Method for washing a microfluidic cavity

摘要

The invention relates to a method for washing at least one cavity (20′) in a microfluidic component, the cavity (20′) containing a first liquid (F1) and at least one second liquid (F2) being supplied to the cavity (20′) for washing.;According to the invention an air bubble (L) is supplied to the cavity (20′) before the washing liquid (F2) is introduced.;The air bubble (L), which acts as a virtual barrier layer between the first liquid (F1) and the washing liquid (F2) that follows it enables the washing efficiency to be increased considerably. Overall, this method leads to a saving in washing liquid (F2) and washing time.;Moreover, a microfluidic component is proposed for carrying out the method.

主权项

1. A method for washing at least one reaction chamber (20, 20′) in a microfluidic component (1, 1′), the at least one reaction chamber (20, 20′) containing a reaction liquid (F1) resulting from a reaction therewithin, the method comprising:
disposing at least one gas chamber (30) upstream from the reaction chamber (20) and connecting the gas chamber (30) to the reaction chamber (20) via an inlet micro-channel; disposing at least one liquid chamber (10) upstream from the gas chamber (30) and connecting the liquid chamber (10) to the gas chamber (30) via a further micro-channel; releasing washing liquid from the liquid chamber (10) under pressure through the further micro-channel toward the gas chamber (30) while the reaction liquid is located within the reaction chamber (20); permitting the washing liquid to force a gas from the gas chamber (30) through the inlet micro-channel and into the reaction chamber (20), thereby driving the reaction fluid from the reaction chamber (20) through an outlet micro-channel and creating a bubble of gas between the washing liquid and the reaction liquid within the reaction chamber (10); continuing to permit the washing liquid to force the gas into the reaction chamber (20) and drive the reaction fluid from the reaction chamber (20) until substantially all of the reaction liquid is removed from the reaction chamber (10) except for a substantially small residual amount of the reaction fluid; and permitting the washing liquid to advance into the reaction chamber (20), drive the gas out of the reaction chamber (20) through the outlet micro-channel, diffuse with the residual amount of the reaction fluid, and carry the residual amount of the reaction fluid out through the outlet micro-channel.