Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N1/00—Sampling; Preparing specimens for investigation
  • G01N1/28—Preparing specimens for investigation including physical details of (bio-)chemical methods covered elsewhere, e.g. G01N33/50, C12Q
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
  • B01L3/00—Containers or dishes for laboratory use, e.g. laboratory glassware; Droppers
  • B01L3/50—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes
  • B01L3/502—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures
  • B01L3/5027—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip
  • B01L3/502723—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip characterised by venting arrangements
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
  • B01L3/00—Containers or dishes for laboratory use, e.g. laboratory glassware; Droppers
  • B01L3/50—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes
  • B01L3/502—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures
  • B01L3/5027—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip
  • B01L3/50273—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip characterised by the means or forces applied to move the fluids
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N33/00—Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
  • G01N33/48—Biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Haemocytometers
  • G01N33/483—Physical analysis of biological material
  • G01N33/487—Physical analysis of biological material of liquid biological material
  • G01N33/49—Blood
  • G01N33/491—Blood by separating the blood components
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
  • B01L2200/00—Solutions for specific problems relating to chemical or physical laboratory apparatus
  • B01L2200/02—Adapting objects or devices to another
  • B01L2200/026—Fluid interfacing between devices or objects, e.g. connectors, inlet details
  • B01L2200/027—Fluid interfacing between devices or objects, e.g. connectors, inlet details for microfluidic devices
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
  • B01L2300/00—Additional constructional details
  • B01L2300/06—Auxiliary integrated devices, integrated components
  • B01L2300/0681—Filter
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
  • B01L2300/00—Additional constructional details
  • B01L2300/08—Geometry, shape and general structure
  • B01L2300/0848—Specific forms of parts of containers
  • B01L2300/0851—Bottom walls
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
  • B01L2300/00—Additional constructional details
  • B01L2300/08—Geometry, shape and general structure
  • B01L2300/0861—Configuration of multiple channels and/or chambers in a single devices
  • B01L2300/087—Multiple sequential chambers
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
  • B01L2300/00—Additional constructional details
  • B01L2300/08—Geometry, shape and general structure
  • B01L2300/0887—Laminated structure
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
  • B01L2400/00—Moving or stopping fluids
  • B01L2400/04—Moving fluids with specific forces or mechanical means
  • B01L2400/0403—Moving fluids with specific forces or mechanical means specific forces
  • B01L2400/0406—Moving fluids with specific forces or mechanical means specific forces capillary forces
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
  • B01L3/00—Containers or dishes for laboratory use, e.g. laboratory glassware; Droppers
  • B01L3/50—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes
  • B01L3/502—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures
  • B01L3/5027—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip
  • B01L3/502715—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
  • B01L3/00—Containers or dishes for laboratory use, e.g. laboratory glassware; Droppers
  • B01L3/50—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes
  • B01L3/502—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures
  • B01L3/5027—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip
  • B01L3/502746—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip characterised by the means for controlling flow resistance, e.g. flow controllers, baffles
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
  • B01L3/00—Containers or dishes for laboratory use, e.g. laboratory glassware; Droppers
  • B01L3/50—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes
  • B01L3/502—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures
  • B01L3/5027—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip
  • B01L3/502753—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip characterised by bulk separation arrangements on lab-on-a-chip devices, e.g. for filtration or centrifugation
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C65/00—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C65/48—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor using adhesives, i.e. using supplementary joining material; solvent bonding
  • B29C65/52—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor using adhesives, i.e. using supplementary joining material; solvent bonding characterised by the way of applying the adhesive
  • B29C65/54—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor using adhesives, i.e. using supplementary joining material; solvent bonding characterised by the way of applying the adhesive between pre-assembled parts
  • B29C65/548—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor using adhesives, i.e. using supplementary joining material; solvent bonding characterised by the way of applying the adhesive between pre-assembled parts by capillarity
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N33/00—Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
  • G01N33/48—Biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Haemocytometers
  • G01N33/483—Physical analysis of biological material
  • G01N33/487—Physical analysis of biological material of liquid biological material
  • G01N33/49—Blood
  • G01N33/492—Determining multiple analytes

Definitions

• the invention relates to a device for filtering a fluid and for discharging the filtered fluid, in particular plasma into a diagnostic test cartridge.
