Deformable polymer membranes

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide microfluidic devices containing deformable polymer membranes. The devices can be fabricated from a single polymeric block. Actuation of the membranes within the device allows the fluid contained within a microfluidic channel to be manipulated. Exemplary microfluidic devices, such as, peristaltic pumps, sample sorters, and mixers are described.

1 ) A microfluidic device comprising 
 a housing formed from a unitary section of polymer;    at least one microfluidic channel formed in the unitary section of polymer;    at least two operating channels formed in the unitary section of polymer that are each operably connected to the microfluidic channel by a deformable membrane formed in the unitary section of polymer and separating an operating channel from the microfluidic channel wherein the at least two operating channels are located on opposite sides of the microfluidic inlet channel; and    a substrate to which the housing is attached.    
   
   
       2 ) The microfluidic device of  claim 1  wherein the device comprises at least four operating channels and at least four membranes.  
   
   
       3 ) The microfluidic device of  claim 1  wherein the device comprises six operating channels and six membranes and wherein three of the six membranes are disposed on one side of the microfluidic channel and three of the six membranes are disposed on an opposite side of the microfluidic channel and wherein the edge-to-edge distance between the three membranes on a side of the microfluidic channel is about 100 μm or less.  
   
   
       4 ) The microfluidic device of  claim 3  wherein three operating channels disposed on one side of the microfluidic channel are directly across from the three operating channels on the opposite side of the microfluidic channel.  
   
   
       5 ) The microfluidic device of  claim 3  wherein the three operating channels disposed on one side of the microfluidic channel are staggered relative to the three operating channels on the opposite side of the microfluidic channel.  
   
   
       6 ) The microfluidic device of  claim 1  wherein the polymer is poly(dimethyl siloxane).  
   
   
       7 ) The microfluidic device of  claim 1  also including mechanism to actuate the membranes comprising at least one valve operably coupled to at least one valve drive that is operably coupled to a computer capable of generating an actuation pattern.  
   
   
       8 ) The microfluidic device of  claim 1  wherein the operating channels also comprise a piezoelectric material for actuating the operating channels.  
   
   
       9 ) A microfluidic device comprising, 
 a housing formed from a unitary section of polymer;    an inlet microfluidic channel formed in the unitary section of polymer having a branched end comprising two microfluidic outlet channels;    least two microfluidic hydrodynamic focusing channels formed in the unitary section of polymer to convey focusing flows into the inlet microfluidic channel;    at least two operating channels formed in the unitary section of polymer and operably connected to the microfluidic inlet channel by a deformable membrane that separates an operating channel from the microfluidic inlet channel wherein the at least two operating channels are located on opposite sides of the microfluidic inlet channel; and    a substrate to which the housing is attached.    
   
   
       10 ) The microfluidic device of  claim 9  also including a UV-vis, fluorescence, or Raman detector positioned to interrogate a hydrodynamically focused fluid flow.  
   
   
       11 ) The microfluidic device of  claim 10  also including mechanism to actuate the membranes comprising a valve that is controlled by a valve drive and a computer generating an actuation signal in response to a signal from the detector operably coupled to the valve drive.  
   
   
       12 ) The microfluidic device of  claim 9  wherein the polymer is poly(dimethyl siloxane).  
   
   
       13 ) The microfluidic device of  claim 9  wherein the operating channels also comprise a piezoelectric material for actuating the operating channels.  
   
   
       14 ) A microfluidic device comprising, 
 a housing formed from a unitary section of polymer;    an inlet microfluidic channel formed in the unitary section of polymer having a branched end comprising two microfluidic outlet channels;    at least two microfluidic hydrodynamic focusing channels formed in the unitary section of polymer to convey focusing flows into the inlet microfluidic channel;    at least four operating channels formed in the unitary section of polymer and operably connected to the microfluidic outlet channels by a deformable membrane that separates an operating channel from the microfluidic outlet channel wherein two pairs of operating channels are located on opposite sides of a microfluidic outlet channel; and    a substrate to which the housing is attached.    
   
   
       15 ) The microfluidic device of  claim 14  also including a UV-vis, fluorescence, or Raman detector positioned to interrogate a hydrodynamically focused flow.  
   
   
       16 ) The microfluidic device of  claim 15  also including mechanism to actuate the membranes including a valve that is controlled by a valve drive and a computer generating an actuation signal in response to a signal from the detector operably coupled to the valve drive.  
   
