US 12,303,901 B2
Microfluidic device for deformable beads enrichment and self-regulated ordering and encapsulation in droplets
Cifeng Fang, San Jose, CA (US); Chen Li, San Jose, CA (US); Yu Liu, San Jose, CA (US); Yunfeng Ling, San Jose, CA (US); and Yaqi Wang, San Jose, CA (US)
Assigned to PRECIGENOME, LLC, San Jose, CA (US)
Appl. No. 17/278,281
Filed by PRECIGENOME, LLC, San Jose, CA (US)
PCT Filed Jan. 7, 2020, PCT No. PCT/US2020/012501
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Mar. 19, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/146324, PCT Pub. Date Jul. 16, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/790,369, filed on Jan. 9, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0331174 A1, Oct. 28, 2021
Int. Cl. B01L 1/00 (2006.01); B01L 3/00 (2006.01)
CPC B01L 3/502784 (2013.01) [B01L 3/502715 (2013.01); B01L 3/502746 (2013.01); B01L 2200/0673 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0627 (2013.01); B01L 2400/02 (2013.01); B01L 2400/086 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A microfluidic device for a constant pressure source system comprising:
one or more inlets, and one or more microfluidic channels,
wherein the one or more inlets are adapted for receiving deformable beads, oil, and/or a suspension comprising buffer, cells, and/or particles,
wherein the one or more microfluidic channels are in flow communication with the one or more inlets through a cross junction and define a fluid flow path therebetween, said fluid flow path forming a substantially planar substrate, and
wherein the microfluidic channel is adapted to generate droplets,
wherein the microfluidic channel is a pinch channel between two cross junctions, and,
wherein the pinch channel has a dimension smaller than the dimension of the deformable beads; and
a series of low hydraulic resistance reservoirs and high hydraulic resistance channels to concentrate deformable beads and compensate non-uniform distribution of deformable beads within suspension;
wherein the microfluidic device further comprises a long funnel connected to the inlet for receiving the deformable beads, wherein the funnel guides and aligns beads into a row while maintaining delivery frequency.