• the invention finds use in microfluidic devices which are used for fluid separation, in particular blood separation.
• a fluid such as a blood separation
• the medium to be separated in this case blood
• the filter In the separation of particles from a fluid, such as a blood separation, the medium to be separated, in this case blood, is placed on a filter.
• the fluid and small components flow through the filter and are transported away via channels in the device.
• the fluid In order to detect certain properties of the fluid, the fluid is brought into contact with reagents which are chemically or physically detectable
• the reagents can be bound to a chamber, a channel or a reservoir wall or to particle surfaces.
• the reagents are for example antibodies, enzymes, biotinylated proteins and antibodies, streptavidia or phosphatases.
• Clumping arranged analytical device in particular powdery substance or stick in depots. This can lead to the result of a detection reaction being falsified. Even in applications where several chambers are to be filled in parallel or sequentially, a sufficient fluid flow for homogeneous filling of the chambers is required. Critical for the provision of a homogeneous fluid supply in detection chambers, for example, an inclusion of air bubbles in the separation area or in the region of
• the invention is based on the object, a predetermined amount of fluid to be examined in a predetermined time interval in a
• the object of the invention is to constructively design a microfluidic device such that a reliable supply of the separated fluid from the input area to the analysis area takes place.
• adhesive layers and also some plastics, as typically used in microfluidic cartridges are hydrophobic, they can prevent or hinder the entry of aqueous liquids into a feed channel.
• the invention has the further object of designing the capillary aperture of a Fluidab USAkanals constructive and / or functional so that a secure wetting of the discharge channel is achieved, that is, it must be ensured that the separated liquid can be absorbed by the discharge channel and can be removed from this.
• separating liquid is supplied through a supply port to a separation membrane and the filtering process is performed in the thickness direction of the membrane.
• the filtered fluid is taken up in a filling chamber and discharged through capillary channels.
• Dead volume is understood to mean that volume of the fluidic channel structures and chambers which does not act as a reaction volume. Since the filling chamber according to EP 1548433 A1 must first be completely filled and fluid remains in the chamber, the chamber volume of the filling chamber is thus dead volume.
• EP 1 054 805 B1 describes a method for filling a microfluidic network from a central sample application, which has a capillary-active opening cross-section.
• a feed channel opens into a wall of the chamber.
• the capillary aperture of the feed channel is increased by having a more open peripheral to the inlet chamber
• Capillary channel is fluidly connected to the feed channel.
• the liquid automatically capillates into the microfluidic network, provided that the contact angle of the liquid with the substrate and the viscosity of the liquid are not too high.
• a disadvantage of this arrangement is again an increased dead volume of the arrangement, since separated sample liquid can be retained by the circulating capillary channel.
• the further object of the invention is to provide an improved separation device with reduced dead volume.
• microfluidic device having the features of claim 1.
• microfluidic separation device allows a
• the device has a means for separation, in particular blood filtering and comprises a discharge channel which receives and discharges the separated fluid.
• the device according to the invention makes it possible to fill a microfluidic network and / or a chamber from a discharge channel with a smaller active capillary cross-section or a smaller opening aperture.
• the dead volume of a feed device and / or separation device can be reduced to a minimum by means of the described method.
• the microfluidic network is usually formed in a plate-shaped substrate.
• a moldable plastic such as polystyrene (PS), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polycarbonate (PC), olefin polymers and olefin copolymers such as cycloolefin polymer and Cylcoolefincopolymer (COC and COP) is preferred,
• PA Polyamide
• PP polypropylene
• PE polyethylene
• PEEK Polyethyletherketon
• the channel structures are closed by a film which is arranged on the substrate.
• the film thereby covers the channel and / or chamber structures formed in one or both sides of the plate, thereby forming a microfluidic channel system having feature widths and feature heights of a few tens of microns to a few millimeters.
• the film covers the plate-shaped component partially or completely.
• the film can be multi-layered.
• the film can be provided on one or both sides with an adhesive layer for attachment to the plate-shaped substrate.
• the adhesive layer is preferably a low-melting laminating layer or sealing layer of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA).
• EVA ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer
• the surface and / or the channel structures may be over the entire surface or part of a surface
• a surface treatment / surface activation e.g. a plasma irradiation / plasma etching, gamma irradiation or UV irradiation to improve the
• hydrophilization for example, a hydrophilization or
• the film can also have an additional sealing layer, which is welded onto the surface of the substrate in a hot lamination process.
