US 11,986,822 B2
Microdevice for differential separation, purification and amplification of forensic samples
Tracey Dawson Green, Glen Allen, VA (US); and James Landers, Charlottesville, VA (US)
Assigned to Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA (US); and University of Virginia Patent Foundation, Charlottesville, VA (US)
Appl. No. 16/484,142
Filed by VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY, Richmond, VA (US)
PCT Filed Feb. 7, 2018, PCT No. PCT/US2018/017213
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Aug. 7, 2019,
PCT Pub. No. WO2018/148271, PCT Pub. Date Aug. 16, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/455,691, filed on Feb. 7, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2020/0023366 A1, Jan. 23, 2020
Int. Cl. B01L 3/00 (2006.01); B01L 7/00 (2006.01); C12Q 1/686 (2018.01)
CPC B01L 3/502761 (2013.01) [B01L 3/50273 (2013.01); B01L 7/52 (2013.01); C12Q 1/686 (2013.01); B01L 2200/0605 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0636 (2013.01); B01L 2300/087 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0883 (2013.01); B01L 2300/1822 (2013.01); B01L 2300/1894 (2013.01); B01L 2400/0409 (2013.01); B01L 2400/06 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A microfluidic device for processing sexual assault samples, comprising
a sample-input chamber configured for separating a biological sample containing a plurality of cells of multiple cell types from a sample collection device;
an on-chip differential separating chamber downstream of the sample-input chamber, the on-chip differential separating chamber being configured to receive the biological sample containing the plurality of cells of multiple cell types;
a plurality of capture molecules affixed to a substrate, wherein the plurality of capture molecules are anti-sperm antibodies, wherein the plurality of capture molecules and the substrate are all arranged in the same on-chip differential separating chamber, wherein the on-chip differential separating chamber accommodates combining of the plurality of cells of multiple cell types with the plurality of capture molecules, wherein the plurality of capture molecules are capable of sequestering in the on-chip differential separating chamber a plurality of cells of a first cell type of interest and no cells of other cell types besides the first cell type from the biological sample; and
at least one microvalve openable during application of a centrifugal force, wherein the at least one microvalve is configured
to prevent egress of the plurality of capture molecules affixed to the substrate and any cells sequestered by the plurality of capture molecules, and
to allow egress of at least some components of the biological sample which are unsequestered by the plurality of capture molecules, including the other cell types besides the first cell type;
a lysis chamber downstream of the microvalve and configured for combining a lysis solution with the at least some components of the biological sample which are unsequestered by the plurality of capture molecules, wherein the on-chip differential separating chamber is configured to receive and contain a separate lysis solution;
a first metering chamber downstream from the on-chip differential separating chamber;
a second metering chamber downstream from both the on-chip differential separating chamber and the lysis chamber, wherein the first and second metering chambers are parallel circuit elements with respect to one another;
a second valve configured to allow passage of cellular components comprising DNA but not the substrate from the on-chip differential separating chamber to the first metering chamber when opened.