   
       17 ) The microfluidic device of  claim 14  wherein the polymer is poly(dimethyl siloxane).  
   
   
       18 ) The microfluidic device of  claim 14  wherein the substrate is selected from the group consisting of poly(dimethyl siloxane), glass, silicon, polystyrene, polyethylene, silicon nitride.  
   
   
       19 ) A microfluidic device comprising, 
 a housing formed from a unitary section of polymer;    an inlet microfluidic channel formed in the unitary section of polymer having branched end comprising two microfluidic outlet channels;    at least four operating channels formed in the unitary section of polymer and operably connected to the microfluidic outlet channels by a deformable membrane that separates an operating channel from the microfluidic outlet channel and wherein two pairs of operating channels are located on opposite sides of a microfluidic outlet channel; and    a substrate to which the housing is attached.    
   
   
       20 ) The device of  claim 19  wherein the two microfluidic outlet channels rejoin to form a single microfluidic outlet channel.  
   
   
       21 ) The microfluidic device of  claim 19  wherein the polymer is poly(dimethyl siloxane).  
   
   
       22 ) The microfluidic device of  claim 19  wherein the substrate is selected from the group consisting of poly(dimethyl siloxane), glass, silicon, polystyrene, polyethylene, silicon nitride.  
   
   
       23 ) The microfluidic device of  claim 19  wherein the operating channels also comprise a piezoelectric material for actuating the operating channels.  
   
   
       24 ) A microfluidic device comprising, 
 a housing formed from a unitary section of polymer;    two inlet microfluidic channels to convey two solutions that join to form a single inlet microfluidic channel formed in the unitary section of polymer;    at least four operating channels formed in the unitary section of polymer and operably connected to the single microfluidic inlet channel by a deformable membrane that separates an operating channel from the microfluidic inlet channel and wherein two pairs of operating channels are located on opposite sides of a microfluidic inlet channel;    a substrate to which the housing is attached.    
   
   
       25 ) The microfluidic device of  claim 24  wherein the two operating channels disposed on one side of the microfluidic channel are directly across from the three operating channels on the opposite side of the microfluidic channel.  
   
   
       26 ) The microfluidic device of  claim 24  wherein the two operating channels disposed on one side of the microfluidic channel are staggered relative to the two operating channels on the opposite side of the microfluidic channel.  
   
   
       27 ) The microfluidic device of  claim 24  wherein the polymer is poly(dimethyl siloxane).  
   
   
       28 ) A microfluidic device comprising, 
 a housing formed from a unitary section of polymer;    an inlet microfluidic channel formed in the unitary section of polymer to convey a sample fluid;    a carrier microfluidic channel formed in the unitary section of polymer joined at one end to the inlet microfluidic channel;    a second inlet microfluidic channel formed in the unitary section of polymer to convey a carrier fluid that is joined to the carrier microfluidic channel at the other end of the carrier microfluidic channel;    an operating channel formed in the unitary section of polymer operably connected to the inlet microfluidic channel by a deformable membrane that separates the operating channel from the microfluidic inlet channel and wherein the operating channel is located opposite the carrier microfluidic channel; and    a substrate to which the housing is attached.    
   
   
       29 ) The microfluidic device of  claim 28  wherein the polymer is poly(dimethyl siloxane).  
   
   
       30 ) The microfluidic device of  claim 28  wherein the substrate is selected from the group consisting of poly(dimethyl siloxane), glass, silicon, polystyrene, polyethylene, silicon nitride.  
   
   
       31 ) The microfluidic device of  claim 28  wherein the operating channel also comprises a piezoelectric material for actuating the operating channel.  
   
   
       32 ) A method of pumping a fluid in a microfluidic channel comprising, 
 providing a housing formed from a unitary section of polymer having a microfluidic channel formed within the housing that has two sides and at least two polymer membranes formed in at least one of the sides of the channel and operating channels formed within the housing to allow for the actuation of the membranes;    flowing a liquid through the microfluidic channel; and    actuating one or more membranes to cause a change in the flow characteristics of the liquid.    
   
   
       33 ) The method of  claim 32  wherein the actuation of the membrane occurs pneumatically, hydraulically, piezoelectrically, or thermopneumatically.  
   
   
       34 ) The method of  claim 32  wherein the housing is formed from poly(dimethyl siloxane).