Device including a dissolvable structure for flow control

Abstract

A diagnostic device is provided that includes a plurality of retainment regions, with the retainment regions that are separated by at least one dissolvable barrier. The retainment regions can be interconnected through at least one fluid processing passageway. A retainment region can include a container such as a retainment region, well, chamber, or other receptacle, or a retainment region such as a surface on which the material is retained. The retainment regions can include a reaction retainment region, one or more reagent retainment regions, each containing unreacted reagents, and a sample retainment region. A pressure-actuated valve can be positioned in each fluid processing passageway interconnecting the one or more reagent retainment regions with the respective intermediate retainment regions interposed between each of the one or more reagent retainment regions and the reaction retainment region. The dissolvable barrier can be a fluid flow modulator in the at least one fluid processing passageway.

1 . A fluid processing device comprising:
 a fluid processing passageway;   a plurality of retainment regions, at least two of the retainment regions each being in fluid communication with the fluid processing passageway; and   at least one fluid flow modulator arranged in the fluid processing passageway and being adapted to open to form, or to increase in size, a fluid communication between the at least two retainment regions, the fluid flow modulator comprising at least one of a polyethylene glycol material, a derivative of a polyethylene glycol material, and a combination thereof, and being adapted to dissolve when contacted with water at room temperature.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid processing device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of retainment regions comprises aqueous fluid retained therein. 
     
     
         3 . The fluid processing device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fluid flow modulator comprises at least one of a polyethylene glycol material and a derivative of a polyethylene glycol material, having a melting point of from about 35° C. and about 65° C. 
     
     
         4 . The fluid processing device of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid processing passageway is dimensioned sufficient to cause capillary flow of a fluid from at least one of the at least two retainment regions through the fluid processing passageway. 
     
     
         5 . The fluid processing device of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid processing passageway is dimensioned sufficient to cause electrokinetic migration of charged components in a fluid, from at least one of the at least two retainment regions through the fluid processing passageway 
     
     
         6 . The fluid processing device of  claim 5 , further comprising at least two electrodes disposed in the device with the fluid processing passageway therebetween. 
     
     
         7 . The fluid processing device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one additional retainment region;   at least one additional fluid processing passageway; and   at least one valve comprising one or more of a pressure-actuatable valve and a heat-actuatable valve arranged in the at least one additional fluid processing passageway, wherein the at least one additional fluid processing passageway is in fluid communication with the at least one additional retainment region and at least one of the plurality of retainment regions.   
     
     
         8 . A system comprising the fluid processing device of  claim 1 , and a pump, wherein the pump is arranged in fluid communication with at least one of the fluid processing passageway and one or more of the plurality of retainment regions. 
     
     
         9 . A system comprising the fluid processing device of  claim 6 , a power source, and at least two electrical leads forming electrical connections, respectively, between the power source and the at least two electrodes. 
     
     
         10 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A method of performing a set of predetermined assays, comprising:
 providing a plurality of retainment regions in a closed, disposable cuvette, the retainment regions interconnected by fluid processing passageways but closed to fluid flow to or from locations outside of the cuvette, the cuvette including:   first retainment regions;   second retainment regions;   first fluid processing passageways interconnecting the first retainment regions from the second retainment regions, wherein the first retainment regions are selectively closed-off from fluid communication with the second retainment regions by pressure-actuated valves positioned in the first fluid processing passageways;   one or more third retainment regions interconnected by second fluid processing passageways with at least the second retainment regions; and   fluid flow modulators positioned in the second fluid processing passageways;   applying pressure to the pressure actuated valves in the first fluid processing passageways sufficient to provide fluid communication between the first and second retainment regions;   introducing a sample for testing or other processing into the one or more third retainment regions; and   establishing fluid communication between the second retainment regions and the one or more third retainment regions at a controlled rate that is a function of characteristics of at least one of the sample in the one or more third retainment regions and a fluid within the second retainment regions.   
     
     
         21 . The fluid processing device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fluid flow modulator comprises a material having the formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein 
         u is an integer from 0 to about 10,000, 
         g is an integer from 2 to about 20,n is an integer from 1 to about 20, 
         t, v, and z are each independently an integer from 0 to about 10,000, and 
         at least one of t, u, and v, is an integer greater than 0;
 R 4 , R 5 , and R 6  are each independently H, OH, NH 2 , O(C n H 2n+1 ), O(C n H 2n−1 ), CH 2 OH, 
 —(—CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 O—) n —H, CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 NH 2 , CH 2 CO 2 H, C g H 2g−1 , or C n H 2n+1,    
 u is an integer from 0 to about 10,000, 
 g is an integer from 2 to about 20, 
 n is an integer from 1 to about 20, 
 t, v, and z are each independently an integer from 0 to about 10,000, and 
 
         at least one of t, u, and v, is an integer greater than 0.