# US 11,439,963 B2 · Microfluidic device for fluid mixture

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- Number: US 11,439,963 B2
- Document ID: US11439963B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/300,182
- Filed: 2016-07-08
- Published: 2019-06-13
- Granted: 2022-09-13
- Earliest claimed: 2016-07-08
- Assignees: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
- Applicants: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
- Inventors: David P. Markel; Erik D. Torniainen; Alexander Govyadinov; Pavel Kornilovich
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11439963B2

## CPC

- B01F 33/30: Micromixers
- B01F 33/3017: {Mixing chamber}
- B01F 35/7176: {using pumps}
- B01F 35/718: {using vacuum, under pressure in a closed receptacle or circuit system}
- B01F 35/82: by adding a material to be mixed to a mixture in response to a detected feature, e.g. density, radioactivity, consumed power or colour
- B01F 35/831: {using one or more pump or other dispensing mechanisms for feeding the flows in predetermined proportion, e.g. one of the pumps being driven by one of the flows (B01F35/832 takes precedence)}
- B01L 3/5027: {by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip}
- B01L 3/50273: {characterised by the means or forces applied to move the fluids}
- B41J 2/1433: {Structure of nozzle plates}
- B41J 2/175: Ink supply systems {; Circuit parts therefor}
- F04B 19/00: Machines or pumps having pertinent characteristics not provided for in, or of interest apart from, groups F04B1/00 - F04B17/00
- F04B 19/006: {Micropumps (F04B43/043 and F04B43/095 take precedence)}
- G01N 35/1095: {for supplying the samples to flow-through analysers (for a specific analyser see relevant groups, e.g. under G01N15/00, G01N21/00, G01N27/00, G01N30/00, H01J49/00)}
- B01D 15/166: {Fluid composition conditioning, e.g. gradient}
- B01F 2101/2204: {Mixing chemical components in generals in order to improve chemical treatment or reactions, independently from the specific application}
- B01F 2101/23: Mixing of laboratory samples e.g. in preparation of analysing or testing properties of materials
- B01L 2200/06: Fluid handling related problems
- B01L 2300/0867: Multiple inlets and one sample wells, e.g. mixing, dilution
- B01L 2300/1827: using resistive heater
- B01L 2400/0415: electrical forces, e.g. electrokinetic
- B01L 2400/0439: ultrasonic vibrations, vibrating piezo elements
- B01L 2400/0442: thermal energy, e.g. vaporisation, bubble jet
- B01L 2400/0487: fluid pressure, pneumatics
- B01L 2400/082: Active control of flow resistance, e.g. flow controllers
- B81B 1/00: Devices without movable or flexible elements, e.g. microcapillary devices
- B01F: MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING (mixing paints B44D3/06)
- B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
- B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- F04B: POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS (machines for liquids, or pumps, of rotary-piston or oscillating-piston type F04C; non-positive-displacement pumps F04D; pumping of fluid by direct contact of another fluid or by using inertia of fluid to be pumped F04F)
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28)
- B81B: MICROSTRUCTURAL DEVICES OR SYSTEMS, e.g. MICROMECHANICAL DEVICES (piezoelectric, electrostrictive or magnetostrictive elements per se H10N30/00, H10N35/00)