• the film can be laminated directly, that is, it is created without the melting of a sealing layer by pressure and heat a cohesive connection between the film and the substrate.
• the lamination may also be cold, with the preferred use of an acrylate adhesive layer.
• the film is flat. But it can also be provided, the film locally
• a second film may be arranged on the plate-shaped substrate and / or the first film.
• the second film may have further microfluidic structures such as channels, chambers and / or openings.
• the second film preferably comprises structures for a biosensor, in particular measuring means such as electrical contacts and / or electrical potential surfaces and / or optical structures such as optical light guides and / or optical mirror surfaces.
• an amount of fluid is introduced into a feeder.
• This may be, for example, a blood drop of 5 to 50 microliters volume, for lateral flow tests preferably 5 to 100 microliters.
• the feeder is in the simple case a filling opening.
• the feeder may further comprise other components.
• the feeder may be a funnel-shaped insert which is inserted into a filler opening to the
• the supply device may also comprise a finger recess, which surrounds a filling opening and serves as a support surface and / or positioning surface of a patient's finger in the blood addition.
• This trough is preferably introduced into a plate-shaped cover element.
• Cover element then forms the feeder.
• the device according to the invention for sample separation further comprises a
• the means for separating and / or separating and / or filtering is advantageously a membrane or a filter to which the sample liquid is supplied and wherein the liquid flows through the membrane and / or filter and sample components are retained by the filter or the membrane.
• Flow through the filter is through pores and / or capillaries that form a fluid-open network through the filter.
• a filter made of glass fiber, polysulfone or polyethersulfone is used.
• a filter having an average pore size of from... To... Micrometers it is preferred to use a filter having an average pore size of from... To... Micrometers.
• the filter is welded in an upper plate-shaped substrate in the filling opening. This
• Cover element preferably has a recess at the filling opening, in which the filter, in particular a membrane can be inserted.
• the membrane is welded to a surface of the recess, the attachment surface.
• the fluid flow is transported in particular in the vertical flow direction through the membrane or the filter.
• This vertical direction indication means that the flow is approximately perpendicular to the
• Substrate level of a particular plate-shaped microfluidic metering device takes place. The flow thus flows through a membrane substantially in the thickness direction.
• the membrane or filter is preferably arranged in the vertical direction between the inlet opening and an inlet chamber or collecting chamber located below the membrane / filter.
• the membrane or filter absorbs liquid through the capillary action of its pores or capillaries and retains larger particles whose size exceeds those of the pores or capillaries. In the process, the pores partially close due to agglomeration of the retained particles, so that the available flow cross section with Andauer reduced the progressive separation process. This causes a decrease in the flow rate of the volume flow of fluid in the microfluidic device.
• an inlet chamber or collection chamber is arranged, in which flows the separated sample liquid.
• the inlet chamber or collecting chamber is understood to mean the space in the fluidic device for sample separation, into which the separated sample liquid directly enters after passing through the separating device, in particular after flowing through a filter or a membrane.
• the inlet chamber or collection chamber may be a channel and / or a chamber located directly below a membrane and open at the top, so that the separated sample liquid is taken up by the channel and / or the chamber.
• the inlet chamber or collection chamber is formed by the space bounded above by the membrane or filter.
• the lower filter or membrane surface then forms an upper interface with the inlet or collection chamber.
• the space of the inlet chamber is bounded in this embodiment down through the plate-shaped substrate that forms the bottom of the collection chamber.
• the sides of the room may be formed by walls and / or more preferably be enclosed by a vent trench, as will be explained below.
• the inlet chamber or collection chamber may be completely filled by the membrane or the filter.
• the filter or membrane is both part of the separator and part of the inlet or collection chamber.
• one or more venting channels may exit.
• the device is structurally designed so that separated sample liquid can be discharged from one or more channels in the lateral direction.
• the inlet chamber or collection chamber may contain reagents which are dissolved by the fluid flow.
• the membrane may also be impregnated or impregnated with reagents,
• reagents glycine or lectin which is a clumping of the fluid
• the membrane When the fluid is added, separation takes place in the membrane treated in this way, with simultaneous dissolution of a first reagent, the first reagent being the biological and / or chemical and / or physical
• a second reagent which causes a detection reaction in the fluid.
