Apparatus for hermetically sealed storage of liquids for a microfluidic system

Abstract

An apparatus for hermetically sealed storage of liquids for a microfluidic system includes at least one cavity and at least one sealing cone. A connection to the microfluidic system is established via the at least one sealing cone. Additionally, the at least one sealing cone is configured to close the at least one cavity.

Claims

1. A device for hermetically sealed storage of liquids for a microfluidic system, comprising: at least one cavity formed in the device, the at least one cavity being configured to receive a fluid; and at least one sealing cone, in a first configuration the at least one sealing cone being arranged between and separating the at least one cavity from a channel in the microfluidic system, and in a second configuration the at least one sealing cone providing a passage through the at least one sealing cone that fluidically connects the at least one cavity and the channel of the microfluidic system, wherein the at least one sealing cone is shaped as a protuberance.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one cavity has in its entirety, or in parts thereof, one or more of a channel structure and a blister structure.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one cavity is formed from at least two parts that are connected to each other in partial surfaces, and wherein the parts are chosen from the group comprising polymer film, polymer sheet, and elastomeric membrane.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one cavity has a volume of 10 μl to 10 ml.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one cavity is configured to receive reagents as fluid.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one cavity is configured to receive a sample that is to be analyzed as fluid.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the at least one cavity serves as a waste reservoir after being emptied of the fluid.

8. The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the waste reservoir contains an absorption material.

9. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one cavity has a filling opening.

10. The device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the filling opening is closed by a stopper, a mash weld, a clip, a seal, or an adhesive tape.

11. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one cavity has a venting opening.

12. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sealing cone comprises at least one of the following components via which a connection is configured to be established between the sealing cone and the microfluidic system: a predetermined breaking point, a pin, an elastomeric seal, and film.

13. The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the at least two parts are welded or adhesively bonded to each other.

14. The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the at least one cavity has a volume of 20 μl to 5 ml.

15. The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the at least one cavity has a volume of 200 μl to 1 ml.

16. The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the absorption material is superabsorbent particles or fibers.

17. The device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the filling opening is a funnel-shaped filling nozzle.

18. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one cavity is filled with the fluid and emptied of the fluid via the at least one sealing cone.

19. The device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the at least one cavity is filled with the fluid and emptied of the fluid only via the at least one sealing cone.

20. The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the at least one cavity includes at least one of: at least one cavity configured to receive reagents as fluid; and at least one cavity in which a sample that is to be analyzed is received as fluid.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further advantages and advantageous configurations of the device according to the disclosure and of the method according to the disclosure are set forth in the figures and in the illustrative embodiments and are explained in the description below. It should be noted that the figures and the illustrative embodiments are merely of a descriptive character and are not intended in any way to limit the disclosure.

(2) FIG. 1 shows schematic views of various embodiments of a sealing cone;

(3) FIG. 2A shows a schematic view of a sealing cone, which comprises a predetermined breaking point and a pin;

(4) FIG. 2B shows the sealing cone of FIG. 2A with a microfluidic system, which has a sealing film and a channel;

(5) FIG. 3A shows a schematic view of a device for the storage of liquids for a microfluidic system having a cavity and a sealing cone;

(6) FIG. 3B shows a schematic view of how the sealing cone is opened and a connection is established to the channel of the microfluidic system by applying a force either to the device, the microfluidic system, or both;

(7) FIG. 4A shows three schematic views of a device that has three sealing cones and three cavities designed as blisters;

(8) FIG. 4B shows a schematic view of the underside of the device of FIG. 4A;

(9) FIG. 5A shows a schematic view of a needle with a V-shaped notch;

(10) FIG. 5B shows a schematic view of a hollow needle with a transverse bore;

(11) FIG. 6A shows a schematic view of a device that has a sealing cone and a cavity filled with liquid, a microfluidic system that has a channel and an elastomeric seal, and a needle with a V-shaped notch that is stored separately from the device;

(12) FIG. 6B shows a schematic view of how the needle with the V-shaped notch has pierced the sealing cone; and

(13) FIG. 7 shows a schematic view of a microfluidic system that has a sealing film, a channel, and a needle with an undercut.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(14) FIG. 1 shows schematic views of various embodiments of the sealing cone 101a-101g.

