Claims
- 1. A method of mixing a sample in a microfluidic cavity comprising:
(a) introducing said sample into a device comprising a microfluidic cavity comprising:
(i) at least one gas pocket; and (ii) a substrate comprising at least one biological binding molecule; and (b) altering the volume of said gas pocket to mix said sample such that said target analyte binds to said biological binding molecule.
- 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said gas pocket further comprises a heater and said altering is done by heating and cooling said gas pocket.
- 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said altering is done by the application of sonic waves to said microfluidic cavity.
- 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said device further comprises a PZT film and said altering is done by oscillating said gas pocket with sonic waves.
- 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said microfluidic cavity is a channel in a serpentine configuration, and said channel comprises a plurality of biological binding molecules distributed therein.
- 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said microfluidic cavity is a microfluidic chamber, and said microfluidic chamber comprises a plurality of biological binding molecules distributed therein.
- 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said microfluidic cavity comprises an array of different biological binding molecules.
- 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said substrate comprises electrodes with biological binding molecules attached thereto.
- 9. The method according to any one of claims 1 or 5-8, wherein said biological binding molecules are nucleic acids.
- 10. The method according to claim 1, wherein said substrate comprises a material selected from the group consisting of ceramics, printed circuit board, and glass.
- 11. The method according to claim 1, wherein said microfluidic cavity has an indentation within a wall thereof, such that upon introduction of said sample, said gas pocket is at least partially defined between said indentation and said sample.
- 12. The method according to claim 1, wherein said microfluidic cavity has a plurality of indentations within one or more walls thereof, such that upon introduction of said sample, a plurality of gas pockets are at least partially defined between said indentations and said sample.
- 13. A method of detecting a target analyte in a sample comprising:
(a) introducing said sample into a device comprising a microfluidic cavity comprising:
(i) at least one gas pocket; and (ii) a substrate comprising at least one biological binding molecule; (b) altering the volume of said gas pocket to mix said sample such that said target analyte binds to said biological binding molecule; and (c) detecting the presence of said target analyte.
- 14. The method according to claim 13 wherein said gas pocket further comprises a heater and said altering is done by heating and cooling said gas pocket.
- 15. The method according to claim 13 wherein said altering is done by the application of sonic waves to said microfluidic cavity.
- 16. The method according to claim 13, wherein said device further comprises a PZT film and said altering is done by oscillating said gas pocket with sonic waves.
- 17. The method according to claim 13, wherein said microfluidic cavity is a channel in a serpentine configuration, and said channel comprises a plurality of biological binding molecules distributed therein.
- 18. The method according to claim 13, wherein said microfluidic cavity is a microfluidic chamber, and said microfluidic chamber comprises a plurality of biological binding molecules distributed therein.
- 19. The method according to claim 13, wherein said microfluidic cavity comprises an array of different biological binding molecules.
- 20. The method according to claim 13, wherein said substrate comprises electrodes with biological binding molecules attached thereto.
- 21. The method according to any one of claims 13-20, wherein said biological binding molecules are nucleic acids.
- 22. The method according to claim 13-20, wherein said detecting is selected from the group consisting of detecting fluorescence, detecting the change in an electrical property, and detecting the an electron transfer moiety.
- 23. The method according to claim 13, wherein said substrate comprises a material selected from the group consisting of ceramics, printed circuit board, and glass.
- 24. The method according to claim 13, wherein said microfluidic cavity has an indentation within a wall thereof, such that upon introduction of said sample, said gas pocket is at least partially defined between said indentation and said sample.
- 25. The method according to claim 13, wherein said microfluidic cavity has a plurality of indentations within one or more walls thereof, such that upon introduction of said sample, a plurality of gas pockets are at least partially defined between said indentations and said sample.
- 26. A method for mixing a solution within a microfluidic chamber comprising:
(a) introducing a liquid into a microfluidic cavity, such that a gas pocket exists within the liquid; and (b) applying sonic waves to said gas pocket, thereby resulting in the mixing of said solution within said microfluidic cavity.