• This can be, for example, an optical discoloration.
• the membrane or the filter have a high intrinsic capillarity, means are advantageously provided to assist a vertical outflow of the volume flow into the adjacent inlet or collecting chamber.
• the inlet or collecting chamber advantageously has one or more steles and / or webs and / or ramp-shaped surfaces. These may preferably support or form the one or more vertically extending notches.
• the steles and / or webs and / or inclined surfaces are designed so that the membrane rests on these structures.
• the height of the structures advantageously corresponds to the depth of the inlet or collection chamber, the depth of which is preferably 10 microns to 1000 microns, especially 50 microns to 500 microns.
• the notches on the structures or the structures themselves come into fluidic contact with the membrane to be contacted and, by virtue of their capillary action, discharge fluid from the membrane to the bottom of the chamber so that the collection chamber is wetted.
• the membrane is bulged, wherein the height of the curvature of the chamber depth corresponds, so that the membrane rests on the vertex of the vault on the chamber floor.
• the inlet or collecting chamber is at least partially surrounded by a trench, which has a greater depth and a vent compared to the chamber depth, so that the air in the inlet or collecting chamber can be displaced by the inflowing fluid through the trench.
• the filling trench preferably has a width of at least 100 microns and a depth of at least 5 microns.
• the volume of the inlet or collection chamber is preferably 0.01; 0.02; 0.05; 0.1; 0.2; 0.5; 1 ; 2; 5; 10; 20; 50; 100; 200; 500; 1000 microliters, whereby chamber volumes can be selected, which result from the addition of the indicated values.
• the vent trench described above forms a fluid stop, since the fluid flow can not overflow the trench stage.
• the trench encloses the inlet or collection chamber, in which the discharge channel extends, completely up to the
• Outlet area of the inlet or collection chamber so that the air from the inlet chamber can be evenly displaced.
• Venting trench is significantly reduced.
• the inventive embodiment of the separation device provides that the channel for discharging the separated sample liquid from the inlet or collection chamber is arranged in the bottom of the collection chamber, that is, the channel is formed by a recess in the bottom of the inlet chamber.
• discharge channel is understood to mean a channel which can receive a liquid from the inlet chamber and transfer it into a microfluidic fluid network.
• the arrangement of the discharge channel in the bottom of the inlet chamber has the advantage that the separated sample liquid does not first have to completely fill the inlet chamber be removed by a laterally located channel, but a direct removal of the separated sample liquid to analysis areas of the microfluidic cartridge takes place.
• the discharge channel is advantageously covered in a fluid-tight manner by a film, at least where the channel extends in the vicinity of the venting trench end, so that an undesired fluid connection between the channel and the venting trench is prevented.
• the discharge channel is also covered at least in sections in the inlet chamber by the film, so that it is achieved that the inflow region for the separated liquid lies in the inlet or collecting chamber.
• This channel cover is particularly advantageously designed as a tongue, which closes the channel fluid-tightly approximated to the middle of the inlet or collection chamber, so that a centrally introduced into the filling opening and separated by the membrane
• Sample liquid can flow directly into the central discharge channel.
• the channel has a means for supporting the capillary wetting of the channel.
• This means can advantageously be a notch with increased capillary action, which the
• Chamber bottom connects to the bottom of the discharge channel.
• At least one ramp can be arranged between the chamber bottom and the channel bottom, which acts in a capillary-connecting manner in the same way.
• Fig. 1 a first embodiment of a cartridge (21) with a device for
• Sample separation (1) 2 a second embodiment of a cartridge (21) with a device for sample separation (1)
• FIG. 3 a view of the cartridge (21) according to FIG. 2 with cover foil (6)
• FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the sample separation (1) of a cartridge according to FIG. 1
• FIGS. 6 shows a perspective view of the sample separation (1) according to FIGS. 2 and 3
• Fig. 9 a representation of a cross section through the sample separation (1) according to the
• a cartridge (21) with a device according to the invention for sample separation (1) is shown in FIG.
• the cartridge (21) is assembled from several components (2, 3, 6).
• the base of the cartridge (21) forms a lower plate-shaped substrate (2) in the microfluidic structures with structure widths of several microns to a few millimeters are formed.
• the lower plate-shaped substrate (2) is in particular a plastic plate and in this case comprises a ProbenzuTHER Scheme.
