Fluid processing device including size-changing barrier

Abstract

A diagnostic device is provided that includes a plurality of retainment regions interconnected through at least one fluid processing passageway or separated by at least one barrier. A fluid flow modulator can be provided in the fluid processing passageway if a fluid processing passageway is provided. The barrier and/or fluid flow modulator can comprise a polysaccharide, a derivative of a polysaccharide, or a combination thereof. For example, the barrier can comprise a chitosan material.

1 . A fluid processing device comprising:
 a flow passageway;   a plurality of retainment regions, at least two of the retainment regions each being in fluid communication with the flow passageway; and   at least one a fluid flow modulator arranged in the flow passageway and being adapted to form, or modify the size of, a fluid communication between the at least two retainment regions, the at least one fluid flow modulator comprising a polysaccharide.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid processing device of  claim 1 , wherein the polysaccharide is a water-soluble polysaccharide. 
     
     
         3 . The fluid processing device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fluid flow modulator comprise at least one of a fluid flow modulator that is adapted to open or to increase the size of the fluid communication between the at least two retainment regions, and a fluid flow modulator that is adapted to close or to decrease the size of the fluid communication between the at least two retainment regions. 
     
     
         4 . The fluid processing device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of retainment regions comprises aqueous fluid retained therein. 
     
     
         5 . The fluid processing device of  claim 1 , wherein the flow passageway is dimensioned sufficient to cause capillary flow of a fluid from at least one of the at least two retainment regions through the flow passageway. 
     
     
         6 . The fluid processing device of  claim 1 , wherein the flow passageway is dimensioned sufficient to cause electrokinetic flow of charged components in a fluid from at least one of the at least two retainment regions through the flow passageway. 
     
     
         7 . The fluid processing device of  claim 6 , further comprising at least two electrodes disposed in the device with the flow passageway therebetween. 
     
     
         8 . The fluid processing device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one additional retainment region;   at least one additional flow passageway; and   at least one valve comprising one or more of a pressure-actuatable valve and a heat-actuatable valve arranged in the at least one additional flow passageway, wherein the at least one additional flow passageway is in fluid communication with the at least one additional retainment region and at least one of the plurality of retainment regions.   
     
     
         9 . The fluid processing device of  claim 1 , further comprising at least two electrodes disposed in the device with the flow passageway therebetween. 
     
     
         10 . A system comprising the fluid processing device of  claim 9 , a power source, and at least two electrical leads forming electrical connections, respectively, between the power source and the at least two electrodes. 
     
     
         11 . A system comprising the fluid processing device of  claim 1 , and a pump, wherein the pump is arranged in fluid communication with at least one of the flow passageway and one or more of the plurality of retainment regions. 
     
     
         12 . A fluid processing device comprising:
 a flow passageway; and   at least one valve arranged in the flow passageway, being adapted to open to form a fluid communication through the flow passageway, the valve being adapted to dissolve when contacted with an aqueous solution at room temperature and having a pH of 9.5 or lower, and the valve comprising poly(D-glucosamine), a derivative of poly(D-glucosamine), or a combination thereof.   
     
     
         13 . A fluid processing device comprising:
 a substrate;   a plurality of retainment regions formed in or on the substrate, comprising at least a first retainment region and a second retainment region; and   a barrier at least partially separating the first retainment region from the second retainment region, wherein said barrier comprises a polysaccharide.   
     
     
         14 . The fluid processing device of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 at least one additional retainment region;   at least one flow passageway; and   at least one valve comprising one or more of a pressure-actuatable valve and a heat-actuatable valve arranged in the at least one flow passageway, wherein the at least one flow passageway is in fluid communication with the at least one additional retainment region and at least one of the plurality of retainment regions.   
     
     
         15 . A method comprising:
 providing a fluid processing device comprising at least a first retainment region and a second retainment region, and a barrier arranged at least partially between the first retainment region and the second retainment region, wherein at least one of the first and second retainment regions retains a solvent for the barrier, and the barrier comprises a polysaccharide; and   contacting the barrier with the solvent to change the shape of the barrier.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein contacting the barrier with the solvent comprises opening or increasing the size of a fluid communication between the first retainment region and the second retainment region, or closing or decreasing the size of a fluid communication between the first retainment region and the second retainment region. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the fluid processing device further comprises at least one additional retainment region, at least one flow passageway, and at least one valve comprising one or more of a pressure-actuatable valve arranged in the at least one flow passageway, wherein the at least one flow passageway is in fluid communication with the at least one additional retainment region and at least one of the first retainment region and the second retainment region, and the method further comprises opening the pressure-actuatable valve. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the fluid processing device further comprises a flow passageway in fluid communication with the first retainment region and the second retainment region, and the method comprises migrating charged components in a sample from at least one of the first retainment region and the second retainment region through the flow passageway by electrokinetic motion. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising creating a pressure differential between the first retainment region and the second retainment region, and moving, with the pressure differential, a fluid from one of the first retainment region and the second retainment region into the other of the first retainment region and the second retainment region. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising creating a magnetic field across the first retainment region and the second retainment region, and moving, with the magnetic field, magnetically attractable materials from one of the first retainment region and the second retainment region into the other of the first retainment region and the second retainment region.