Device and method for handling liquid
AssigneeBiosurfit, S.A.
InventorsTania Moura Pires De Andrade Tenreiro, Luis Miguel Dias Martins, Fábio Miguel Rolo Pereira, Nuno Alexandre Esteves Reis
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Abstract
Devices and methods for handling liquids are provided. The devices and methods make use of specifically controlled centrifugal forces to drive liquid flow between two cavities connected by a conduit such that as liquid flows into the second cavity, a gas volume is trapped in the second cavity and a pressure of the gas increases, allowing for pneumatic control of liquid flow. The devices and methods facilitate one or more of the mixing, metering and sequencing of liquids, for example on a microfluidic device.
Claims27
A device for handling liquid, the device being configured for rotation about an axis of rotation and the device comprising:
- a first cavity with a first port, the first cavity comprising a proximal portion radially inwards of a distal portion;
- a second cavity with a second port, the second cavity comprising a proximal portion radially inwards of a distal portion;
- a first conduit structure connecting the first and second ports to guide liquid flow therebetween;
- a downstream cavity;
- and
- an outlet conduit connecting an outlet port of the first cavity to an inlet of the downstream cavity, wherein the outlet conduit extends radially inwards of the outlet port to a first bend and radially outwards of the first bend to the inlet of the downstream cavity and wherein the first bend is disposed radially inwards of a radially-outermost aspect of the first cavity and radially outwards of a radially-innermost aspect of the first cavity;
- wherein the outlet conduit comprises a second bend radially outwards of the outlet port;
- wherein the first and second ports are disposed in the respective distal portions of the first and second cavities;
- wherein the second port is radially outwards of the first port;
- and
- wherein the second cavity is configured such that as liquid flows into the second cavity, a gas volume is trapped in the second cavity and a pressure of the gas increases.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.