• the sample delivery area is in particular a
• the inlet chamber (10) into which a sample liquid to be separated after the separation flows.
• the inlet chamber (10) is at least partially bounded by a vent trench (7).
• the vent trench (7) consists of a preferably recessed channel with a width of at least 100 microns and a depth of at least 5 microns.
• the vent trench (7) forms a capillary stage to the inlet chamber (10) and is vented through vent channels (19) so that liquid entering the inlet chamber displaces the air in the inlet chamber (10) via the trench (7) and channels (19) can and wherein the separated sample liquid itself stops at the edge of the trench (7).
• FIG. 7 to 10 by welding the membrane (14) in the upper plate-shaped substrate (3) along the mounting surface (18), a circumferential gap (25), both over the Feed channel (9) and over the vent trench (7).
• the gap or annular channel (25) produced by the edge of the membrane runs coincidentally over the venting trench (7) and is covered by the film (6) at the channel region.
• the opening (15) in the film particularly preferably corresponds approximately to the diameter of the membrane (14) in the unattached membrane region, so that the film edge rests circumferentially on the membrane surface. Since very thin films of 20 microns to 200 microns thick are used, which are elastic, the film (6) is stabilized by the overlay on the membrane (14) and prevents unwanted fluid drainage into the gap (25). Particularly advantageous is the end of the circulating vent trench (7) of
• This trench widening (13) fulfills the task of preventing fluid drainage from the inlet chamber (10) or the discharge channel (9) into the venting trench (7).
• the trench widening (13) helps to reliably prevent unwanted fluid flow from the channel (9) via the gap (25) or from the membrane (14) via the gap (25) in the vent trench (7) by capillary vertical or three-dimensional wetting occurs.
• the expansion increases the capillary resistance for unwanted capillary wetting of the vent trench, as the distance between said gap (25) and / or the membrane (14) to the bottom of the vent trench is increased.
• a hydrophobically acting film (6) at least partially covers the venting trench.
• Figures 7 to 9 show such a partial overlap of the circulating
• Vent trench (7) wherein the film (6) extends approximately to the middle of the vent trench (7). This ensures that, on the one hand, the venting function of the trench (7) is maintained, but on the other hand, no aqueous liquid enters the gap (25) or the gap (25) in the venting trench (7), the latter from the difficult to be wetted
• hydrophobic film (6) is pushed back.
• the film (6) is designed so that it closes and / or covers the discharge channel (9) in the vicinity of the ends of the vent trench (7) in a fluid-tight manner.
• This cover may be a tongue (8) which is integrally connected to the film and projects into an opening (15) in the film (6), as shown schematically in Figures 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7.
• the discharge channel (9) directs the separated sample liquid into a fluidic network, in particular a capillary network consisting of analysis chambers (20) and further components.
• the analysis chambers (20) can be filled either sequentially or in parallel.
• a parallel or sequential filling can be done by not shown here active or passive valves for controlling the flow or by a controlled vent.
• the analysis chambers (20) are connected by further channels with capillary stops (16).
• separated sample liquid first enters an analysis chamber (20), displaces the air trapped in the analysis chamber (20), fills the chamber (20) completely free of air bubbles, and then flows into a first venting channel (22).
• the first venting channel (22) is subsequently filled with fluid. By fluid intake of the first venting channel (22) ensures that the analysis chamber (20) is completely filled.
• Air bubbles can hinder or distort the diagnostic analysis. This can be done, for example, if reagents are not dissolved in the analysis chamber, since chamber areas under an air bubble are not wetted. Furthermore, the complete filling ensures that a defined sample volume, namely the volume of an analysis chamber (20) with the reagents, in particular
• volume fraction of the first venting channels maximum 5% of the total volume of
• Analytical chambers (20) amount.
• two first venting channels (22) open into a capillary stop (16), as a result of which the fluid flow of the sample liquid breaks off there.
• the capillary stop (16) is structurally formed in that the venting channel (22) has a smaller cross-sectional area than the capillary stop (16).
• venting channel (22) and the capillary stop (16) share a common
• Boundary surface namely the upper boundary surface, which is delimited by the underside of the film (6).
• film material or the adhesive layer of a film is hydrophobic, so that the capillary flow along the lower side of the film, corresponding to the channel upper side (22), is more difficult.
