Methods and Devices for High Throughput Fluid Delivery

Abstract

Methods and devices for delivering fluids into microfluidic device body structures are described. The methods and devices include the use of fluid manifolds that are integrated or interchangeable with device body structures. Methods of fabricating manifolds are also provided.

1 . A method of distributing at least one fluid to one or more of a plurality of ports disposed in a body structure of a microfluidic device, the method comprising: 
 loading the at least one fluid into at least a first aperture in a manifold of the microfluidic device, which microfluidic device comprises the manifold and the body structure, wherein the manifold further comprises at least one manifold channel network disposed therein, wherein the first aperture is in fluid communication with one or more manifold channels in the at least one manifold channel network, wherein the first aperture or at least one manifold channel is in fluid communication with the one or more of the plurality of ports, and wherein at least one microchannel network is in fluid communication with the plurality of ports; and,    flowing the at least one fluid using at least one fluid direction component from the first aperture through the at least one manifold channel network such that the at least one fluid is distributed to the one or more of the plurality of ports disposed in the body structure of the microfluidic device.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising flowing the at least one fluid in the at least one microchannel network or the manifold channel network using one or more fluid direction component comprising one or more of: a fluid pressure force modulator, an electrokinetic force modulator, a capillary force modulator, a gravity force modulator, a magnetic force modulator, a dielectrophoretic force modulator, or a fluid wicking element.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising flowing the at least one fluid in the manifold channel network using a first gravity force modulator and in the at least one microchannel network using one or more of: a fluid pressure force modulator, an electrokinetic force modulator, a capillary force modulator, a second gravity force modulator, a magnetic force modulator, a dielectrophoretic force modulator, or a fluid wicking element.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing at least a second aperture or manifold channel in the manifold, wherein the second aperture or manifold channel is in fluid communication with the first aperture, with the at least one or another manifold channel network, or with the one or more of the plurality of ports, for venting air from the microfluidic device during the loading or the flowing steps.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing at least a second aperture or manifold channel in the manifold, wherein the second aperture or manifold channel is in fluid communication with the one or more of the plurality of ports, wherein the second aperture or manifold channel comprise at least one bulk viscosity enhancer and at least one electrolyte disposed therein for delivering at least one electrical field to the one or more of the plurality of ports during operation of the device.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising interchanging two or more body structures such that each body structure is sequentially mated to the manifold and flowing the at least one fluid from the manifold to the plurality of ports disposed in each interchanged body structure.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein at least one step is automated.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one portion of the at least one microchannel network comprises a plurality of parallel microchannels, the method further comprising flowing the at least one fluid from the first aperture into the plurality of parallel microchannels or into one or more ports in fluid communication with the plurality of parallel microchannels.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of parallel microchannels comprise at least about 6, 12, 24, 48, 96, or more parallel microchannels.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising assaying the at least one fluid for one or more detectable properties in each of the plurality of parallel microchannels simultaneously.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising detecting the one or more detectable properties in at least one common detection region of the plurality of parallel microchannels using at least one detector in or proximal to the plurality of parallel microchannels in the at least one common detection region.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising detecting the at least one detectable signal in each of the plurality of parallel microchannels simultaneously in the at least one common detection region.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the loading step further comprises loading the at least one fluid into the first aperture of each of two or more manifolds of the microfluidic device.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising mating the body structure sequentially to each of the two or more manifolds and flowing the least one fluid from each of the two or more manifolds to the plurality of ports disposed in the body structure of the microfluidic device.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising interchanging the two or more manifolds such that each manifold is sequentially mated to the body structure and flowing the at least one fluid from each interchanged manifold to the plurality of ports disposed in the body structure of the microfluidic device.  
     
     
         16 . The method of claims  15 , wherein at least one step is automated.