Microfluidic device

Abstract

A microfluidic device is described herein which comprises a micron-sized deep flow channel and a sensor. The micron-sized deep flow channel is configured such that a sample solution and a reference solution flow side-by-side to one another in a single sensing region of the sensor. The single sensing region is divided into a detection region and a reference region which are contiguous to one another and which are respectively interfaced with the sample solution and the reference solution that flow side-by-side to one another in a longitudinal direction within the micron-sized deep flow channel.

1 . A microfluidic device comprising:
 a micron-sized deep flow channel; and   a sensor, where the micron-sized deep flow channel is configured such that a sample solution and a reference solution flow side-by-side to one another in a single sensing region of the sensor, wherein the single sensing region is divided into a detection region and a reference region which are contiguous to one another and which are respectively interfaced with the sample solution and the reference solution that flow side-by-side to one another in a longitudinal direction within the micron-sized deep flow channel.   
     
     
         2 . The microfluidic device of  claim 1 , wherein said sensor is a grating-coupled waveguide sensor. 
     
     
         3 . The microfluidic device of  claim 1 , wherein said sensor is a surface plasmon resonance sensor. 
     
     
         4 . The microfluidic device of  claim 1 , further comprising two inlets associated with the micron-sized deep flow channel and at least one outlet associated with the micron-sized deep flow channel. 
     
     
         5 . The microfluidic device of  claim 1 , wherein the micron-sized deep flow chamber has a length and height that precludes at least one of eddy diffusivity due to turbulence and shear layer instability between the sample solution and the reference solution. 
     
     
         6 . The microfluidic device of  claim 1 , wherein said micron-sized deep flow channel is configured to receive a plurality of concentration gradients in the sample solution at the same time. 
     
     
         7 . A microfluidic device comprising:
 a plurality of mixers;   a micron-sized deep flow channel; and   a sensor, wherein a first fluid and a second fluid are divided successively by the mixers into multiple streams with each stream corresponding to a different concentration of the first fluid, wherein the micron-sized deep flow channel is configured to receive the multiple streams where a gradient of the first fluid concentration is formed across the micron-sized deep flow channel perpendicular to a direction of a flow of the multiple streams, wherein the multiple streams flow over a single sensing region of the sensor.   
     
     
         8 . The microfluidic device of  claim 7 , wherein said sensor is a grating-coupled waveguide sensor. 
     
     
         9 . The microfluidic device of  claim 7 , wherein said sensor is a surface plasmon resonance sensor. 
     
     
         10 . The microfluidic device of  claim 7 , further comprising two inlets associated with the micron-sized deep flow channel and at least one outlet associated with the micron-sized deep flow channel. 
     
     
         11 . A well plate comprising:
 a plurality of microfluidic devices, each microfluidic device comprises:
 a micron-sized deep flow channel; and 
 a sensor, where the micron-sized deep flow channel is configured such that a sample solution and a reference solution flow side-by-side to one another in a single sensing region of the sensor, wherein the single sensing region is divided into a detection region and a reference region which are contiguous to one another and which are respectively interfaced with the sample solution and the reference solution that flow side-by-side to one another in a longitudinal direction within the micron-sized deep flow channel. 
   
     
     
         12 . The well plate of  claim 11 , wherein said sensor is a grating-coupled waveguide sensor. 
     
     
         13 . The well plate of  claim 11 , wherein said sensor is a surface plasmon resonance sensor. 
     
     
         14 . The well plate of  claim 11 , further comprising two inlets associated with the micron-sized deep flow channel and at least one outlet associated with the micron-sized deep flow channel. 
     
     
         15 . The well plate of  claim 11 , wherein the micron-sized deep flow chamber has a length and height that precludes at least one of eddy diffusivity due to turbulence and shear layer instability between the sample solution and the reference solution. 
     
     
         16 . The well plate of  claim 11 , wherein said micron-sized deep flow channel is configured to receive a plurality of concentration gradients in the sample solution at the same time.