• the capillary stop (16) preferably has a greater depth and a greater width than the first venting channel (22).
• the film (6) at least partially on the capillary stop (16) has recesses, such that at the end of the first
• Vent trenches the capillary stop (16) extends into the film (6).
• the Kapillarstop (16) has compared to both side surfaces of the channel (22) so a greater width and compared to the bottom and the ceiling surface of the channel (22) also has a greater depth and a greater height.
• capillary stages are present both in all lateral directions and in all vertical directions.
• the capillary stop (16) is vented through another vent trench (19) which fluidly connects the capillary stop (16) to a side face of the cartridge (21).
• the film (6) and / or the recesses (9, 22, 20) may be at least partially hydrophilized, in particular in the form of a coating by an applied hydrophilic fluid, which is dried.
• the film (6) and / or the structures (7, 10, 13, 16, 19) can advantageously also be locally hydrophobized.
• venting channel (7) and its widening (13) are preferably completely hydrophobicized, so that the capability of capillary wetting of the trench (7) and its widening (13) by an aqueous liquid is reduced.
• the bottom of the filling area (10) can be local, especially in the vicinity of the
• Venting trench (7) be hydrophobicized to prevent the passage of water
• the capillary stop (16) is advantageously completely hydrophobicized in order to improve the capillary stop and / or retention function of the capillary stop.
• the film (6) covers these structures, it is advantageously hydrophobically coated in these functional regions. This can be done, for example, by locally printing the film with a hydrophobic
• the local coating, in particular spotting, with hydrophilic coatings is preferably provided in fluid-conducting areas such as the discharge channel (9), the analysis chambers (20) and the first deaeration channel (22).
• a coating with a hydrophobic or hydrophilic film contributes functionally in these areas to a better and advantageously complete, largely air bubble-free and largely complete filling of these structures (9, 20, 22).
• the film is at least locally provided with an adhesive layer, in particular adhesive layer.
• both film surfaces are at least partially provided with an adhesive layer, so that by means of the film both the Cartridgebasis (2) and the
• Cover element (3) are joined. During the joining process, a first cover film is first removed from the film (6) so that a first adhesive layer is exposed. Then the Cartridgebasis (2) and the film (6) are positioned to each other and glued to the open adhesive surface.
• a second cover film is peeled off from the film (6), the pasted cartridge base (2) is positioned relative to the cover element (3), and the cartridge base (2) is connected to the cover element (2) via the film (6).
• the membrane (14) is welded in advance centrally.
• Separation device (1) according to the present invention comprises.
• This may advantageously be a film (6) which has on one side at least locally a sealing layer.
• the film (6) is laminated by means of the sealing layer.
• the film with the sealing layer on the Cartridgebasis (2) is positioned, thermally fused the sealing layer and a fluid-tight connection between
• the film can also be applied in particular by a cold laminating method, wherein in particular an acrylate adhesive layer is used for joining. If a laminating film (6) is used, it may be advantageous to weld the cover element, fasten it to the cartridge base via a riveted joint, or to provide another double-sided adhesive film for fastening the cover element to the laminating film.
• the cover element has a trough (5). This assists the addition of sample liquid through its funnel-shaped form, which receives the added fluid in the trough area and feeds the filling opening (15).
• the trough (5) is formed approximately to the attachment surface (18), in particular the funnel depth of the trough (5) corresponds approximately to the vertical distance between the attachment surface (18), the membrane (14) and the surface of the cover element (3 ).
• This structural design of the trough (5) ensures a direct fluid drainage of sample liquid discharged onto the trough surface into the membrane region.
• the hopper depth is advantageously 0.5 millimeters to 10 millimeters.
• the trough is circular or elliptical, wherein the radius of the long side of the particular elliptical trough (5) 1 to 1, 5 centimeters and the radius of the short side should be 0.7 to 1 zenith.
• the radius of a circular trough (5) should be in particular 1 to 1, 5 centimeters.
• the lower one comprises
• the base of the cartridge (21) has a fluidic network consists of a discharge channel (9) and a vented through channels (13) analysis chamber (20).
• the channel (9) centrally receives separated sample fluid from an inlet chamber (10).
• the inlet chamber (10) is vented through a circumferential trench via channels (19).
• the upper plate-shaped substrate (3), the lid member (3) is shown with the bottom.
