Microfluidic mixing and reaction systems for high efficiency screening

摘要

Microfluidic devices are described that include a rigid base layer, and an elastomeric layer on the base layer. The elastomeric layer may include at least part of a fluid channel for transporting a liquid reagent, and a vent channel that accepts gas diffusing through the elastomeric layer from the flow channel and vents it out of the elastomeric layer. The devices may also include a mixing chamber fluidly connected to the fluid channel, and a control channel overlapping with a deflectable membrane that defines a portion of the flow channel, where the control channel may be operable to change a rate at which the liquid reagent flows through the fluid channel. The devices may further include a rigid plastic layer on the elastomeric layer.

主权项

1. A method of filling a reaction chamber comprising
a) providing a microfluidic device comprising:
a rigid base layer;an elastomeric layer on the base layer, wherein the elastomeric layer comprises at least part of: (i) a fluid channel for transporting a liquid reagent, wherein the fluid channel is at least partly in the elastomeric layer (ii) a gas containing chamber fluidically connected to the fluid channel, wherein the chamber channel is at least partly in the elastomeric layer and (iii) a vent channel separated from the fluid channel or chamber by an elastomeric membrane, wherein the fluid channel is at least partly in the elastomeric layer;a rigid plastic layer on the elastomeric layer; b) filling the chamber with fluid, wherein as a result of said filling at least a portion of the gas in the chamber is displaced from the chamber and diffuses through the elastomeric membrane from the chamber to the vent channel; thereby transporting in the vent channel at least a portion of the displaced gas that has diffused through the elastomeric layer from the chamber.