Claims
- 1. A microfluidic device comprising:
a substrate shaped so as to provide the device with an axis of rotation about which the device may be rotated; and a plurality of microvolumes at least partially defined by the substrate, each microvolume comprising a first submicrovolume and a second submicrovolume that is in fluid communication with the first submicrovolume when the device is rotated, the plurality of microvolumes being arranged in the device such that fluid in the first submicrovolumes of multiple of the microvolumes is transported to the second submicrovolumes of the associated microvolumes when the device is rotated about the rotational axis.
- 2. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 wherein the second microvolumes are lumens.
- 3. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 wherein the device comprises a mechanism at the rotational axis that facilitates the device being rotated about the rotational axis.
- 4. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 wherein the substrate defines a groove or hole at the rotational axis that facilitates the device being rotated about the rotational axis.
- 5. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 wherein a center of mass of the device is at the rotational axis.
- 6. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 wherein a center of mass of the device is at the rotational axis and the substrate defines a groove or hole at the rotational axis that facilitates the device being rotated about the rotational axis.
- 7. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 wherein the device is disc shaped, the substrate defining a groove or hole at the rotational axis of the disc that facilitates the device being rotated about the rotational axis.
- 8. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 wherein fluid in the first submicrovolumes is transported to the second submicrovolumes when the device is rotated so that a force of at least 0.01 g is applied to fluid in the first submicrovolumes.
- 9. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 wherein fluid in the first submicrovolumes is transported to the second submicrovolumes when the device is rotated so that a force of at least 0.01 g is applied to fluid in the first submicrovolumes.
- 10. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 wherein fluid in the first submicrovolumes is transported to the second submicrovolumes when the device is rotated so that a force of at least 1 g is applied to fluid in the first submicrovolumes.
- 11. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 wherein fluid in the first submicrovolumes is transported to the second submicrovolumes when the device is rotated so that a force of at least 10 g is applied to fluid in the first submicrovolumes.
- 12. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 wherein fluid in the first submicrovolumes is transported to the second submicrovolumes when the device is rotated so that a force of at least 100 g is applied to fluid in the first submicrovolumes.
- 13. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 wherein fluid in the first submicrovolumes is transported to the second submicrovolumes when the device is rotated at least 10 rpm.
- 14. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 wherein fluid in the first submicrovolumes is transported to the second submicrovolumes when the device is rotated at least 50 rpm.
- 15. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 wherein fluid in the first submicrovolumes is transported to the second submicrovolumes when the device is rotated at least 100 rpm.
- 16. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 wherein the second microvolumes are lumens having a cross sectional diameter of less than 2.5 mm.
- 17. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 wherein the second microvolumes are lumens having a cross sectional diameter of less than 1 mm.
- 18. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 wherein the second microvolumes are lumens having a cross sectional diameter of less than 500 microns.
- 19. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 wherein the microfluidic device comprises at least 4 microvolumes disposed about the rotational axis.
- 20. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 wherein the microfluidic device comprises at least 8 microvolumes disposed about the rotational axis.
- 21. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 wherein the microfluidic device comprises at least 12 microvolumes disposed about the rotational axis.
- 22. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 wherein the microfluidic device comprises at least 24 microvolumes disposed about the rotational axis.
- 23. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 wherein the microfluidic device comprises at least 96 microvolumes disposed about the rotational axis.
- 24. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 wherein the microfluidic device comprises at least 200 microvolumes disposed about the rotational axis.
- 25. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 wherein the volume of fluid delivered from the first submicrovolume to the second microvolume of a given microvolume upon rotation of the device is within 50% of the volume of fluid delivered from the first submicrovolumes to the second microvolumes of any other microvolumes when a same volume of fluid is added to the different first submicrovolumes.
- 26. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 wherein the volume of fluid delivered from the first submicrovolume to the second microvolume of a given microvolume upon rotation of the device is within 25% of the volume of fluid delivered from the first submicrovolumes to the second microvolumes of any other microvolumes when a same volume of fluid is added to the different first submicrovolumes.
