Fluid infection using acoustic waves
AssigneesPresident and Fellows of Harvard College, The University Court of the University of Glasgow
InventorsDavid A. Weitz, Thomas Franke
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Abstract
The present invention generally relates to the manipulation of fluids using acoustic waves such as surface acoustic waves. In some aspects, one fluid may be introduced into another fluid via application of suitable acoustic waves. For example, a fluid may be added or injected into another fluid by applying acoustic waves where, in the absence of the acoustic waves, the fluid cannot be added or injected, e.g., due to the interface or surface tension between the fluids. Thus, for example, a fluid may be injected into a droplet of another fluid. Other embodiments of the invention are generally directed to systems and methods for making or using such systems, kits involving such systems, or the like.
Claims20
A method, comprising:
- providing a microfluidic system comprising a first microfluidic channel and a second microfluidic channel contacting the first microfluidic channel at a junction;
- providing a droplet of the first fluid contained by a carrying fluid in the first microfluidic channel, and a second fluid in the second microfluidic channel, wherein the first fluid and the second fluid contact each other at least partially within the junction to define a fluidic interface;
- and
- applying acoustic waves to the interface to urge the second fluid to flow into the droplet wherein, in the absence of the acoustic waves, the second fluid is not urged to enter the droplet.
A method, comprising:
- providing a microfluidic system comprising a first fluid contacting a second fluid at an interface separating the first fluid and the second fluid;
- and
- applying acoustic waves to the interface, wherein the acoustic waves disrupt the interface to cause at least some mixing of the first fluid and the second fluid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.