Smart phone based multiplexed viscometer for high throughput analysis of fluids
AssigneeTexas Tech University System
InventorsSiva A. Vanapalli, Deepak E. Solomon
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Abstract
The present invention includes a method and an apparatus for determining the viscosity of a fluid. The apparatus comprising that includes a microchannel connected to a glass capillary in fluid communication with the microchannel, a digital camera positioned with respect to the glass capillary to capture two or more images of a fluidic slug as a fluid travels within the glass capillary, and a processor communicably coupled to the digital camera that determines a viscosity of the fluid based on the two or more digital images.
Claims30
An apparatus comprising:
- a microchannel connected to a glass capillary in fluid communication with the microchannel;
- a pressure source connected to the microchannel that applies a constant pressure to the microchannel;
- a digital camera positioned with respect to the glass capillary to capture two or more images of a fluidic slug as a fluid travels within the glass capillary;
- and
- a processor communicably coupled to the digital camera that determines a location of the fluidic slug within the glass capillary for each of the two or more digital images, determines a flow rate of the fluid based on the locations of the fluidic slug within the glass capillary and a viscosity of the fluid based on the applied pressure and the flow rate of the fluid.
A method of determining a viscosity of a fluid using a digital camera comprising the steps of:
- providing an apparatus comprising:
- a microchannel connected to a glass capillary in fluid communication with the microchannel;
- a pressure source connected to the microchannel;
- the digital camera positioned with respect to the glass capillary to capture two or more images of the fluid within the glass capillary;
- introducing the fluid into the microchannel;
- applying a constant pressure to the microchannel using the pressure source;
- capturing the two or more digital images of a fluidic slug as the fluid travels within the glass capillary using the digital camera;
- and
- determining a location of the fluidic slug within the glass capillary for each of the two or more digital images;
- and
- determining a flow rate of the fluid based on the locations of the fluidic slug within the glass capillary and a viscosity of the fluid based on the applied pressure and the flow rate of the fluid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.