METHODS AND DEVICES FOR BUBBLE MITIGATION
The invention relates to methods, systems and devices for mitigation of bubbles in a micro-fluidic environment. For example, the invention relates to methods, systems and devices for mitigation of bubbles from reagents, solvents, formulations and for improving chemical reactions in micro-fluidic systems, such as for fluorescence detection and polynucleotide sequencing.
1 . A method for mitigating or preventing bubbles in a micro-fluidic environment, comprising
(a) degassing one or more of source reagents prior to mixing of the source reagents; and
(b) degassing the mixed reagents prior to introducing the mixed reagents into the micro-fluidic environment.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the micro-fluidic environment is a flow cell.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the micro-fluidic environment is a flow cell for the sequencing of a polynucleotide.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the source reagents comprise 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 different source reagents.
5 . The method of claim 1 wherein degassing is achieved by passing source fluid to be degassed through a gas-permeable tubing from which gas present in the passing fluid is removed from the fluid through the gas-permeable tubing into a vacuumed chamber or space.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the gas-permeable tubing is stationed in a vacuumed chamber.
7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the gas-permeable tubing is encased in a vacuumed sheath that encases the gas-permeable tubing along the length of the gas-permeable portion.
8 . An apparatus comprising a degassing system performing a method of any of claims 1 - 7 .
9 . An apparatus comprising a micro-fluidic device coupled to an in-line degas system prior to the entrance of source reagents or mixtures thereof into the micro-fluidic device.
10 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the micro-fluidic device comprises a flow cell.
11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the micro-fluidic device comprises a flow cell for the sequencing of a polynucleotide.
12 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the source reagents comprise 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 different source reagents.
13 . The apparatus of claim 9 wherein degassing is achieved by passing source fluid to be degassed through a gas-permeable tubing from which gas present in the passing fluid is removed from the fluid through the gas-permeable tubing into a vacuumed chamber or space.
14 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the gas-permeable tubing is stationed in a vacuumed chamber.
15 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the gas-permeable tubing is encased in a vacuumed sheath that encases the gas-permeable tubing along the length of the gas-permeable portion.
16 . A method for improving a chemical reaction in a micro-fluidic environment, comprising removing bubbles from pre-mixed reagents or mixed reagents prior to the pre-mixed or mixed reagents entering the micro-fluidic environment.
17 . The method of claim 16 , comprising using any method or apparatus of any of claims 1 - 15 .
18 . The method of claim 16 , comprising removing bubbles from the pre-mixed reagents and the mixed reagents prior to the mixed reagents entering the micro-fluidic environment.
19 . The method of claim 16 , comprising removing bubbles from the mixed reagents prior to such mixed reagents entering the micro-fluidic environment along substantially the full length of the connecting line between reagent mixing and a micro-fluidic chemical system.