Media.Player

Centrifugal force-based microfluidic platform suitable for both room and high temperature applications

Summary

This invention pertains to centrifugal force-based microfluidic platform and methods of controlling and automated analysis of fluidic samples in the microfluidic structures in a disposable microfluidic later, and microfluidic structure suitable for both room – and high temperature-based reactions. The centrifugal force-based platform provides centrifugal force tot the microfluidic structures resulting from the rotation of the microfluidic structure to motivate fluid movement in its micro-channels, and applies energy to the microfluidic structure for performing assay. The platform mainly has a three-layer structure. The control later is for power management, communication, control and measurement. The contact later has heaters for providing heat to the microfluidic structures when the temperature higher than room temperature is required by the reaction, heater control units for stabilizing the heater temperature, hear sink units for reducing the sample temperature back to room temperature, light sources and detectors for reaction product detection. The platform used contactless power coupling for providing power to the control layer and contact layer. The third layer is the disposable microfluidic later containing the embedded microfluidic structures. The microfluidic structure uses oil filled micro-channels and aqueous sample droplets for reducing the generation of air bubbles when the device operates under high-temperature conditions. Examples of such operations are DNA extraction, loop-mediated isothermal amplification and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A novel design of the device is that centrifugal force acting on the water droplets can automatically drive air bubbles out of the heating zones. Methods specific to the platform and microfluidic structure for performing one of the applications, PCR, are provided.

Supplementary Information

Inventor: Chen, Qiu Lan | Ho, Ho Pui | Kong, Siu Kai | Kwan, Patrick Kwok Leung | Kwan, Yiu Wa | Kwok, Ho Chin | Shum, Ping | Suen, Yick Keung | Wu, Shu Yuen | Yang, Alice Kar Lai | Zhou, Jun Qiang
Priority Number: US20150027555A1
IPC Current: B01L000700 | B01L000300
US Class: 137013 | 137338 | 137341
Assignee Applicant: The Chinese University of Hong Kong | Nanyang Technological University,Singapore | Hospital Authority
Title: MICROFLUIDIC PLATFORM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME
Usefulness: MICROFLUIDIC PLATFORM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME
Summary: The microfluidic platform is useful for supporting microfluidic structures for integrating a sample preparation and an analysis under both room and high temperatures.
Novelty: Microfluidic platform, useful for supporting microfluidic structures for integrating sample preparation and analysis, comprises microfluidic layer embedded with microfluidic structure, and contact layer attachable to microfluidic layer

Industry

Chemical/Material

Sub Category

Chemical/Material Application

Application No.

11/ENG/432

Others

Inventor(s): Professor Qiu Lan CHEN, Department of Electronic Engineering Licensing Status: Available

Country/Region

Hong Kong