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US 10,913,039 B2Granted
Microfluidic mixer
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsAlexander Govyadinov, Pavel Kornilovich, Erik D. Torniainen, David P. Markel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
One example provides a microfluidic mixing device that includes a main fluidic channel to provide main fluidic channel flow and a number of I-shaped secondary channels extending outwardly from a portion of the main fluidic channel. A number of inertial pumps are located within the I-shaped secondary channels to create serpentine flows in the direction of the main fluidic channel flow or create vorticity-inducing counterflow in the main fluidic channel.
Claims12
A microfluidic mixing device comprising:
- a main fluidic channel to provide main fluidic channel flow;
- a plurality of I-shaped secondary channels extending outwardly from a portion of the main fluidic channel;
- and
- a number of secondary-channel inertial pumps located within the I-shaped secondary channels to create serpentine flows in the direction of the main fluidic channel flow or create vorticity-inducing counterflow in the main fluidic channel;
- wherein at least one of the secondary-channel inertial pumps is actuated based on a velocity of fluid in the main fluidic channel and on an axial offset distance between successive secondary channels, such that a volume of fluid longitudinally traversing the main fluidic channel and extending a length that is longer than the axial offset distance is mixed by the action of the at least one secondary-channel inertial pump.
2 more elements
A microfluidic mixing system comprising:
- a microfluidic mixing device comprising:
- a main fluid mixing channel;
- a number of I-shaped secondary channels extending from the main fluid mixing channel;
- and
- a number of inertial pumps located in the secondary channels to pump fluids within the secondary channels,
- wherein the I-shaped secondary channels produce a flood and drain flow into and out of the I-shaped secondary channels to create serpentine flows in the direction of the main fluid mixing channel flow or to create vorticity-inducing counterflow in the main fluid mixing channel;
- a fluid source;
- and
- a control device to provide fluids from the fluid source to the microfluidic mixing device and activate the secondary-channel inertial pumps;
- wherein at least two of the secondary channels extend from the main fluid mixing channel to define I-shaped secondary channels that are located axially offset from each other on opposite sides of the main fluid mixing channel, wherein the largest width of the main fluid mixing channel defines a boundary extending the length of the main fluid mixing channel, and wherein at least one of the I-shaped secondary channels has an opening to the main fluidic channel that originates at a position within a portion of the main fluidic channel, a distance between the opening and the largest-width boundary being less than the distance between the main fluidic channel center and the largest-width boundary, the I-shaped secondary channels to create the serpentine flows in the direction of the main fluid mixing channel flow.
7 more elements
A method of controlling a microfluidic mixer, the method comprising:
- activating a number of secondary-channel inertial pumps located within a number of I-shaped secondary channels fluidly coupled to a main microfluidic channel to pump fluids through the secondary channels, wherein at least two I-shaped secondary channels extend from the main microfluidic channel, wherein the inertial pumps located within the I-shaped secondary channels create serpentine flows in the direction of the main microfluidic channel flow or to create vorticity-inducing counterflow in the main microfluidic channel;
- and
- activating an inertial pump within a first I-shaped secondary channel located axially offset from, and on opposite sides of the main microfluidic channel from, a second I-shaped secondary channel, at a different time with respect to activation of an inertial pump in the second I-shaped secondary channel, to create the serpentine flows in the direction of the main microfluidic channel flow.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.