic device is adapted for performing an isotachophoretic separation of a sample's compounds. In isotachophoretic separation, an enrichment of sample compounds is accomplished by consecutively supplying different buffer solutions with different conductivities to the separation system. Droplet-based fluidic coupling according to embodiments of the present invention is well-suited for consecutively supplying different buffer solutions to the separation system.
A microfluidic device according to embodiments of the present invention comprises an inlet channel extending to one of the faces of the microfluidic device, thereby forming an inlet port, with the dimensions of the inlet port corresponding to the dimensions of the inlet channel.
The microfluidic device according to embodiments of the present invention does not comprise any wells or sample reservoirs. Using droplet-based fluidic coupling, compounds of a fluid are directly supplied to the inlet channel of the microfluidic device. Hence, the amount of dead volume in the fluid supply flow path is reduced.
Embodiments of the invention can be partly or entirely embodied or supported by one or more suitable software programs, which can be stored on or otherwise provided by any kind of data carrier, and which might be executed in or by any suitable data processing unit. Software programs or routines can be preferably applied for controlling the task of establishing fluidic contact between the droplet and the inlet port of the microfluidic device.
Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of embodiments of the present invention will be readily appreciated and become better understood by reference to the following more detailed description of embodiments in connection with the accompanied drawing(s). Features that are substantially or functionally equal or similar will be referred to by the same reference sign(s).
The inlet channel 4 is filled with buffer solution. The microfluidic device 1 comprises a first electrode 12, the first electrode 12 being in fluidic contact with the buffer solution in the inlet channel 4. The fluid dispenser 7 comprises a second electrode 13, the second electrode 13 being in fluidic contact with the fluid sample in the supply channel 10. Both the first electrode 12 and the second electrode 13 are connected to a voltage supply 14. The voltage supply 14 is adapted for applying a voltage between the buffer solution in the inlet channel 4 and the fluid sample in the supply channel 10.
The set-up further comprises a detection unit 15 adapted for detecting an electrical property, like e.g. resistance, conductivity, resistance, etc. In the embodiment shown in
By continuously supplying fluid sample to the orifice 8, the size of the droplet 11 is continuously increased. The fluid sample might e.g. be supplied by a fluid supply unit fluidically connected to the supply channel 10. As the droplet 11 becomes bigger and bigger, it touches the inlet port 6.
This situation is depicted in
When applying a voltage between the electrodes 12 and 13, an electric field is set up, and charged compounds of the fluid sample in the droplet 11 are electrokinetically moved by the electric field. For example, if the first electrode 12 is set to a positive potential relative to the second electrode 13, negatively charged compounds 16, like e.g. negatively charged DNA fragments, are electrokinetically moved towards the inlet port 6. Thus, charged compounds are electrokinetically transported into the microfluidic device 1. There, these compounds might e.g. be subjected to further analysis. As soon as the droplet 11 adheres to the microfluidic device 1 and establishes a fluidic contact between the inlet channel 4 and the supply channel 10, the ion current between the electrodes 12 and 13 starts flowing. The onset of this current may be detected by the detection unit 15. The detection unit 15 is capable of detecting the point of time when fluidic contact between the droplet 11 and the inlet port 6 is established. Instead of current, the detection unit 15 might as well be adapted for monitoring conductivity or resistance.
In a first embodiment, the position of the fluid dispenser relative to the microfluidic device is fixed. In this embodiment, fluidic contact between the droplet and the inlet channel is established by increasing the size of the droplet until the droplet gets in contact with the inlet port. In an alternative embodiment, the fluid dispenser is mounted on a positioning unit, with the positioning unit being adapted for positioning the fluid dispenser relative to the microfluidic device. In this embodiment, fluidic contact between the droplet formed at the fluid dispenser's orifice and the inlet port is established by moving the fluid dispenser in the direction towards the inlet port and/or by increasing the size of the droplet.
The positioning unit 17 is adapted for adjusting the position of the fluid dispenser 19 relative to one or more inlet ports 21, 22 of a microfluidic device 23. For example, for supplying a sample to inlet port 21, the fluid dispenser's orifice is moved to a position vis-à-vis the inlet port 21. Then, a droplet is formed at the fluid dispenser's orifice, and the size of the droplet is increased until it bridges the gap between the fluid dispenser 19 and the inlet port 21. Now, charged compounds of the sample can be electrokinetically moved into the inlet port 21.
The set-up shown in
After traces of former samples have been removed, new sample may be supplied to one of the inlet ports 21, 22 of the microfluidic device 23. The positioning unit 17 moves the fluid dispenser 19 from the waste reservoir 24 to a position vis-à-vis the respective inlet port. The supply unit supplies the new sample to the fluid dispenser 19, thereby forming a droplet at the fluid dispenser's orifice. As the droplet gets bigger, fluidic contact between the droplet and the respective inlet port is established. Now, compounds of the new sample may be supplied to the respective inlet port.
The supply unit might e.g. be a piston pump, a metering device, an auto sampler unit, etc.
After a respective sample or solvent has been drawn into the needle 28, the needle 28 is moved to a needle seat 34, as shown in
During operation of the auto sampler unit, it might become necessary to rinse the needle 28. For this purpose, the auto sampler unit comprises a flush port 37 adapted for rinsing the needle 28.
In the embodiments that have been discussed so far, the droplet of fluid sample has been supplied to an inlet port located at a side face of the microfluidic device.
The embodiments of the present invention are capable of consecutively supplying different samples to a microfluidic device. However, before a droplet of new sample can be supplied to the through hole 39, the droplet 45 of former sample has to be removed. In
The surface structure shown in
For supplying a fluid sample to the electrophoresis chip 54, a capillary 62 is moved to a position right next to the inlet port 61, and a droplet 63 is formed at the capillary's outlet. The size of the droplet 63 is increased until it adheres to a surface region around the inlet port 61, thereby establishing a fluidic contact with the fluid in the injection channel 59.
The set-up shown in
As soon as the charged compounds have passed the injection point 58, electrophoretic separation may be started. A potential difference is applied between a third electrode located in the upper well 56 and a fourth electrode located in the lower well 57. Driven by this potential difference, the charged sample compounds injected at the injection point 58 are conveyed through the separation channel 55. During their passage through the separation channel 55, the sample compounds are separated according to their respective mobilities. The electrophoresis chip 54 might further comprise a detection unit for detecting the arrival of the sample compounds after they have travelled through the separation channel 55.
The electrophoresis chip 54 might further comprise a well 68 fluidically coupled with the injection channel 59. The well 68 might contain a reference sample with one or more compounds having well-known electrophoretic properties. By supplying the reference sample to the separation channel 55, a calibration of the electrophoresis system can be performed.
The fluid dispenser 69 comprises a first electrode 74 adapted for electrically contacting the fluid in the fluid dispenser's supply channel 75. In case the fluid dispenser 69 is fluidically coupled with an auto sampler unit, the auto sampler unit's needle seat (e.g. the needle seat 34 shown in
In the embodiment shown in
Due to this distribution of currents, negatively charged compounds located near the droplet's surface are attracted to the ring-shaped electrode 77, while negatively charged compounds located in the droplet's inner core are moved through the inlet port 70 and into the inlet channel 72.
Contaminations and dirt particles are mainly located at the droplet's surface. By applying currents as shown in
In the embodiments described so far, the fluid dispenser has been responsible both for supplying a droplet of fluid and for electrically contacting the droplet. However, as depicted in
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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06119973.3 | Sep 2006 | EP | regional |