US 11,851,647 B2
Capillary barriers for staged loading of microfluidic devices
Juan G Santiago, Stanford, CA (US); Lewis A. Marshall, Pleasanton, CA (US); and Anita Rogacs, Los Altos, CA (US)
Assigned to The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University, Stanford, CA (US)
Filed by The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University, Stanford, CA (US)
Filed on Aug. 20, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/998,839.
Application 16/998,839 is a continuation of application No. 16/192,034, filed on Nov. 15, 2018, granted, now 10,787,660.
Application 16/192,034 is a continuation of application No. 15/853,370, filed on Dec. 22, 2017, granted, now 10,233,441, issued on Mar. 19, 2019.
Application 15/853,370 is a continuation of application No. 14/213,832, filed on Mar. 14, 2014, abandoned.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/785,255, filed on Mar. 14, 2013.
Prior Publication US 2021/0062181 A1, Mar. 4, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. C12N 15/10 (2006.01); B01L 3/00 (2006.01); B01D 57/02 (2006.01); C12Q 1/6806 (2018.01); G01N 27/447 (2006.01)
CPC C12N 15/101 (2013.01) [B01D 57/02 (2013.01); B01L 3/502715 (2013.01); B01L 3/502723 (2013.01); B01L 3/502738 (2013.01); C12Q 1/6806 (2013.01); B01L 2200/027 (2013.01); B01L 2200/0621 (2013.01); B01L 2200/0631 (2013.01); B01L 2200/0684 (2013.01); B01L 2200/10 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0838 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0858 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0867 (2013.01); B01L 2300/12 (2013.01); B01L 2300/165 (2013.01); B01L 2400/0406 (2013.01); B01L 2400/0421 (2013.01); B01L 2400/0688 (2013.01); B01L 2400/086 (2013.01); B01L 2400/088 (2013.01); G01N 27/44791 (2013.01)] 33 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus, comprising:
(a) a structure comprising:
(i) a first microfluidic channel to guide a first liquid toward a fluid-interface region;
(ii) a second microfluidic channel to guide a second liquid toward the fluid-interface region; and
(iii) a capillary barrier to position a meniscus of the first liquid at the fluid-interface region using capillary force;
(b) a first open reservoir connected to the first microfluidic channel;
(c) a second open reservoir connected to the first open reservoir via the second microfluidic channel; and
(d) a third open reservoir connected to the first microfluidic channel; wherein the third open reservoir is present within a fluidic path, wherein the fluidic path interconnects the first open reservoir and the fluid-interface region.