- 27. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 wherein the volume of fluid delivered from the first submicrovolume to the second microvolume of a given microvolume upon rotation of the device is within 10% of the volume of fluid delivered from the first submicrovolumes to the second microvolumes of any other microvolumes when a same volume of fluid is added to the different first submicrovolumes.
- 28. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 wherein the volume of fluid delivered from the first submicrovolume to the second microvolume of a given microvolume upon rotation of the device is within 5% of the volume of fluid delivered from the first submicrovolumes to the second microvolumes of any other microvolumes when a same volume of fluid is added to the different first submicrovolumes.
- 29. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 wherein the volume of fluid delivered from the first submicrovolume to the second microvolume of a given microvolume upon rotation of the device is within 2% of the volume of fluid delivered from the first submicrovolumes to the second microvolumes of any other microvolumes when a same volume of fluid is added to the different first submicrovolumes.
- 30. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 wherein the volume of fluid delivered from the first submicrovolume to the second microvolume of a given microvolume upon rotation of the device is within 1% of the volume of fluid delivered from the first submicrovolumes to the second microvolumes of any other microvolumes when a same volume of fluid is added to the different first submicrovolumes.
- 31. A microfluidic device according to claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises a member of the group consisting of polymethylmethacrylate, polycarbonate, polyethylene polypropylene, polystyrene, cellulose acetate, cellulose nitrate, polysulfones, styrene copolymers, glass, and fused silica.
- 32. A microfluidic device according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is optically transparent.
- 33. A microfluidic method comprising:
taking a microfluidic device comprising a substrate, and a plurality of microvolumes at least partially defined by the substrate, each microvolume comprising a first and a second submicrovolume where the first and second submicrovolumes are in fluid communication with each other when the device is rotated about a rotational axis of the device; adding fluid to a plurality of the first submicrovolumes; and rotating the device about the rotational axis of the device to cause fluid in the first submicrovolumes to be transferred to the second submicrovolumes.
- 34. A microfluidic method according to claim 33 wherein the device comprises a mechanism at the rotational axis that facilitates the device being rotated about the rotational axis.
- 35. A microfluidic method according to claim 33 wherein a center of mass of the device is at the rotational axis and the substrate defines a groove or hole at the rotational axis that is at least partially used to hold the device as it is rotated about the rotational axis.
- 36. A microfluidic method according to claim 33 wherein the device is disc shaped, the substrate defining a groove or hole at the rotational axis of the disc that is at least partially used to hold the device as it is rotated about the rotational axis.
- 37. A microfluidic method according to claim 33 wherein at least 0.01 g is applied to fluid in the first submicrovolumes during rotation of the device to cause fluid from the first submicrovolumes to be transferred to the second submicrovolumes.
- 38. A microfluidic method according to claim 33 wherein at least 0.1 g is applied to fluid in the first submicrovolumes during rotation of the device to cause fluid from the first submicrovolumes to be transferred to the second submicrovolumes.
- 39. A microfluidic method according to claim 33 wherein at least 1 g is applied to fluid in the first submicrovolumes during rotation of the device to cause fluid from the first submicrovolumes to be transferred to the second submicrovolumes.
- 40. A microfluidic method according to claim 33 wherein at least 10 g is applied to fluid in the first submicrovolumes during rotation of the device to cause fluid from the first submicrovolumes to be transferred to the second submicrovolumes.
- 41. A microfluidic method according to claim 33 wherein at least 100 g is applied to fluid in the first submicrovolumes during rotation of the device to cause fluid from the first submicrovolumes to be transferred to the second submicrovolumes.
- 42. A microfluidic method according to claim 33 wherein the device is rotated at least 10 rpm.
- 43. A microfluidic method according to claim 33 wherein the device is rotated at least 50 rpm.
- 44. A microfluidic method according to claim 33 wherein the device is rotated at least 100 rpm.
- 45. A microfluidic method according to claim 33 wherein the second submicrovolumes are lumens having a cross sectional diameter of less than 2.5 mm.
- 46. A microfluidic method according to claim 33 wherein the second submicrovolumes are lumens having a cross sectional diameter of less than 1 mm.
