MICROFLUIDIC DEVICES FOR FLUID MANIPULATION AND ANALYSIS
The present invention relates to microfluidic devices and methods for manipulating and analyzing fluid samples. The disclosed microfluidic devices utilize a plurality of microfluidic channels, inlets, valves, filter, pumps, liquid barriers and other elements arranged in various configurations to manipulate the flow of a fluid sample in order to prepare such sample for analysis.
1 - 32 . (canceled)
33 . A microfluidic device for analyzing a liquid sample, comprising:
a first microfluidic channel having a first end and a second end;
a sample inlet fluidly connected to the first end of the first microfluidic channel for receiving the liquid sample;
a bellows pump fluidly connected to the second end of the first microfluidic channel;
a second microfluidic channel having a first end, fluidly connected to the sample inlet, and a second end, fluidly connected to the bellows pump; and
a third microfluidic channel having a first end, fluidly connected to the sample inlet, and a second end, fluidly connected to the bellows pump,
wherein the first microfluidic channel comprises a first dried reagent zone wherein a first reagent is printed, the second microfluidic channel comprises a second dried reagent zone wherein a second reagent is printed, and the third microfluidic channel comprises a third dried reagent zone wherein a third reagent is printed.
34 . The microfluidic device of claim 33 wherein the bellows pump comprises a vent hole.
35 . The microfluidic device of claim 33 , further comprising a check valve fluidly connected to the bellows pump, wherein the check valve permits fluid flow away from the bellows pump.
36 . The microfluidic device of claim 33 wherein the first microfluidic channel further comprises one or more optical viewing areas.
37 . The microfluidic device of claim 33 wherein the second microfluidic channel further comprises one or more optical viewing areas.
38 . The microfluidic device of claim 33 wherein the liquid sample comprises a blood sample, the first reagent comprises antibody-A, the second reagent comprises antibody-B, and the third reagent comprises antibody-D.
39 . The microfluidic device of claim 33 wherein the third microfluidic channel further comprises one or more optical viewing areas.