- 27. The method according to claim 26, wherein said microfluidic cavity has an indentation within a wall thereof, such that upon introduction of said liquid said gas pocket is at least partially defined between said indentation and said liquid.
- 28. The method according to claim 26, wherein said gas pocket is a gas bubble within said microfluidic cavity.
- 29. The method according to claim 26, wherein said microfluidic cavity is a microfluidic chamber.
- 30. The method according to claim 29, wherein said microfluidic chamber further comprises an array of probe molecules enclosed therein.
- 31. The method according to claim 30, wherein said probe molecules are in contact with an electrode, such that an interaction with said probe molecule by a target molecule may be detected by a change in an electrical property.
- 32. A method of detecting the presence of a target molecule in a sample solution:
(a) introducing a sample solution into a microfluidic chamber such that a gas pocket exists within the solution, wherein said microfluidic chamber comprises an array of probe molecules; (b) applying sonic waves to said gas pocket, thereby resulting in the mixing of said solution within said microfluidic chamber; and (c) detecting an interaction of a target molecule form said sample solution with a probe molecule of said array, thereby detecting the presence of said target molecule in said sample solution.
- 33. The method according to claim 32, wherein said target molecule is labeled with a detectable reporter.
- 34. The method according to claim 33, wherein said detectable reporter is selected from the group consisting of radioactive, fluorescent, and electrochemical.
- 35. A method of detecting a target analyte in a sample comprising:
(a) introducing said sample into a device comprising a microfluidic cavity, wherein said microfluidic cavity is a channel in a serpentine configuration, and said channel comprises a plurality of biological binding molecules distributed therein; (b) oscillating the sample within said channel, such that said target analyte binds to said biological binding molecule; and (c) detecting the presence of said target analyte.
- 36. The method according to claim 35, wherein said detecting is selected from the group consisting of detecting fluorescence, detecting the change in an electrical property, and detecting the an electron transfer moiety.
- 37. A method of mixing a sample in a microfluidic cavity comprising:
(a) introducing said sample into a device comprising a microfluidic cavity, wherein said microfluidic cavity is a channel in a serpentine configuration; and (b) oscillating the sample within said channel.
- 38. A microfluidic device comprising:
(a) a body defining a microfluidic chamber having an indentation within a wall thereof; (b) a means for applying sonic frequency to said microfluidic cavity.
- 39. The microfluidic device according to claim 38, wherein said means for applying sonic frequency is a PZT film.
- 40. The microfluidic device according to any one of claims 38 or 39, wherein said microfluidic cavity has a plurality of indentations within one or more walls thereof.
- 41. A microfluidic device comprising:
at least one microfluidic cavity having an indentation therein, wherein said microfluidic cavity has an indentation within a wall thereof, such that upon introduction of a liquid a gas pocket is at least partially defined between said indentation and said liquid, whereby application of sonic waves to the gas pocket results in mixing of the liquid within said at least one microfluidic cavity.
- 42. The microfluidic device according to claim 41, wherein said microfluidic cavity is a microfluidic chamber.
- 43. The microfluidic device according to claim 42, wherein said microfluidic chamber further comprises an array of probes molecules enclosed therein.
- 44. The microfluidic device according to claim 43, wherein said probe molecules are in contact with an electrode, such that an interaction with said probe molecule by a target molecule may be detected by a change in an electrical property.
- 45. The microfluidic device according to claim 44, wherein said electrical property is impedance.
- 46. The microfluidic device according to claim 41 further comprising:
means for applying sonic waves to said microfluidic cavity.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §120 of copending application U.S. Ser. No. 091993,342, filed Nov. 5, 2001, hereby expressly incorporated by reference.
Continuations (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09993342 |
Nov 2001 |
US |
Child |
10199948 |
Jul 2002 |
US |