- 47. A microfluidic method according to claim 33 wherein the second submicrovolumes are lumens having a cross sectional diameter of less than 500 microns.
- 48. A microfluidic method according to claim 33 wherein fluid is added to at least 4 different first submicrovolumes and transferred to the associated second submicrovolumes during rotation.
- 49. A microfluidic method according to claim 33 wherein fluid is added to at least 8 different first submicrovolumes and transferred to the associated second submicrovolumes during rotation.
- 50. A microfluidic method according to claim 33 wherein fluid is added to at least 12 different first submicrovolumes and transferred to the associated second submicrovolumes during rotation.
- 51. A microfluidic method according to claim 33 wherein fluid is added to at least 24 different first submicrovolumes and transferred to the associated second submicrovolumes during rotation.
- 52. A microfluidic method according to claim 33 wherein fluid is added to at least 96 different first submicrovolumes and transferred to the associated second submicrovolumes during rotation.
- 53. A microfluidic method according to claim 33 wherein fluid is added to at least 200 different first submicrovolumes and transferred to the associated second submicrovolumes during rotation.
- 54. A microfluidic method according to claim 33 wherein the volume of fluid delivered from the first submicrovolume to the second microvolume of a given microvolume upon rotation of the device is within 50% of the volume of fluid delivered from the first submicrovolumes to the second microvolumes of any other microvolumes when a same volume of fluid is added to the different first submicrovolumes.
- 55. A microfluidic method according to claim 33 wherein the volume of fluid delivered from the first submicrovolume to the second microvolume of a given microvolume upon rotation of the device is within 25% of the volume of fluid delivered from the first submicrovolumes to the second microvolumes of any other microvolumes when a same volume of fluid is added to the different first submicrovolumes.
- 56. A microfluidic method according to claim 33 wherein the volume of fluid delivered from the first submicrovolume to the second microvolume of a given microvolume upon rotation of the device is within 10% of the volume of fluid delivered from the first submicrovolumes to the second microvolumes of any other microvolumes when a same volume of fluid is added to the different first submicrovolumes.
- 57. A microfluidic method according to claim 33 wherein the volume of fluid delivered from the first submicrovolume to the second microvolume of a given microvolume upon rotation of the device is within 5% of the volume of fluid delivered from the first submicrovolumes to the second microvolumes of any other microvolumes when a same volume of fluid is added to the different first submicrovolumes.
- 58. A microfluidic method according to claim 33 wherein the volume of fluid delivered from the first submicrovolume to the second microvolume of a given microvolume upon rotation of the device is within 2% of the volume of fluid delivered from the first submicrovolumes to the second microvolumes of any other microvolumes when a same volume of fluid is added to the different first submicrovolumes.
- 59. A microfluidic method according to claim 33 wherein the volume of fluid delivered from the first submicrovolume to the second microvolume of a given microvolume upon rotation of the device is within 1% of the volume of fluid delivered from the first submicrovolumes to the second microvolumes of any other microvolumes when a same volume of fluid is added to the different first submicrovolumes.
- 60. A microfluidic method according to claim 33 wherein the method is performed as part of performing an array crystallization trial.
- 61. A microfluidic method according to claim 59 wherein the array crystallization trial involves the crystallization of a protein.
- 62. A microfluidic method according to claim 59 wherein the array crystallization trial involves the crystallization of a macromolecule with a molecular weight of at least 500 Daltons.
- 63. A microfluidic method according to claim 59 wherein the array crystallization trial involves the crystallization of a member selected from the group consisting of viruses, proteins, peptides, nucleosides, nucleotides, ribonucleic acids, deoxyribonucleic acids.
- 64. A microfluidic method according to claim 59 wherein the array crystallization trial involves the crystallization of more than one member selected from the group consisting of viruses, proteins, peptides, nucleosides, nucleotides, ribonucleic acids, deoxyribonucleic acids, small molecules, inhibitors, substrates, drugs, putative drugs, inorganic compounds, metal salts, organometallic compounds and elements.
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/877,405 filed Jun. 8, 2001, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09877405 |
Jun 2001 |
US |
Child |
10060418 |
Jan 2002 |
US |