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US 10,286,366 B2Granted
Microfluidic mixing device
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsAlexander Govyadinov, Erik D. Torniainen, David P. Markel, Pavel Kornilovich
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In one embodiment, a microfluidic mixing device includes a mixing channel, a fluid inlet chamber to pass fluids into the mixing channel, an axis-asymmetric mixing actuator integrated within the channel to cause fluid displacements that mix the fluids as they flow through the channel, and an outlet chamber to receive the mixed fluids.
Claims11
A microfluidic mixing device comprising:
- a mixing channel;
- a fluid inlet chamber to pass fluids into the mixing channel, the mixing channel having a unidirectional fluid flow therethrough;
- a pump actuator located symmetrically on a center axis of the mixing channel;
- an axis-asymmetric mixing actuator integrated within the mixing channel to cause fluid displacements that mix the fluids as they flow through the mixing channel, the axis-asymmetric mixing actuator including at least two resistors to produce steam bubbles when activated;
- an outlet chamber to receive the mixed fluids;
- and
- a controller to alternatingly activate the at least two resistors to generate fluid displacements with the steam bubbles to create a wiggling fluid path through the mixing channel,
- wherein the pump actuator causes a fluid flow through the mixing channel in a direction from the fluid inlet chamber to the outlet chamber.
5 more elements
A microfluidic mixing system comprising:
- a microfluidic mixing device comprising a fluid mixing channel;
- a fluid pump to pump fluids through the mixing channel;
- axis-asymmetric mixing actuators integrated within the mixing channel to mix fluids as they flow through the mixing channel, at least one of the axis-asymmetric mixing actuators including at least two resistors to produce steam bubbles when activated;
- and
- a controller coupled to the axis asymmetric mixing actuators, the controller being to:
- alternatively activate the at least two resistors to generate fluid displacements with the steam bubbles to create a wiggling fluid path through the mixing channel.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.