Modular parallel/serial dual microfluidic chip

Abstract

A system for testing a treatment agent for a biologic material includes an input for receiving a biologic sample. A plurality of micro-pumps pump a portion of the biologic sample from the first reservoir into a connected module. A first module includes a first plurality of testing pathways for testing a first portion of the biologic sample. A first module connector removeably connects the first module to the distributor module. A second module includes a second plurality of testing pathways for testing a second portion of the biologic sample. The selected pathway applies at least one dosage level of a treatment agent to the second portion of the biologic sample. A second module connector removeably connects the second module to the distributor module, wherein treatment agent and the plurality of dosage levels tested by the system may be selected by selecting the second module associated with the second module connector.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for testing a treatment agent for a predetermined biologic material using a modular testing system, comprising:
 connecting a first module providing testing of a plurality of treatment agents to a distributor module;   connecting a second module providing testing of the plurality of treatment agents at a plurality of predetermined dosage levels to the distributor module;   receiving, in an input of the distributor module, a biologic sample, the biologic sample containing the predetermined biologic material to be treated via one of the plurality of treatment agents;   holding the biologic sample containing the predetermined biologic material within a first reservoir of the distributor module;   pumping, by a first micro-pump of the distributor module, a first portion of the biologic sample from the first reservoir in the distributor module into each of a first plurality of parallel pathways in the first module;   applying within the first module a treatment agent of the plurality of treatment agents within each of the first plurality of parallel pathways to the first portion of the biologic sample within the parallel pathway;   pumping a second portion of the biologic sample from the first reservoir in the distributor module into a selected second parallel pathway associated with a selected treatment agent of a second plurality of parallel pathways within the second module using a second micro-pump of the distributor module, the selected second parallel pathway responsive to a control input; and   applying within the second module the selected treatment agent at a plurality of different dosage levels within the selected second parallel pathway to the second portion of the biologic sample within the selected second parallel pathway.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of applying within the first module the treatment agent further comprises pumping the first portion of the biologic sample through a plurality of micro-channels interconnecting the first reservoir with a plurality of second reservoirs to apply the plurality of treatment agents, wherein one of the plurality of treatment agents is applied in each of the plurality of micro-channels. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of micro-channels include a serpentine portion. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of micro-channels includes a portion thereof interiorly coated with one of the plurality of treatment agents for applying the treatment agent to the predetermined biologic material passing through the portion of the micro-channels. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising enabling, by a viewing widow associated with the first reservoir, a view of the biologic sample. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising enabling, by a plurality of reading windows each associated with one of the plurality of second reservoirs, a view of effects caused by application of the treatment agent to the biologic sample. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the step of applying the selected treatment agent further comprises pumping the second portion of the biologic sample through a second plurality of micro-channels to apply the selected treatment agent at one of a plurality of dosage levels to the second portion of the biologic sample. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of applying the selected treatment agent further comprises pumping the second portion of the biologic sample through a plurality of micro-channels to apply the selected treatment agent at one of a plurality of dosage levels to the second portion of the biologic sample. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of applying the selected treatment agent further comprises applying the selected treatment agent in series at the plurality of different dosage levels to test an efficacy of the plurality of predetermined dosage levels one at a time. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of applying the selected treatment agent further comprises applying the selected treatment agent at the plurality of different dosage levels in parallel to test an efficacy of the plurality of predetermined dosage levels at a same time. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising applying an affinity label to cells of the predetermined biologic material within the biologic sample using a cell counter. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the second plurality of parallel pathways includes a plurality of testing modules, and the method further comprising applying, by each of the plurality of testing modules, a different dosage level of one of the plurality of treatment agents to the predetermined biologic material within the biologic sample. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising holding, in a third reservoir of each of the testing modules, the second portion of the biologic sample treated with one of the plurality of treatment agents, wherein each of the plurality of testing modules includes a micro-channel interconnecting the first reservoir to the third reservoir, the micro-channel including a portion interiorly coated with one of the plurality of treatment agents for applying the treatment agent to the predetermined biologic material passing through the micro-channel at the different dosage level. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising testing an efficacy of a plurality of dosage levels of the treatment agent one at a time using the plurality of testing modules connected in series. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising testing an efficacy of a plurality of dosage levels of the treatment agent at a same time using the plurality of testing modules connected in parallel.