• the cover element (3) has a recess around the filling opening (15) with a
• a membrane (14) is inserted centrally, in particular thermally connected to the mounting surface (18).
• the film (6) is a laminating film which is laminated on the lower plate-shaped substrate (2).
• this cover element is positioned with the separation area to the opening (15) of the film and adhered to the film.
• the film (6) comprises a filling opening (15) into which a tongue-shaped film part protrudes.
• FIG. 7 shows a cross section through such a joined sample separation.
• FIG. 7 shows a cross-section at the level of the tongue (8).
• the tongue (8) covers the channel (9) in the outer region of the inlet chamber (10), so that no inflow of sample liquid from the inlet chamber (20) occurs in the outer region of the inlet chamber (10) ) takes place in the channel (9).
• the membrane (14) is at least partially on the tongue (8).
• the membrane (14) advantageously completely fills out.
• the membrane rests on the cover (8) and the bottom of the inlet chamber (10), so that the membrane (14) surrounds the cover (8).
• the inlet chamber (10) is filled approximately completely by the membrane (14), so that the dead volume in the chamber approaches zero.
• the dead volume of the inlet chamber is understood to mean the volume in the inlet chamber which lies between the lower boundary surface of the membrane (14), the separating surface (17) and the chamber bottom of the inlet chamber and has a capillary action on the fluid.
• this capillary action is created by gaps remaining between the membrane (14) and the bottom of the inlet chamber and may undesirably retain fluid in the inlet chamber through capillary action.
• the volume of the membrane (14) can at least partially create dead volume due to the inherent capillary network, since in the capillary channels and capillary pores of the membrane (14) sample liquid is retained capillary.
• FIGS. 8 and 9 show schematically, in the opening region of the central channel (9), the membrane (14) preferably rests completely on the bottom of the inlet chamber (10).
• a sample is introduced into the feed device (4). According to FIGS. 7 to 9, this is a drop of blood.
• FIGS. 8 and 9 are sections through the sample separation (1) in the central region of the inlet chamber (10).
• the blood drop is taken up by the capillary membrane (14), with larger solid blood particles depositing in the membrane.
• Sample fluid here blood plasma.
• the shape and length of the cover (8), in particular the film tongue (8) is chosen in particular such that the channel (9) is not covered in the central region of the inlet chamber (10) but is open towards the top.
• the upper boundary surface of the channel (9) is advantageously formed by the underside of the membrane (14). This results in a central opening region of the channel (9) with a small fluid aperture.
• the blood plasma is taken directly from this channel opening.
• the plasma thus flows from the separation membrane (14) via the inlet chamber (10) into the opening of the channel (9) without completely filling the filling chamber (10) during the separation. Functionally, this has the effect that the plasma to be analyzed is fed directly to the analysis chamber (20).
• the separation amount is a critical size for diagnostic tests, since after the
• FIG. 4 shows such a sample separation (1) in longitudinal section, with the filling area pointing downwards.
• the film (6) covers a discharge channel (9) at least in sections, so that a central opening of the channel (9) remains.
• the means is a notch, a transitional profile and in particular a ramp.
• This ramp (12) reduces the capillary resistance between the channel (9) and the bottom of the inlet chamber (10), so that the wetting of the channel and the inflow of liquid into the channel is improved.
• the fluid flows of the plasma from the membrane (10) through the filling chamber (10) into the channel (9) are symbolized by arrows.
• Separate sample liquid, in the exemplary embodiment blood plasma can also be transported into the channel (9) from outside areas of the inlet chamber.
• the channel has a higher capillarity than the inlet chamber (10), or if the plasma is created by applying an overpressure (from the outside) and / or underpressure (to the channel (9)) through the sample separation (1 ) is conveyed into the channel (9) and the further fluidic network.
• FIG. 5 shows a sample separation according to the first exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1 in longitudinal section.
• the channel (9) lies within the entire
• FIG. 10 A perspective view of a sample separation 1 according to the invention is shown in FIG. Here, the membrane (14) is not shown to provide insight into the
• this embodiment substantially corresponds to the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 2, 4 and 7 to 9.

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• 2011
  • 2011-04-01 WO PCT/EP2011/055078 patent/WO2011131471A1/de not_active Ceased
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  • 2011-04-01 US US13/640,393 patent/US9383293B2/en active Active
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