Packaging of microfluidic devices

Abstract

A microfluidic device containing liquid reagents having an extended shelf life contains the liquid reagents in micro-reservoirs that limit the escape of moisture to less than 10% over the shelf life of the device. The micro-reservoir preferably is made of polypropylene and covered with a metallized plastic film.

1 . A method of making microfluidic devices containing liquid reagents comprising:
 (a) forming at least one micro-reservoir for a liquid reagent, said micro-reservoir being capable of limiting the escape of moisture from said reagent to less than 10% over the shelf life of the device;   (b) placing said reservoir in a predetermined location in said device;   (c) filling said reservoir with said reagent or conditioning agent; and   (d) sealing said filled reservoir of (c) with an adhesive cover capable of limiting the escape of moisture from said reagent to less than 0.01 g/m 2 .   
     
     
         2 . A method of  claim 1  wherein said micro-reservoir is made of polypropylene having a thickness of at least 30 μm. 
     
     
         3 . A method of  claim 1  wherein said micro-reservoir is made of metallized plastic film. 
     
     
         4 . A method of  claim 3  wherein said plastic film is metallized with aluminum. 
     
     
         5 . A method of  claim 1  wherein said adhesive cover is a metallized plastic film. 
     
     
         6 . A method of  claim 5  wherein said plastic film is metallized with aluminum. 
     
     
         7 . A method of  claim 1  wherein said adhesive cover is a metal foil. 
     
     
         8 . A method of  claim 1  wherein said micro-reservoir has a working volume of 100 μL or less. 
     
     
         9 . A method of  claim 1  wherein said adhesive cover comprises a fusible metal. 
     
     
         10 . A micro-reservoir for retaining liquid reagents or conditioning agents in a microfluidic device, said reservoir having a working volume of 100 μL or less and capable of limiting the escape of moisture from said reagent to less than 10% over the shelf life of the microfluidic device. 
     
     
         11 . A micro-reservoir of  claim 10  wherein said reservoir is made of polypropylene having a thickness of at least 30 μm. 
     
     
         12 . A micro-reservoir of  claim 10  wherein said reservoir is made of plastic. 
     
     
         13 . A micro-reservoir of  claim 10  wherein said reservoir is made of metallized plastic film. 
     
     
         14 . A micro-reservoir of  claim 13  wherein said plastic film is metallized with aluminum. 
     
     
         15 . A micro-reservoir of  claim 10  wherein said reservoir is sealed with an adhesive cover capable of limiting the escape of moisture from said reagent or conditioning agent to less than 0.01 g/m 2  day. 
     
     
         16 . A micro-reservoir of  claim 15  wherein said adhesive cover is a metallized plastic film. 
     
     
         17 . A micro-reservoir of  claim 15  wherein said adhesive cover is a metal foil. 
     
     
         18 . A micro-reservoir of  claim 16  wherein said plastic film is metallized with aluminum. 
     
     
         19 . A micro-reservoir of  claim 15  wherein said adhesive cover comprises a fusible metal. 
     
     
         20 . A microfluidic device for analysis of biological samples having extended shelf life comprising: at least one micro-reservoir containing a liquid reagent or conditioning agent, said reservoir limiting the escape of moisture from said reagent or conditioning agent to less than 10% over the shelf life of said device. 
     
     
         21 . A microfluidic device of  claim 20  wherein said micro-reservoir is made of polypropylene having a thickness of at least 30 μm. 
     
     
         22 . A microfluidic device of  claim 20  wherein said micro-reservoir is made of a metallized plastic film. 
     
     
         23 . A microfluidic device of  claim 22  wherein said plastic film is metallized with aluminum. 
     
     
         24 . A microfluidic device of  claim 20  wherein said micro-reservoir has a working volume of 100 μL or less. 
     
     
         25 . A microfluidic device of  claim 20  wherein said reservoir is sealed with an adhesive cover capable of limiting the escape of moisture from said reagent or conditioning agent to less than 0.01 g/m 2  day. 
     
     
         26 . A microfluidic device of  claim 25  wherein said adhesive cover is a metallized plastic film. 
     
     
         27 . A microfluidic device of  claim 26  wherein said plastic film is metallized with aluminum. 
     
     
         28 . A microfluidic device of  claim 5  wherein said adhesive cover is a metal foil. 
     
     
         29 . A microfluidic device of  claim 28  wherein said adhesive cover comprises a fusible metal. 
     
     
         30 - 36 . (canceled)