Microfluidic devices and methods
Embodiments of the invention are directed to microfluidic devices. In one embodiment, a microanalysis chip comprises a body having at least one transfer-separation channel with a channel bottom that has a bottom opening. The transfer-separation channel terminates in a discharge aperture.
1. A dispenser assembly comprising:
a dispenser chip including a dispenser body including one or more vertical channels; and
a sample chip having a base and a sample structure, the sample structure comprising one or more pillars and a sample surface, wherein the one or more vertical channels of the dispenser chip are cooperatively structured to receive the one or more pillars.
2. The dispenser assembly of claim 1 further comprising:
a seal member between the dispenser body and the base of the sample chip.
3. The dispenser assembly of claim 1 wherein the sample chip comprises silicon.
4. The dispenser assembly of claim 1 wherein the sample chip further comprises one or more capture agents on the sample surface.
5. The dispenser assembly of claim 1 wherein the dispenser body comprises silicon.
6. The dispenser assembly of claim 1 wherein the sample chip further comprises one or more capture agents on the sample surface, and wherein one or more analytes are present in the one or more vertical channels in the dispenser chip.
7. The dispenser assembly of claim 1 wherein the sample chip comprises more than 100 pillars.
8. The dispenser assembly of claim 1 wherein the one or more pillars have an aspect ratio greater than about 1.
9. The dispenser assembly of claim 1 wherein the sample chip comprises more than 10 pillars.
10. The dispenser assembly of claim 1 wherein the pillar pitch is 500 microns or less.
11. A dispenser assembly comprising:
a dispenser chip including a dispenser body including one or more vertical channels; and
a sample chip having a base and a sample structure, the sample structure comprising one or more pillars and a sample surface, wherein the one or more vertical channels of the dispenser chip are cooperatively structured to receive the one or more pillars; and
wherein the base and the one or more pillars are composed of the same material.
12. The dispenser assembly of claim 11 further comprising:
a seal member between the dispenser body and the base of the sample chip.
13. The dispenser assembly of claim 11 wherein the sample chip comprises silicon.
14. The dispenser assembly of claim 11 wherein the sample chip further comprises one or more capture agents on the sample surface.
15. The dispenser assembly of claim 11 wherein the dispenser body comprises silicon.
16. The dispenser assembly of claim 11 wherein the sample chip further comprises one or more capture agents on the sample surface, and wherein one or more analytes are present in the one or more vertical channels in the dispenser chip.
17. The dispenser assembly of claim 11 wherein the sample chip comprises more than 10 pillars.
18. The dispenser assembly of claim 11 wherein the sample chip comprises more than 100 pillars.
19. The dispenser assembly of claim 11 wherein the one or more pillars have an aspect ratio greater than about 1.
20. The dispenser assembly of claim 11 wherein the pillar pitch is 500 microns or less.
21. A dispenser assembly comprising:
a dispenser chip including a dispenser body including one or more vertical channels; and
a sample chip having a base and a sample structure, the sample structure comprising one or more pillars and a sample surface, wherein the one or more vertical channels of the dispenser chip are cooperatively structured to receive the one or more pillars; and
wherein the one or more pillars are composed of a material other than a gel.
22. A dispenser assembly comprising:
a dispenser chip including a dispenser body including one or more vertical channels; and
a sample chip having a base and a sample structure, the sample structure comprising one or more pillars and a sample surface, wherein one or more the vertical channels of the dispenser chip are cooperatively structured to receive the one or more pillars; and
further comprising one or more polypeptides either present in the one or more vertical channels or bound to the surface of the one or more pillars.
23. A dispenser assembly comprising:
a dispenser chip including a dispenser body including one or more vertical channels; and
a sample chip having a base and a sample structure, the sample structure comprising one or more pillars and a sample surface, wherein one or more the vertical channels of the dispenser chip are cooperatively structured to receive the one or more pillars; and
wherein the one or more pillars comprise biomolecules other than a polynucleotide.
24. The dispenser assembly of claim 23 further comprising:
a seal member between the dispenser body and the base of the sample chip.
25. The dispenser assembly of claim 23 wherein the sample chip comprises silicon.
26. The dispenser assembly of claim 23 wherein the sample chip further comprises one or more capture agents on the sample surface.
27. The dispenser assembly of claim 23 wherein the dispenser body comprises silicon.
28. The dispenser assembly of claim 23 wherein the sample chip further comprises one or more capture agents on the sample surface, and wherein one or more analytes are present in the one or more vertical channels in the dispenser chip.
29. The dispenser assembly of claim 23 wherein the sample chip comprises more than 10 pillars.
30. The dispenser assembly of claim 23 wherein the sample chip comprises more than 100 pillars.
31. The dispenser assembly of claim 23 wherein the one or more pillars have an aspect ratio greater than about 1.
32. The dispenser assembly of claim 23 wherein the pillar pitch is 500 microns or less.
33. A dispenser assembly comprising:
a dispenser chip including a dispenser body including one or more vertical channels; and
a sample chip having a base and a sample structure, the sample structure comprising one or more pillars and a sample surface, wherein one or more the vertical channels of the dispenser chip are cooperatively structured to receive the one or more pillars; and
wherein the one or more vertical channels contain a liquid other than a gel.
34. The dispenser assembly of claim 33 further comprising:
a seal member between the dispenser body and the base of the sample chip.
35. The dispenser assembly of claim 33 wherein the sample chip comprises silicon.
36. The dispenser assembly of claim 33 wherein the sample chip further comprises one or more capture agents on the sample surface.
37. The dispenser assembly of claim 33 wherein the dispenser body comprises silicon.
38. The dispenser assembly of claim 33 wherein the sample chip further comprises one or more capture agents on the sample surface, and wherein one or more analytes are present in the one or more vertical channels in the dispenser chip.
39. The dispenser assembly of claim 33 wherein the sample chip comprises more than 10 pillars.
40. The dispenser assembly of claim 33 wherein the sample chip comprises more than 100 pillars.
41. The dispenser assembly of claim 33 wherein the one or more pillars have an aspect ratio greater than about 1.
42. The dispenser assembly of claim 33 wherein the pillar pitch is 500 microns or less.
43. A dispenser assembly comprising:
a dispenser chip including a dispenser body including one or more vertical channels; and
a sample chip having a base and a sample structure, the sample structure comprising one or more pillars and a sample surface, wherein the one or more vertical channels of the dispenser chip are cooperatively structured to receive the one or more pillars;
wherein a fluid introduced into the one or more channels can become in contact with the pillar surface or surfaces when the dispenser chip cooperatively engages the pillars.