Microfluidic testing system with cell capture/analysis regions for processing in a parallel and serial manner

Abstract

A microfluidic chip system includes an input for receiving the biologic sample, and a first reading window for enabling a detection of the biologic material within the biologic sample. A first plurality of pathways is provided each for determining a treatment agent providing a best treatment efficacy for the predetermined biologic material. A first micro-pump is provided for pumping a portion of the biologic sample into each of the first plurality of pathways. A second plurality of pathways is provided, each for determining a dosage level of a particular one of the plurality of treatment agents with respect to the predetermined biologic material. A plurality of second micro-pumps are provided for pumping a second portion of the biologic sample into a selected one of the second plurality of pathways responsive to the determination of treatment efficacy of the treatment agent providing a best treatment of the predetermined biologic material.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A microfluidic chip system comprising:
 a first reservoir for holding a biologic sample containing a predetermined biologic material;   a first plurality of parallel pathways for testing a treatment agent of a plurality of treatment agents and determining a treatment efficacy for the predetermined biologic material;   a first micro-pump for pumping a portion of the biologic sample into each of the first plurality of parallel pathways from the first reservoir;   a plurality of second reservoirs for holding the portion of the biologic sample treated with one of the plurality of treatment agents;   a second plurality of parallel pathways each for determining a dosage level of a particular one of the plurality of treatment agents with respect to the predetermined biologic material; and   a plurality of second micro-pumps each associated with one of the second plurality of parallel pathways for pumping a second portion of the biologic sample into a selected one of the second plurality of parallel pathways indicating the treatment agent providing a best treatment efficacy of the predetermined biologic material.   
     
     
         2 . The microfluidic chip system of  claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of parallel pathways further comprises:
 a plurality of micro-channels, each of the plurality of micro-channels interconnecting the first reservoir to the plurality of second reservoirs, each of the plurality of micro-channels having 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-channel.   
     
     
         3 . The microfluidic chip system of  claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of micro-channels include a serpentine portion for the portion of the micro-channel. 
     
     
         4 . The microfluidic chip system of  claim 2 , wherein the first micro-pump further pumps the portion of the biologic sample through the plurality of micro-channels into the plurality of second reservoirs. 
     
     
         5 . The microfluidic chip system of  claim 1 , further comprising a first reading window for enabling a detection of the predetermined biologic material within the biologic sample. 
     
     
         6 . The microfluidic chip system of  claim 5 , further including a second plurality of reading windows each associated with one of the plurality of second reservoirs for enabling a view of effects caused by application of the treatment agent to the biologic sample. 
     
     
         7 . The microfluidic chip system of  claim 5 , further comprising a cell counter associated with the first reading window for applying an affinity label to cells of the predetermined biologic material within the biologic sample. 
     
     
         8 . The microfluidic chip system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the second plurality of parallel pathways further comprises a plurality of testing modules each for applying a different dosage level of one of the plurality of treatment agents to the predetermined biologic material within the biologic sample. 
     
     
         9 . The microfluidic chip system of  claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of testing modules further comprises:
 a third reservoir for holding the second portion of the biologic sample treated with one of the plurality of treatment agents; and   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.   
     
     
         10 . The microfluidic chip system of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of testing modules is connected in series to test an efficacy of a plurality of dosage levels of the treatment agent providing the best treatment efficacy one at a time. 
     
     
         11 . The microfluidic chip system of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of testing modules is connected in parallel to test an efficacy of a plurality of dosage levels of the treatment agent providing the best treatment efficacy at a same time. 
     
     
         12 . The microfluidic chip system of  claim 1 , wherein one of the plurality of second micro-pumps pump the second portion of the biologic sample into the selected one of the second plurality of parallel pathways in response to a control input. 
     
     
         13 . The microfluidic chip system of  claim 1 , further comprising an input for receiving the biologic sample. 
     
     
         14 . A method comprising:
 receiving and holding a biologic sample containing a predetermined biologic material within a first reservoir of a microfluidic chip device;   pumping a portion of the biologic sample into each of a first plurality of parallel pathways from the first reservoir using a micro-pump;   applying a treatment agent of a plurality of treatment agents within each of the first plurality of parallel pathways to the portion of the biologic sample within the parallel pathway;   holding the portion of the biologic sample treated with one of the plurality of treatment agents in a plurality of second reservoirs;   pumping a second portion of the biologic sample into a selected second parallel pathway, associated with a selected treatment agent of the plurality of treatment agents, of a second plurality of parallel pathways from the first reservoir using a second micro-pump; and   applying 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.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the step of applying the treatment agent further comprises pumping the biologic sample through a plurality of micro-channels interconnecting the first reservoir with the plurality of second reservoirs to apply the plurality of treatment agents, wherein one of the plurality of treatment agents are applied in each of the plurality of micro-channel s. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , 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 different dosage levels one at a time. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , 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 different dosage levels at a same time. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the step of applying an affinity label to cells of the predetermined biologic material within the biologic sample using a cell counter. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising enabling detection of the predetermined biologic material using a first reading window of the microfluidic chip device. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein pumping the second portion of the biologic sample into the selected second parallel pathway is responsive to a control input.