Microfluidic structure, microfluidic device having the same and method of controlling the microfluidic device

Abstract

A microfluidic structure in which a plurality of chambers arranged at different positions are connected in parallel and into which a fixed amount of fluid may be efficiently distributed without using a separate driving source, and a microfluidic device having the same. The microfluidic device includes a platform having a center of rotation and including at least one microfluidic structure. The microfluidic structure includes a sample supply chamber configured to accommodate a sample, a plurality of first chambers arranged in a circumferential direction of the platform at different distances from the center of rotation of the platform, and a plurality of siphon channels, each of the siphon channels being connected to a corresponding one of the first chambers.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A microfluidic device comprising:
 a platform having a center of rotation and comprising a microfluidic structure,   wherein the microfluidic structure comprises:   a plurality of first chambers arranged in a circumferential direction of the platform at different distances from the center of rotation; and   a plurality of first siphon channels, each of the plurality of first siphon channels being connected to a corresponding first chamber of the plurality of the first chambers.   
     
     
         2 . The microfluidic device according to  claim 1 , wherein the microfluidic structure further comprises a plurality of second chambers connected to the plurality of first chambers by the plurality of first siphon channels. 
     
     
         3 . The microfluidic device according to  claim 2 , wherein the microfluidic structure further comprises:
 a sample supply chamber configured to accommodate a sample and including a discharge outlet; and   a distribution channel connected to the discharge outlet of the sample supply chamber and to the plurality of first chambers, the distribution channel being configured to distribute the sample in the sample supply chamber to the plurality of first chambers.   
     
     
         4 . The microfluidic device according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of first chambers is arranged further from the center of rotation than an adjacent first chamber of the plurality of first chambers to which the sample flows earlier. 
     
     
         5 . The microfluidic device according to  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of first chambers are arranged such that a first chamber of the plurality of first chambers having a larger sequence number along the distribution channel is more distant from the center of rotation than another first chamber of the plurality of first chambers having a smaller sequence number. 
     
     
         6 . The microfluidic device according to  claim 3 , wherein the first chambers are arranged in a direction along the distribution channel such that a first chamber of the plurality of first chambers positioned at a greater distance from the discharge outlet of the sample supply chamber than another first chamber of the plurality of first chambers is more distant from the center of rotation of the platform than the other first chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The microfluidic device according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first chambers are spirally arranged around the center of rotation of the platform. 
     
     
         8 . The microfluidic device according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of first siphon channels has a crest point at a position higher than a full fluid level of a corresponding first chamber connected thereto. 
     
     
         9 . The microfluidic device according to  claim 1 , wherein widths of the plurality of first siphon channels are between about 0.01 mm and about 3 mm, and depths of the plurality of first siphon channels are between about 0.01 mm and about 3 mm. 
     
     
         10 . The microfluidic device according to  claim 3 , wherein the microfluidic structure further comprises at least one reaction chamber connected to at least one second chamber of the plurality of second chambers. 
     
     
         11 . The microfluidic device according to  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of first chambers, the plurality of second chambers and the reaction chamber are arranged further from the center of rotation than the sample supply chamber. 
     
     
         12 . The microfluidic device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of second chambers accommodates a first marker conjugate to specifically bind with an analyte in the sample,
 wherein the first marker conjugate is a conjugate of a marker and a capture material to specifically bind with the analyte.   
     
     
         13 . The microfluidic device according to  claim 12 , wherein the reaction chamber includes a detection region having the capture material, and the capture material specifically binds with the analyte immobilized thereon. 
     
     
         14 . The microfluidic device according to  claim 13 , wherein the detection region is formed by one selected from the group consisting of a porous membrane, a micropore and a micro-pillar to move the sample according to capillary force. 
     
     
         15 . The microfluidic device according to  claim 14 , further comprising a second marker conjugate disposed in at least one of the plurality of second chambers to determine reliability of a detection result. 
     
     
         16 . The microfluidic device according to  claim 10 , further comprising a magnetic body disposed in a chamber disposed at a position adjacent to the reaction chamber. 
     
     
         17 . A microfluidic structure formed on a platform, the microfluidic structure comprising:
 a sample supply chamber configured to accommodate a sample and including a discharge outlet;   a distribution channel connected to the discharge outlet of the sample supply chamber;   a plurality of first chambers connected to the distribution channel, configured to receive the sample supplied through the distribution channel, and respectively arranged at different radii from a center of rotation of the platform; and   a plurality of siphon channels, each of the plurality of siphon channels being connected to a corresponding first chamber of the plurality of first chambers.   
     
     
         18 . The microfluidic structure according to  claim 17 , further comprising a plurality of second chambers respectively connected to the plurality of first chambers by the siphon channels. 
     
     
         19 . The microfluidic structure according to  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of first chambers are arranged at an increasing order of the radii from the center of rotation corresponding to a sequence of supply of the sample to the plurality of first chambers. 
     
     
         20 . The microfluidic structure according to  claim 19 , wherein the increasing order of the radii from the center of rotation corresponds to a sequence of flow of the sample through the distribution channel. 
     
     
         21 . The microfluidic structure according to  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of first chambers are arranged at an increasing order of the radii from the center of rotation corresponding to a sequence of supply of the sample. 
     
