Scale-up of microfluidic devices
AssigneePresident and Fellows of Harvard College
InventorsDavid A. Weitz, Mark Romanowsky, Adam R. Abate
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Abstract
Parallel uses of microfluidic methods and devices for focusing and/or forming discontinuous sections of similar or dissimilar size in a fluid are described. In some aspects, the present invention relates generally to flow-focusing-type technology, and also to microfluidics, and more particularly parallel use of microfluidic systems arranged to control a dispersed phase within a dispersant, and the size, and size distribution, of a dispersed phase in a multi-phase fluid system, and systems for delivery of fluid components to multiple such devices.
Claims15
A system for forming droplets in microfluidic channels in parallel, comprising a distribution channel connecting a source of a dispersing fluid to a plurality of dispersing fluid outlets, wherein a given dispersing fluid outlet of the plurality of dispersing fluid outlets is directly fluidly connected to a given microfluidic interconnected region of a plurality of microfluidic interconnected regions arranged in parallel, wherein a given microfluidic interconnected region of the plurality of microfluidic interconnected regions joins a subject fluid channel of a plurality of subject fluid channels for carrying a subject fluid and a dispersing fluid channel of a plurality of dispersing fluid channels for carrying the dispersing fluid, wherein the plurality of dispersing fluid outlets is connected to the plurality of dispersing fluid channels, wherein at least a portion of an outer wall of the given microfluidic interconnected region and a portion of an outer wall of the subject fluid channel are portions of a single integral unit, and wherein the given microfluidic interconnected region and at least two of the plurality of subject fluid channels are disposed within a plane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.