# US 10,307,783 B1 · Microfluidic cartridge and microfluidic delivery device comprising the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,307,783 B1 - Document ID: US10307783B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 15/979,502 - Filed: 2018-05-15 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2018-05-15 - Assignees: The Procter & Gamble Company - Applicants: The Procter & Gamble Company - Inventors: Dana Paul Gruenbacher; William Michael Cannon; James Daniel Anderson, Jr.; Richard Lee Warner - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10307783B1 ## CPC - A61L 9/22: Ionisation - B05B 17/04: operating with special methods - A61L 9/12: Apparatus, e.g. holders, therefor - B01L 3/52: {Containers specially adapted for storing or dispensing a reagent (B01L3/02 takes precedence; storing or dispensing test elements G01N33/4875; automated reagent dispensing G01N35/1002)} - B05B 7/00: Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent materials from two or more sources, e.g. of liquid and air, of powder and gas (B05B3/00, B05B5/00 {, B05B11/06} take precedence) - B05B 17/00: Apparatus for spraying or atomising liquids or other fluent materials, not covered by the preceding groups (dropping or releasing powdered, liquid or gaseous matter in flight B64D1/16) - A61L 9/14: using sprayed or atomised substances {including air-liquid contact processes} - A61L 2209/132: Piezo or ultrasonic elements for dispensing - A61L 2209/133: Replaceable cartridges, refills - A61L 2209/134: Distributing means, e.g. baffles, valves, manifolds, nozzles - B01L 2200/025: Align devices or objects to ensure defined positions relative to each other - B01L 2200/027: for microfluidic devices - B01L 2200/04: Exchange or ejection of cartridges, containers or reservoirs - B01L 2200/16: Reagents, handling or storing thereof - B01L 2300/0609: Holders integrated in container to position an object - B01L 2300/0851: Bottom walls - B01L 2300/0858: Side walls - A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K) - B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D) - B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE ## Abstract A microfluidic cartridge is provided. The microfluidic cartridge is configured to be releasably connectable with a microfluidic delivery device. The microfluidic cartridge has a reservoir configured to contain a fluid composition. The microfluidic cartridge has a first face with a first opening and a second opening. The microfluidic cartridge also includes a second face joined with the first face, a third face joined with the second face and opposing the first face, and a fourth face joined with the third face and the first face and opposing the second face. The fourth face has a connector. The microfluidic cartridge has an electrical circuit with a first end portion disposed on the first face and a second end portion disposed on the second face. The microfluidic cartridge also includes a microfluidic die disposed on the second face. The microfluidic die is in electrical communication with the electrical circuit and in fluid communication with the reservoir. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A microfluidic cartridge, the microfluidic cartridge defining mutually orthogonal X, Y, and Z-axes extending outwardly from a common origin, the microfluidic cartridge comprising: a reservoir configured to contain a fluid composition; a first face; a second face joined with the first face; a third face joined with the second face and opposing the first face along the Z-axis, the third face comprising a projection extending to a third face outermost point in the X-direction; a fourth face opposing the second face along the X-axis; an electrical circuit comprising a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein the first end portion of the electrical circuit is disposed on the first face and the second end portion of the electrical circuit is disposed on the second face; and a microfluidic die in electrical communication with the electrical circuit and in fluid communication with the reservoir, wherein the microfluidic die is disposed on the second face. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The microfluidic cartridge of claim 1, wherein the projection extends from the third face to the fourth face in the Z-direction, and wherein the projection extends outward from the fourth face in the X-direction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The microfluidic cartridge of claim 1, wherein the projection is arcuate in shape. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The microfluidic cartridge of claim 1, wherein the third face comprises an indentation disposed at the projection and extending inward into the third face in the Z-direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The microfluidic cartridge of claim 4, wherein the indentation is round. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The microfluidic cartridge of claim 1 further comprising a lid enclosing the reservoir, the lid disposed on the third face, wherein the lid comprises the projection. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The microfluidic cartridge of claim 1, wherein the fourth face comprising a connector disposed on the projection. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The microfluidic cartridge of claim 7, wherein the connector is a female connector. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The microfluidic cartridge of claim 1, wherein the microfluidic die is disposed adjacent to the first face. