Pressure regulated continuously variable volume container for fluid delivery

Abstract

A fluid handling and delivery system useful in generating a fluid stream in the flow path of microfluidic device.

1 . A fluid delivery system, comprising: 
 a. a variable volume container having a flexible wall;    b. a fluid located in said variable volume container;    c. an amount of gas which exerts an amount of pressure on an exterior surface of said flexible wall of said variable volume container;    d. a conduit having a flow path fluidicly coupled to said fluid located in said variable volume container; and    e. a fluid stream generated in said flow path in response to said amount of pressure exerted by said amount of gas on said exterior surface of said flexible wall of said variable volume container.    
     
     
         2 . A fluid delivery system as described in  claim 2 , wherein said variable volume container having said flexible wall comprises a flexible tubular body having a first end and a second end each hermetically formed.  
     
     
         3 . A fluid delivery system as described in  claim 2 , wherein said tubular body comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a polypropylene, a polyethylene, a fluorocarbon, a styrene, and a polycarbonate.  
     
     
         4 . A fluid delivery system as described in  claim 1 , wherein said flexible wall comprises a portion of said variable volume container.  
     
     
         5 . A fluid delivery system as described in any one of claims  1  or  4 , wherein said flexible wall comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a polypropylene, a polyethylene, a fluorocarbon, a styrene, and a polycarbonate.  
     
     
         6 . A fluid delivery system as described in  claim 1 , wherein said a flexible wall comprises at least two layers, wherein a first layer has a surface compatible with said amount of gas and a second layer has a surface compatible with said liquid.  
     
     
         7 . A fluid delivery system as described in  claim 6 , wherein said first layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a polypropylene, a polyethylene, a fluorocarbon, a styrene, and a polycarbonate.  
     
     
         8 . A fluid delivery system as described in  claim 6 , wherein said second layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a polypropylene, a polyethylene, a fluorocarbon, a styrene, and a polycarbonate.  
     
     
         9 . A fluid delivery system as described in  claim 6 , wherein said amount of gas which exerts a pressure on said exterior surface of said flexible wall of said variable volume container collects between said first layer and said second layer.  
     
     
         10 . A fluid delivery system as described in  claim 6 , wherein said first layer and said second layer are bonded.  
     
     
         11 . A fluid delivery system as described in  claim 6 , wherein said flexible wall further comprises at least one intermediate layer.  
     
     
         12 . A fluid delivery system as described in  claim 11 , wherein said at least one intermediate layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a polypropylene, a polyethylene, a fluorocarbon, a styrene, and a polycarbonate.  
     
     
         13 . A fluid delivery system as described in any one of claims  1  or  9 , wherein said amount of gas is selected from the group consisting of an atmosphere, a mixture of gases, a mixture of gases having selected partial pressures, a purified gas, a nitrogen gas, a helium gas.  
     
     
         14 . A fluid delivery system as described in  claim 13 , wherein said pressure exerted by said amount of gas on said flexible wall of said variable volume container is selected from the group consisting of about 1 psi to about 2 psi, about 1.5 psi to about 3 psi, 5 psi, 10 psi to about 20 psi, and about 15 psi to about 25 psi, about 25 psi to about 30 psi, about 30 psi to about 40 psi, 40 psi to about 50 psi, about 50 psi to about 60 psi, about 60 psi to about 70 psi, about 70 psi to about 80 psi, about 80 psi to about 90 psi, about 90 psi to about 100 psi.  
     
     
         15 . A fluid delivery system as described in  claim 1 , wherein said pressure exerted by said gas on said container generates said fluid stream in a flow path of an instrument.  
     
     
         16 . A fluid delivery system as described in  claim 15 , wherein said instrument is selected from the group consisting of a microfluidics device, a flow cytometer, a flow sort device, a high performance liquid chromatograph, and a liquid chromatograph.  
     
     
         17 . A fluid delivery system as described in  claim 1 , further comprising a receptacle having a configuration which allows said variable volume container to have a location within said receptacle.  
     
     
         18 . A fluid delivery system as described in  claim 17 , wherein said receptacle is configured from a material selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, aluminum, plastic, paper board, and cardboard.  
     
     
         19 . A fluid delivery system as described in  claim 18 , wherein said amount of gas which exerts said amount of pressure on said exterior surface of said flexible wall of said variable volume container collects between an interior surface of said receptacle and said exterior surface of said flexible wall said container.  
     
     
         20 . A fluid delivery system as described in  claim 19 , wherein said receptacle has a substantially rigid configuration  
     
     
         21 . A fluid delivery system as described in  claim 20 , wherein said receptacle comprises a sheath fluid tank for a flow cytometer.  
     
     
         22 . A fluid delivery system as described in any one of claims  1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  9 ,  16 , or  21 , wherein said fluid is selected from the group consisting of a fluid flowable in the flow path of a microfluidic device, water, a buffer, a sheath fluid, a flow cytometer sheath fluid, liquid reagents, cleaning solutions, solvents, and pesticides.  
     
     
         23 - 90 . (canceled)