Fluidics system

Abstract

The present invention provides a fluidics system and a method for selectively drawing fluid from at least one selected reservoir into a channel by providing a negative pressure source downstream of the fluid and channel and selectively back filling the selected reservoir with a gas.

1 . A portable analysis system for conduction of biochemical and/or chemical analysis comprising:
 a three-dimensional fluid circuit;   a first enclosed reservoir having a first adjustable vent;   a second enclosed reservoir having a second adjustable vent;   a first passageway for receiving a first fluid from said first reservoir;   a second passageway for receiving a second fluid from said second reservoir;   a primary fluid channel;
 wherein the primary fluid channel is configured to have a characteristic dimension such that the selective fluid drawing is not a low Reynolds number fluid flow; 
   a first connecting channel connecting said first passageway upstream to said primary channel;   a second connecting channel connecting said second passageway upstream to said primary channel;   a multimode waveguide;   a barrier configured to prevent fluid flow between said first and second connecting channels; and   a negative pressure source downstream of said primary fluid channel;
 wherein said first and second reservoirs and passageways are elements in said fluid circuit; 
 wherein said fluid circuit comprising elements and a series of layers and at least one of said elements is formed using molding techniques and at least partial elements are formed by molding and mechanical, chemical, thermal or optical etching; 
 wherein each layer of a series of layers is at least a partial element of said fluid circuit; 
 wherein said layers are fused together to form complete elements of said fluid circuit; and 
 wherein said negative pressure source being configured
 for moving said first fluid but not said second fluid to said primary fluid channel only when at least the negative pressure source is activated and when said first adjustable vent is not in a closed position and when said second adjustable vent is in a closed position; and 
 for moving said second fluid but not said first fluid to said primary fluid channel only when at least the negative pressure source is activated and when said second adjustable vent is not closed and when said first adjustable vent is closed. 
 
   
   
   
       2 . The fluidics system of  claim 1 , wherein said fluidics system is configured to conduct analysis of at least one of said first and second fluid. 
   
   
       3 . The fluidics system of  claim 2 , wherein said first and second fluids are analyzed in said primary fluid channel. 
   
   
       4 . The fluidics system of  claim 1 , wherein said first fluid is a sample and said second fluid is a reagent. 
   
   
       5 . A method of performing a biochemical analysis, comprising:
 moving a first fluid in a first reservoir having an adjustable first vent to a primary fluid channel when said first adjustable vent is not in a closed position and not moving a second fluid in a second reservoir having a second adjustable vent in a closed position when a negative pressure source is activated downstream of said primary fluid channel;
 wherein the primary fluid channel is configured to have a characteristic dimension such that the selective fluid drawing is not a low Reynolds number fluid flow; and 
   analyzing said first fluid.   
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 ,
 wherein said analyzing step is performed in said primary fluid channel, and   wherein in said primary channel an internal surface is configured to at least one of capture, recognize, respond to, and detect an analyte.   
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 ,
 wherein said primary fluid channel comprises a waveguide,   wherein said waveguide as adapted for transmitting optical signals to a detector, and   wherein said optical signal indicates presence or absence of an analyte.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 ,
 wherein said waveguide comprises a multimode waveguide having a surface bearing patterned, reflective coating,   wherein said coating defines a reflectively coated region and a first optically exposed region on said surface,   wherein said first optically exposed region is configured to produce an alteration indicative of the presence of a first analyte,   wherein said alteration is detectable by launching a light wave into said waveguide to generate an evanescent field at said patterned surface, and then detecting an interaction of said first optically exposed region with said evanescent wave.   
   
   
       9 . A method of controlling fluid flow, comprising:
 selectively drawing at least one fluid from at least one of a first and a second reservoir into a primary fluid channel, the selectively drawing comprising activating a negative pressure source and unsealing one of the reservoirs,
 wherein the primary fluid channel is configured to have a characteristic dimension such that the selective fluid drawing is not a low Reynolds number fluid flow; and 
 wherein the primary fluid channel comprises an input and an output; 
 wherein the first reservoir comprises a first fluid output fluidically connected to the primary fluid channel input, and a first vent configured to selectively seal and unseal said first reservoir; 
 wherein the second reservoir comprises a second fluid output fluidically connected to the primary fluid channel input, and a second vent configured to selectively seal and unseal said second reservoir; and 
 wherein the negative pressure source is connected to the primary fluid channel output.