## Abstract

Examples include microfluidic devices. Example microfluidic devices include a first microfluidic channel, a second microfluidic channel, and a third microfluidic channel fluidly coupled to the first microfluidic channel and the second microfluidic channel via a fluid junction. A fluid actuator is disposed in the third microfluidic channel to actuate to thereby pump a first fluid and a second fluid into the third microfluidic channel.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A microfluidic device comprising:
a first microfluidic channel including a first fluid;
a second microfluidic channel including a second fluid, wherein the second microfluidic channel intersects the first microfluidic channel at a first fluid junction;
a third microfluidic channel fluidly coupled to the first microfluidic channel and the second microfluidic channel at the first fluid junction;
a first fluid actuator asymmetrically disposed in the third microfluidic channel and is positioned in the third microfluidic channel at a first distance from the first microfluidic channel and a second distance from the second microfluidic channel, the first distance being different than the second distance, the first fluid actuator being configured to actuate to pump the first fluid into the third microfluidic channel from the first microfluidic channel and to pump the second fluid into the third microfluidic channel from the second microfluidic channel; and
a controller communicatively coupled to the first fluid actuator and including non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed, cause the controller to actuate the first fluid actuator according to actuation characteristics to mix the first fluid and the second fluid at a mixing ratio based on the position of the first fluid actuator in the third microfluidic channel.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein the actuation characteristics are selected from:
a frequency of actuation, a duration of actuation, a number of pulses per actuation, an intensity/amplitude of actuation, a phase offset of actuation, and a combination thereof, the device further comprising:
a fourth microfluidic channel fluidly coupled to the third microfluidic channel at a second fluid junction; and
a fifth microfluidic channel coupled to the third microfluidic channel at the second fluid junction, wherein the fourth microfluidic channel and the fifth microfluidic channel intersect at the second fluid junction.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein the first fluid actuator includes a heating element or a piezo-electric membrane disposed in the third microfluidic channel and positioned the first distance and second distance respectively from the first microfluidic channel and the second microfluidic channel such that the actuation of the first fluid actuator pumps a first volume of the first fluid and a second volume of the second fluid into the third microfluidic channel, wherein the first volume and the second volume are different.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The microfluidic device of claim 1, further comprising:
a second fluid actuator disposed in the third microfluidic channel.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The microfluidic device of claim 4, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium includes instructions that, when executed, cause the controller to actuate the second fluid actuator to mix the first fluid and the second fluid in the third microfluidic channel.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The microfluidic device of claim 4, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium includes instructions that, when executed, cause the controller to actuate the second fluid actuator according to the actuation characteristics and in response, pump the first fluid into the third microfluidic channel and pump the second fluid into the third microfluidic channel.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The microfluidic device of claim 6, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium includes instructions that, when executed, cause the controller to actuate the first fluid actuator to pump the first fluid and the second fluid into the third microfluidic channel at the mixing ratio, and actuate the second fluid actuator to pump the first fluid and the second fluid into the third microfluidic channel at a second mixing ratio that is different than the mixing ratio.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The microfluidic device of claim 6, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium includes instructions that, when executed, cause the controller to actuate the first fluid actuator to pump the first fluid and the second fluid at a first flow rate, and actuate the second fluid actuator to pump the first fluid and the second fluid at a second flow rate that is different than the first.

### Claim 9 (depends on 4)

The microfluidic device of claim 4, wherein the first fluid actuator is disposed in the third microfluidic channel a first distance from the first fluid junction, and the second fluid actuator is disposed in the third microfluidic channel a second distance from the first fluid junction that is different than the first distance.

### Claim 10 (depends on 4)

The microfluidic device of claim 4, further comprising:
a first microfluidic chamber formed in the third microfluidic channel; and
a second microfluidic chamber formed in the third microfluidic channel,
wherein the first fluid actuator includes a first heating element or a first piezo-electric membrane disposed in the first microfluidic chamber, and the second fluid actuator includes a second heating element or a second piezo-electric membrane disposed in the second microfluidic chamber.

