US 10,099,417 B2Granted

Sheath flow methods for fabricating structures

AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy

InventorsDavid R. Mott, Peter B. Howell, Jr., Frances S. Ligler, Stephanie Fertig, Aron Bobrowski

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Abstract

A sheath flow system having a channel with at least one fluid transporting structure located in the top and bottom surfaces situated so as to transport the sheath fluid laterally across the channel to provide sheath fluid fully surrounding the core solution. At the point of introduction into the channel, the sheath fluid and core solutions flow side by side within the channel or the core solution may be bounded on either side by the sheath fluid. The system is functional over a broad channel size range and with liquids of high or low viscosity. The design can be readily incorporated into microfluidic chips without the need for special manufacturing protocols. Uses include extruding materials and/or fabricating structures.

Claims2

Dependent claims

A method for fabricating structures, comprising:

providing a channel having a proximal end and a distal end, said channel having opposed facing top and bottom surfaces, said channel having at least one first fluid transporting structure across said channel located on said top surface and at least one second fluid transporting structure across said channel located on said bottom surface, said first and second fluid transporting structures being located between said proximal and said distal end and on said opposing surfaces, facing one another across the channel;
and
introducing a sheath stream and a core stream at said proximal end of said channel, said sheath and core streams flowing down said channel side by side towards said distal end, wherein said fluid transporting structures transport said sheath stream across said top and bottom surfaces of said channel to surround said core stream, wherein said core stream is a material capable of forming a structure.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/824,635Filed 12 Aug 2015 · division
Priority: 9 Jun 2005
Published: US 2015/0266226 A13 Dec 2015
Granted: 16 Oct 2018
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification20 codes

B29C 48/21
The components being layers: the layers being joined at their surfaces
B01L 3/5027
With fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures: by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are…
B01L 3/502776
Characterised by multiphase flow arrangements: specially adapted for focusing or laminating flows
B29C 48/2556
Flow control means, e.g. valves: provided in or in the proximity of dies

Family

Application60/690,057Us provisional application · filed 9 Jun 2005
Application11/423,225Parent of this division · filed 9 Jun 2006
Application12/987,251Parent of this division · filed 10 Jan 2011
US 8,361,413 B2Parent of this division · filed 29 Jan 2013
Application14/725,769Parent of this division · filed 29 May 2015
US 9,067,204 B2Parent of this division · filed 30 Jun 2015
US 2015/0343691 A1Pre-grant publication · published 3 Dec 2015
US 9,649,803 B2Parent of this division
US 2009/0208372 A1Published application
US 2012/0052521 A1Published application
US 2015/0266226 A1Published application
US 10,099,417 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.