Analyte capturing devices with fluidic ejection devices

Abstract

In one example in accordance with the present disclosure, an analyte capturing device is described. The analyte capturing device includes a first substrate having microfluidic channels disposed therein and a second substrate disposed on top of the first substrate. A chamber is disposed through the second substrate and captures beads therein, which beads adsorb analytes. The analyte capturing device includes at least one fluid ejection device disposed in the first substrate to draw an analyte-containing solution through the beads disposed within the chamber.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An analyte capturing device, comprising;
 a first substrate having microfluidic channels disposed therein;   a second substrate disposed on top of the first substrate;   a chamber disposed through the second substrate to capture beads that adsorb analytes; and   at least one fluid ejection device disposed in the first substrate to draw an analyte-containing solution through the beads disposed within the chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the chamber is a slot fluidly coupled to multiple fluid ejection devices. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the chamber comprises multiple holes disposed between the slot and the multiple fluid ejection devices. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a perforated membrane disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate to prevent beads from entering the microfluidic channels of the first substrate. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the second substrate has a thickness of between 100 and 775 microns; and   the chamber has a volume of between 0.01 microliter to 10 microliters.   
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising an analyte channel in the first substrate to direct the analyte, following capture, away from the chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a third substrate disposed on the second substrate to capture additional beads. 
     
     
         8 . A method comprising:
 capturing beads which adsorb analytes in a mesofluidic chamber of an analyte capturing device;   activating a microfluidic fluid ejection device to generate a flow through the mesofluidic chamber; and   expelling a carrier fluid from the analyte capturing device.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising drawing an elution buffer through the beads to remove the analyte from the beads. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising activating the microfluidic fluid ejection device to expel the analyte and elution buffer from the analyte capturing device. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising activating a chamber pump to draw the analyte and elution buffer away from the chamber. 
     
     
         12 . An analyte capturing device, comprising:
 a planar microfluidic substrate having microfluidic channels disposed therein;   a planar silicon substrate disposed on top of the planar microfluidic substrate;   at least one mesoscale chamber disposed through the planar silicon substrate to capture beads therein, which beads adsorb analytes; and   a microscale fluid ejection device disposed in the planar microfluidic substrate to draw an analyte-containing solution through the beads disposed within the chamber, wherein the fluid ejection device comprises:
 an ejection chamber to hold a volume of fluid; 
 an opening; and 
 an ejector to eject a portion of the volume of fluid through the opening. 
   
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , further comprising the beads which adsorb analytes disposed within the chambers, wherein:
 the beads have a surface treatment selected based on the analyte; and   a diameter of the beads is between 5 and 20 microns.   
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one mesoscale chamber comprises multiple mesoscale chambers. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the multiple mesoscale chambers have at least one of different diameters and different cross-sectional areas.