US 12,145,150 B2
Microfluidic devices and methods for delivering solutions to biological material
Santiago Munne, Barcelona (ES); Jose Antonio Horcajadas Almansa, Madrid (ES); Lionel Matthys, Madrid (ES); Joana Alexandra Sales Fidalgo, Madrid (ES); Pablo Carasa Ruiz, Madrid (ES); David Cancio Villalonga, Madrid (ES); Daniel Garcia Alonso, Madrid (ES); Cristina Dosda Munuera, Madrid (ES); and Sara Alvarez Arguelles, Madrid (ES)
Assigned to Overture Life, Inc., New York, NY (US)
Filed by Overture Life, Inc., New York, NY (US)
Filed on May 8, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/144,834.
Application 18/144,834 is a continuation of application No. 17/395,572, filed on Aug. 6, 2021, granted, now 11,660,598.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/183,359, filed on May 3, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/062,610, filed on Aug. 7, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0271182 A1, Aug. 31, 2023
Int. Cl. B01L 3/00 (2006.01)
CPC B01L 3/502715 (2013.01) [B01L 2200/027 (2013.01); B01L 2200/0689 (2013.01); B01L 2200/142 (2013.01); B01L 2200/16 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0681 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0867 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0883 (2013.01); B01L 2300/14 (2013.01); B01L 2400/049 (2013.01); B01L 2400/06 (2013.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for delivering a solution to a biological material, the method comprising:
a) loading the biological material to a well of a device comprising;
1) a microfluidic biochip that comprises:
i) a first channel that comprises:
a first channel inlet configured to receive a first solution; and
a first channel outlet connected to a mixing channel and configured to deliver the first solution to the mixing channel;
ii) a second channel that comprises:
a second channel inlet configured to receive a second solution; and
a second channel outlet connected to the mixing channel and configured to deliver the second solution to the mixing channel; and
iii) the mixing channel that comprises:
a mixing channel inlet configured to receive the first solution and the second solution and mix the first solution with the second solution, thereby providing a mixture of the first solution and the second solution; and
a mixing channel outlet configured to deliver the first solution, the second solution, or the mixture of the first solution and the second solution to a well; and
2) the well that comprises:
a top opening configured to receive a biological material from outside the device and contain the biological material within the well;
a well inlet connected to the mixing channel outlet and configured to receive the mixture of the first solution and the second solution from the mixing channel outlet, wherein the well inlet is at a bottom end of the well; and
a well outlet configured to expel a waste solution from the well, wherein the well outlet is located at a height above the bottom end of the well, wherein the height above the bottom end of the well is greater than a height of the biological material that is received in the well;
b) introducing into the first channel an initial aliquot of the first solution from a first reservoir for an initial time period at an initial pressure level, thereby introducing the first solution to the biological material in the well;
c) stopping introduction of the first solution from the first reservoir into the first channel;
d) introducing into the second channel an initial aliquot of the second solution from a second reservoir for an initial time period at an initial pressure level, thereby introducing the second solution to the biological material in the well; and
e) stopping the introduction of the second solution from the second reservoir into the second channel,
thereby delivering the solution to the biological material.
 
22. A method for delivering a solution to a biological material, the method comprising:
a) loading the biological material to a well of a device comprising;
1) a microfluidic biochip that comprises:
i) a first channel that comprises:
a first channel inlet configured to receive a first solution; and
a first channel outlet connected to a mixing channel and configured to deliver the first solution to the mixing channel;
ii) a second channel that comprises:
a second channel inlet configured to receive a second solution; and
a second channel outlet connected to the mixing channel and configured to deliver the second solution to the mixing channel; and
iii) the mixing channel that comprises:
a mixing channel inlet configured to receive the first solution and the second solution and mix the first solution with the second solution, thereby providing a mixture of the first solution and the second solution; and
a mixing channel outlet configured to deliver the first solution, the second solution, or the mixture of the first solution and the second solution to a well; and
2) the well that comprises:
a top opening configured to receive a biological material from outside the device and contain the biological material within the well;
a well inlet connected to the mixing channel outlet and configured to receive the mixture of the first solution and the second solution from the mixing channel outlet, wherein the well inlet is at a bottom end of the well; and
a well outlet configured to expel a waste solution from the well, wherein the well outlet is located at a height above the bottom end of the well, wherein the height above the bottom end of the well is greater than a height of the biological material that is received in the well;
b) introducing into the first channel an initial aliquot of the first solution from a first reservoir for an initial time period at an initial pressure level, thereby introducing the first solution to the biological material in the well;
c) introducing into the second channel an initial aliquot of the second solution from a second reservoir for an initial time period at an initial pressure level, thereby introducing the second solution to the biological material in the well;
d) introducing into the first channel a second aliquot of the first solution from the first reservoir for a second time period at a second pressure level, wherein the second aliquot of the first solution is a greater volume than the initial aliquot of the first solution is; and
e) introducing into the second channel a second aliquot of the second solution from the second reservoir for a second time period at a second pressure level, wherein the second aliquot of the second solution is a lesser volume than the initial aliquot of the second solution is.