     
         22 . The microfluidic structure according to  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of first chambers are arranged at an increasing order of the radii from the center of rotation corresponding to an increasing order of distances of the plurality first chambers from the discharge outlet of the sample supply chamber along the distribution channel. 
     
     
         23 . The microfluidic structure according to  claim 17 , wherein each of the plurality of siphon channels has a crest point at a position higher than a full fluid level of the corresponding first chamber connected thereto. 
     
     
         24 . The microfluidic structure according to  claim 17 , wherein widths of the plurality of siphon channels are between about 0.01 mm and about 3 mm, and depths of the plurality of siphon channels are between about 0.01 mm and about 3 mm. 
     
     
         25 . The microfluidic structure according to  claim 18 , further comprising at least one reaction chamber connected to at least one of the plurality of second chambers. 
     
     
         26 . The microfluidic structure according to  claim 25 , wherein the plurality of first chambers, the plurality of second chambers and the reaction chamber are arranged further from the center of rotation than the sample supply chamber. 
     
     
         27 . The microfluidic structure according to  claim 26 , further comprising a first marker conjugate disposed in at least one of the second chambers,
 wherein the first marker conjugate specifically binds to an analyte in the sample.   
     
     
         28 . The microfluidic structure according to  claim 27 , wherein the reaction chamber includes a detection region having a capture material to specifically bind with the analyte immobilized thereon. 
     
     
         29 . The microfluidic structure according to  claim 28 , wherein the detection region is formed by one selected from the group consisting of a porous membrane, a micropore and a micro-pillar to move the sample according to capillary force. 
     
     
         30 . The microfluidic structure according to  claim 28 , further comprising a second marker conjugate immobilized in at least one of the plurality of second chambers to determine reliability of a detection result in the detection region. 
     
     
         31 . The microfluidic structure according to  claim 25 , further comprising a magnetic body disposed in a chamber disposed at a position adjacent to the reaction chamber. 
     
     
         32 . The microfluidic device according to  claim 10 , wherein the microfluidic structure further comprises:
 a metering chamber disposed between the at least one second chamber and the at least one reaction chamber and configured to meter an amount of a fluid transferred from the at least one second chamber; and   a fluid transfer assist unit connected between the metering chamber and the at least one reaction chamber.   
     
     
         33 . The microfluidic device according to  claim 32 , wherein the fluid transfer assist unit comprises a fluid passage configured to transfer the fluid accommodated in the metering chamber to into the reaction chamber. 
     
     
         34 . The microfluidic device according to  claim 33 , wherein the fluid transfer assist unit further comprises a fluid guide configured to guide movement of the fluid accommodated in the metering chamber to the fluid passage. 
     
     
         35 . The microfluidic device according to  claim 32 , wherein the microfluidic structure further comprises:
 a second siphon channel having one end connected to the metering chamber; and   a waste chamber connected to the other end of the second siphon channel.   
     
     
         36 . The microfluidic device according to  claim 35 , wherein, after the fluid accommodated in the metering chamber is transferred to the reaction chamber, the second siphon channel transfers the fluid sample flowing thereinto to the waste chamber. 
     
     
         37 . The microfluidic device according to  claim 33 , wherein the microfluidic structure further comprises a magnetic body disposed in a chamber. 
     
     
         38 . A test device comprising:
 the microfluidic device according to  claim 37 ;   a rotary drive unit configured to rotate a platform of the microfluidic device;   a magnetic module configured to be movable in a radial direction of the platform; and   a controller configured to control the rotary drive unit and the magnetic module.   
     
     
         39 . The test device according to  claim 38 , wherein, when a fluid is to be transferred from the metering chamber to the reaction chamber, the controller is configured to rotate the platform and at a predefined time during rotation of the platform, move the magnetic module to a position over or under the platform such that the magnetic module faces the magnetic body. 
     
     
         40 . A method of controlling a microfluidic device including a platform provided with a second chamber configured to accommodate a fluid, a third chamber configured to meter the amount of the fluid, a fourth chamber configured to have a chromatographic reaction to occur therein using the fluid metered in the third chamber and introduced thereinto, and a channel to connect the second chamber, the third chamber and the fourth chamber to each other, the method comprising:
 rotating the platform and transferring the fluid accommodated in the second chamber to the third chamber; and   repeating intervals comprising increasing rotational speed of the platform and stopping rotation thereof, such that the fluid flows into the fourth chamber.   
     
     
         41 . The method according to  claim 40 , further comprising, upon transferring the fluid to the third chamber, stopping the platform such that a first order reaction occurs between the fluid and a marker conjugate accommodated in the third chamber. 
     
     
         42 . The method according to  claim 41 , further comprising, upon introduction of the fluid into the fourth chamber, stopping the platform. 
     
     
         43 . The method according to  claim 42 , further comprising, when the platform is stopped, absorbing the fluid in a detection region provided in the fourth chamber, and transferring the fluid remaining in the third chamber to the fourth chamber. 
     
     
         44 . The method according to  claim 43 , further comprising, upon completion of the chromatographic reaction in the fourth chamber, rotating the platform to remove the fluid remaining in the fourth chamber.