(15) FIG. 2A shows a schematic view of a sealing cone 201, which comprises a predetermined breaking point 202 and a pin 203.

(16) FIG. 2B, in addition to showing a schematic view of the sealing cone 201 with a predetermined breaking point 202 and a pin 203, also shows a microfluidic system 205, which has a sealing film 206 and a channel 207. The sealing cone 201 is already arranged on the microfluidic system 205. The figure shows how, by applying a force (indicated by the arrow 204) to the sealing cone 201, the predetermined breaking point 202 is pressed inward by the pin 203, which strikes the film 206, such that a connection to the channel 207 of the microfluidic system 205 is established via the sealing cone.

(17) FIG. 3A shows a schematic view of a device 300 for the storage of liquids for a microfluidic system 303, having a cavity 302, here designed as a channel, which is filled with liquid, and also a sealing cone 301, via which a connection to a channel 305 of the microfluidic system 303 can be established and which closes the cavity 302. The microfluidic system 303 comprises a sealing film 304. In this example, the device 300 is stored together with the microfluidic system 303, resulting in what is called a multi-layer structure. The figure does not show that, in this example, the cavity 302, designed as a channel and filled with liquid, is likewise closed at its end directed away from the cone.

(18) FIG. 3B shows a schematic view of how, by applying a force 306 either to the device 300 or to the microfluidic system 303, or to both, the sealing cone 301 is opened and a connection is thus established to the channel 305 of the microfluidic system 303.

(19) FIG. 4A shows three schematic views of the same device 400. The device comprises three sealing cones 401, and three cavities 402, 403 and 404 designed as blisters. Cavity 403 serves as a reservoir for reagents. Cavity 402 is a sample reservoir, and cavity 404 is a waste reservoir. A connection to a microfluidic system (not shown) can be established via the sealing cones 401.

(20) FIG. 4B shows a schematic view of the underside of the device 400 from FIG. 4A, in which the liquid passes in the direction of gravity from the device into the microfluidic system (not shown). It will be seen from this view that, in addition to having the three sealing cones 401 and the three cavities 402, 403 and 404 designed as blisters, the device also comprises a venting channel 405 and a channel for filling 407. Moreover, the connection to cavity 403 is sealed by a mash weld 406. It can further be seen that the channel 407 for filling the sample reservoir 402 is closed by a stopper 408. The latter allows the reservoir to be filled with a sample and to be hermetically sealed before the device is arranged on the microfluidic system (not shown).

(21) FIG. 5A shows a schematic view of a needle 501 with a V-shaped notch 502.

(22) FIG. 5B shows a schematic view of a hollow needle 503 with a transverse bore 504.

(23) These types of needles can be used, for example, to pierce the sealing cone and establish a connection between the at least one cavity of the device and the at least one channel of the microfluidic system.

(24) FIG. 6A shows a schematic view of a device 600 comprising a sealing cone 601 and a cavity 602 filled with liquid, and also a microfluidic system 603 having a channel 604 and an elastomeric seal 605, here an elastomeric membrane. The figure also shows a needle 606 with a V-shaped notch, which needle has been stored separately from the device.

(25) FIG. 6B shows a schematic view of how the needle 606 with the V-shaped notch has pierced the sealing cone 601 and how, as a result, a fluidic connection between the liquid-filled cavity 602 and the channel 604 of the microfluidic system 603 has been established via the sealing cone 601. The liquid is now pressed out of the cavity 602 with the aid of a force (indicated by the block arrow), which force is applied by a punch 607, for example.

(26) FIG. 7 shows a schematic view of a microfluidic system 701 comprising a sealing film 702, a channel 703, and a needle 704 with an undercut. The needle with the undercut pierces the sealing cone 705 of the device when the latter is arranged on the microfluidic system 701.