Magnetically controllable valve and portable microfluidic device having a magnetically controllable valve, in particular cartridge for sample preparation and molecule analysis

Abstract

The valve is formed in a valve body housing a first path portion, a second path portion, and an coupling zone between the first and second path portions. A shutter is arranged in the coupling zone and has a shutting portion of ferromagnetic material that is deformable under the action of an external magnetic field between an undeformed position, wherein the shutter closes the coupling zone, and a deformed position, wherein the shutter at least partially frees the coupling zone. The shutting portion of the shutter is formed by a rubber membrane incorporating particles, for example of ferrite particles.

1 . A portable microfluidic device comprising:
 an extraction chamber in fluidic connection with a sample inlet opening;   a waste chamber extending along the extraction chamber;   a manifold extending along the extraction chamber and the waste chamber;   a fluidic circuit connecting the extraction chamber, the waste chamber, and the manifold; and   a valve arranged on the fluidic circuit, the valve including:
 a valve body; 
 a first path portion in the valve body; 
 a second path portion in the valve body; 
 a coupling zone between the first and second path portions; and 
 a shutter arranged in the coupling zone, wherein the shutter comprises a shutting portion of ferromagnetic material deformable by an external magnetic field. 
   
     
     
         2 . The portable microfluidic device according to  claim 1 , wherein the shutting portion of the shutter comprises a tapered portion having a major base surface and a minor base surface, the coupling zone is T-shaped, the second path portion forms an opening facing a wall of the first path portion, and the shutter is arranged along the first path portion and closes the opening. 
     
     
         3 . The portable microfluidic device according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the valve body includes a surface that delimits the first path portion; and   the valve further includes an opening in the valve body, the opening being along the second path portion.   
     
     
         4 . The portable microfluidic device according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 the shutter further includes:
 a central region; 
 a peripheral region spaced outward from the central region, the peripheral region surrounds the central region; 
 a peripheral edge directly adjacent to the peripheral region surrounds the central region and the peripheral region, the peripheral edge surrounds the opening and is spaced outward from the opening; 
 a first base surface that faces towards the surface of the valve body and faces away from the opening; and 
 a second base surface along the central region and the peripheral region, the second base surface fully overlapping the opening, the second base surface has a convex profile when the shutting portion is in a deformed position, and the second base surface has a flat profile when the shutting portion is in an undeformed position; 
   the shutting portion extends from the central region along the peripheral region to the peripheral edge, the shutting portion is deformable from the undeformed position to the deformed position by the external magnetic field.   
     
     
         5 . The portable microfluidic device according to  claim 4 , wherein the first base surface is bonded to the surface of the valve body. 
     
     
         6 . The portable microfluidic device according to  claim 4 , further comprising a stem portion extending from the surface of the valve body to the minor surface of the shutter, the stem portion being bonded to the surface of the valve body and being bonded to the shutter at the first base surface of the shutter. 
     
     
         7 . The portable microfluidic device of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the shutting portion is tapered;   the first base surface is a minor base surface; and   the second base surface is a major base surface that is larger than the minor base surface.   
     
     
         8 . The portable microfluidic device of  claim 4 , wherein the first base surface is substantially the same size as the second base surface. 
     
     
         9 . A system, comprising:
 a portable microfluidic device that includes:
 an extraction chamber in fluidic connection with a sample inlet opening; 
 a waste chamber extending along the extraction chamber; 
 a manifold extending along the extraction chamber and the waste chamber; 
 a fluidic circuit connecting the extraction chamber, the waste chamber, and the manifold; and 
 a valve arranged on the fluidic circuit, the valve including:
 a valve body; 
 a first path portion in the valve body; 
 a second path portion in the valve body; 
 a coupling zone between the first and second path portions; and 
 a shutter arranged in the coupling zone, wherein the shutter comprises a shutting portion of ferromagnetic material deformable by an external magnetic field; and 
 
   a sample treatment machine for extracting molecules, the sample treatment machine being configured to operate with the microfluidic device and including a valve actuator having a controllable magnetic element configured to selectively generate the external magnetic field for causing deformation of the shutting portion of the valve.   
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the shutting portion of the shutter comprises a tapered portion having a major base surface and a minor base surface, the coupling zone is T-shaped, the second path portion forms an opening facing a wall of the first path portion, and the shutter is arranged along the first path portion and closes the opening. 
     
     
         11 . The portable microfluidic device according to  claim 10 , wherein:
 the shutter further includes:
 a central region; 
 a peripheral region spaced outward from the central region, the peripheral region surrounds the central region; 
 a peripheral edge directly adjacent to the peripheral region surrounds the central region and the peripheral region, the peripheral edge surrounds the opening and is spaced outward from the opening; 
 a first base surface that faces towards the surface of the valve body and faces away from the opening; and 
 a second base surface along the central region and the peripheral region, the second base surface fully overlapping the opening, the second base surface has a convex profile when the shutting portion is in a deformed position, and the second base surface has a flat profile when the shutting portion is in an undeformed position; 
   the shutting portion extends from the central region along the peripheral region to the peripheral edge, the shutting portion is deformable from the undeformed position to the deformed position by the external magnetic field.   
     
     
         12 . The portable microfluidic device according to  claim 11 , wherein the first base surface is bonded to the surface of the valve body. 
     
     
         13 . The portable microfluidic device according to  claim 11 , further comprising a stem portion extending from the surface of the valve body to the minor surface of the shutter, the stem portion being bonded to the surface of the valve body and being bonded to the shutter at the first base surface of the shutter. 
     
     
         14 . The portable microfluidic device of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the shutting portion is tapered;   the first base surface is a minor base surface; and   the second base surface is a major base surface that is larger than the minor base surface.   
     
     
         15 . The portable microfluidic device of  claim 11 , wherein the first base surface is substantially the same size as the second base surface. 
     
     
         16 . A portable microfluidic device, comprising:
 an extraction chamber in fluidic connection with a sample inlet opening;   a waste chamber extending along the extraction chamber;   a manifold extending along the extraction chamber and the waste chamber;   a fluidic circuit connecting the extraction chamber, the waste chamber, and the manifold; and   a valve arranged on the fluidic circuit, the valve including:
 a valve body; 
 a first path portion in the valve body; 
 a second path portion in the valve body; 
 a coupling zone between the first and second path portions; and 
 a shutter arranged in the coupling zone, wherein the shutter comprises a shutting portion of ferromagnetic material deformable by an external magnetic field and the shutting portion includes a hole that extends into the shutting portion. 
   
     
     
         17 . The portable microfluidic device of  claim 16 , wherein a stem portion extends from the valve body to the shutter and is in the hole of the shutter. 
     
     
         18 . The portable microfluidic device of  claim 16 , wherein the hole extends fully through the shutter. 
     
     
         19 . The portable microfluidic device of  claim 18 , wherein a stem portion extends from the valve body to the shutter and is in the hole of the shutter. 
     
     
         20 . The portable microfluidic deice of  claim 16 , wherein the shutting portion of the shutter includes a tapered portion.