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The microfluidic cartridge of claim 1, wherein the microfluidic die is disposed on a recessed region that extends from a first edge toward the third face in the Z-direction. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The microfluidic cartridge of claim 1, wherein the microfluidic cartridge is connectable with a housing of a microfluidic delivery device such that the first face is a bottom face and the second face is a side face. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The microfluidic cartridge of claim 1, wherein the microfluidic die comprises a semiconductor substrate comprising a plurality of fluid ejection actuators, a fluid flow substrate comprising a fluid supply channel and one or more fluid chambers, wherein each fluid chamber is associated with a fluid ejection actuator, and a nozzle plate comprising one or more nozzles, wherein each nozzle is in fluid communication with a fluid chamber. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The microfluidic cartridge of claim 12, wherein the fluid ejection actuators are thermal resistors, and wherein the fluid composition comprises a perfume mixture. ### Claim 14 A microfluidic cartridge, the microfluidic cartridge defining mutually orthogonal X, Y, and Z-axes extending outwardly from a common origin, the microfluidic cartridge comprising: a reservoir configured to contain a fluid composition; a first face comprising a first opening and a second opening; a second face joined with the first face; a third face joined with the second face and opposing the first face; a fourth face joined with the third face and the first face and opposing the second face, wherein the fourth face comprises a connector; an electrical circuit comprising a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein the first end portion of the electrical circuit is disposed on the first face and the second end portion of the electrical circuit is disposed on the second face; and a microfluidic die disposed on the second face, wherein the microfluidic die is in electrical communication with the electrical circuit and in fluid communication with the reservoir. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The microfluidic cartridge of claim 14, wherein the first opening is a minor opening having an open area and wherein the second opening is a major opening having an open area, wherein the open area of the major opening is greater than the open area of the minor opening. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The microfluidic cartridge of claim 15, wherein the electrical circuit comprises a circuit opening in the first end portion, wherein the circuit opening aligns with the minor opening. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The microfluidic cartridge of claim 14, wherein the microfluidic cartridge is connectable with a housing of a microfluidic delivery device such that the first face is a bottom face and the second face is a side face, wherein the microfluidic die comprises a semiconductor substrate comprising a plurality of thermal resistors, a fluid flow substrate comprising a fluid supply channel and one or more fluid chambers, wherein each fluid chamber is associated with a fluid ejection actuator, and a nozzle plate comprising one or more nozzles, wherein each nozzle is in fluid communication with a fluid chamber, and wherein the fluid composition comprises a perfume mixture. ### Claim 18 A microfluidic delivery device comprising: a housing, the housing comprising a first guidepost and a second guidepost, the housing further comprising housing electrical contacts in electrical connection with a power source, wherein the housing comprises a first connector, a microfluidic cartridge releasably connectable with the housing, the microfluidic cartridge defining mutually orthogonal X, Y, and Z-axes extending outwardly from a common origin, the microfluidic cartridge comprising: a reservoir containing a fluid composition; a bottom face comprising a first opening configured to receive the first guidepost and a second opening configured to receive the second guidepost; a first side face joined with the bottom face; a top face joined with the first side face and opposing the bottom face; a second side face joined with the top face and the bottom face and opposing the first side face, wherein the second side face comprises a second connector that is releasably connected with the first connector of the housing; an electrical circuit comprising a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein the first end portion of the electrical circuit is disposed on the first face and the second end portion of the electrical circuit is disposed on the second face; and a microfluidic die disposed on the second face, wherein the microfluidic die is in electrical communication with the electrical circuit and in fluid communication with the reservoir. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The microfluidic delivery device of claim 18, wherein the microfluidic cartridge is spring-loaded with the housing. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The microfluidic delivery device of claim 18, wherein the third face comprises a projection extending to a third face outermost point in the X-axis, and wherein the microfluidic die comprises a semiconductor substrate comprising a plurality of thermal resistors, a fluid flow substrate comprising a fluid supply channel and one or more fluid chambers, wherein each fluid chamber is associated with a fluid ejection actuator, and a nozzle plate comprising one or more nozzles, wherein each nozzle is in fluid communication with a fluid chamber, and wherein the fluid composition comprises a perfume mixture.