### Claim 11 (depends on 4)

The microfluidic device of claim 4, further comprising:
the controller being coupled to the first fluid actuator and the second fluid actuator, the controller to execute the instructions to:
selectively actuate the first fluid actuator to pump the first fluid and the second fluid into the third microfluidic channel; and
selectively actuate the second fluid actuator to pump the first fluid and the second fluid into the third microfluidic channel,
wherein the selective actuation of the first fluid actuator and the second fluid actuator differs with respect to the actuation characteristics, the actuation characteristics including at least one of actuation frequency, actuation duration, and actuation pulse number.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein the first microfluidic channel is coupled to the third microfluidic channel at the first fluid junction at a first angle of orientation, and the second microfluidic channel is coupled to the third microfluidic channel at the first fluid junction at a second angle of orientation that is different than the first angle of orientation, and the mixing ratio is set based at least in part on the first angle of orientation and the second angle of orientation.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein:
the controller is coupled to the first fluid actuator, the controller to execute the instructions to:
selectively actuate the first fluid actuator to pump the first fluid and the second fluid into the third microfluidic channel; and
wherein the first fluid actuator is asymmetrically disposed in the third microfluidic channel and is positioned the first distance from the first microfluidic channel and the second distance from the second microfluidic channel such that the first fluid actuator is configured to pump a first volume of the first fluid and a second volume of the second fluid to provide the mixing ratio, the second distance being different from the first distance and the second volume being different from the first volume.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The microfluidic device of claim 1, further comprising:
a first microfluidic reservoir fluidly coupled to the first microfluidic channel to store the first fluid;
a second microfluidic reservoir fluidly coupled to the second microfluidic channel to store the second fluid; and
wherein the first fluid actuator is asymmetrically disposed in the third microfluidic channel with respect to the first microfluidic channel and the second microfluidic channel, and is positioned a first distance from the first microfluidic reservoir and a second distance from the second microfluidic reservoir, the second distance being different from the first distance.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The microfluidic device of claim 1, further comprising a microfluidic chamber fluidically coupled to the third microfluidic channel, wherein:
an output of the third microfluidic channel is fluidly coupled to the microfluidic chamber; and
the first microfluidic channel and the second microfluidic channel include at least one of:
different lengths to the first fluid junction;
different widths; and
different orientation angles at the first fluid junction.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein the first fluid actuator is an inertial pump comprising at least one of a thermal actuator, a piezo-membrane actuator, an electrostatic membrane actuator, a magnetostrictive drive actuator, a mechanical driven membrane actuator, and an impact driven membrane actuator; and
wherein the first fluid actuator is asymmetrically disposed in the third microfluidic channel with respect to the first microfluidic channel and the second microfluidic channel and are positioned with respect the third microfluidic channel at different distances from sidewalls defining the third microfluidic channel.

### Claim 17

A microfluidic device comprising:
a first microfluidic channel including a first fluid;
a second microfluidic channel including a second fluid;
a third microfluidic channel configured to convey a fluid mixture including the first fluid and the second fluid, wherein:
the first microfluidic channel, the second microfluidic channel, and the third microfluidic channel intersect and are fluidly coupled to one another at a fluid junction;
a fluid actuator disposed in the third microfluidic channel with respect to the first microfluidic channel and the second microfluidic channel, the fluid actuator being configured to to actuate to mix the fluid mixture in the third microfluidic channel at a mixing ratio of the first fluid and the second fluid; and
a controller including non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed, cause the controller to actuate the fluid actuator according to actuation characteristics, wherein the fluid actuator is asymmetrically disposed in the third microfluidic channel and is positioned unequally with respect to the first microfluidic channel and the second microfluidic channel such that the actuation of the fluid actuator pumps a first volume of the first fluid and a second volume of the second fluid into the third microfluidic channel to provide the mixing ratio based on the position of the fluid actuator in the third microfluidic channel and mixes the fluid mixture, wherein the first volume and the second volume are different.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The microfluidic device of claim 17, wherein the fluid actuator being positioned unequally includes the fluid actuator being positioned a first distance from the first microfluidic channel and a second distance from the second microfluidic channel, the first distance being different than the second distance, and the device further comprising:
a first fluid input coupled to the first microfluidic channel to input the first fluid to the first microfluidic channel;
a second fluid input coupled to the second microfluidic channel to input the second fluid to the second microfluidic channel; and
the fluid actuator including a first inertial pump comprising a heating element or piezo-electric membrane disposed in the third microfluidic channel to pump the first fluid and the second fluid at the mixing ratio into the third microfluidic channel as caused by the position of the fluid actuator, and wherein the actuation characteristics are based on at least one of:
a desired concentration of the first fluid in the fluid mixture, a desired concentration of the second fluid in the fluid mixture, and fluid characteristics of the first fluid and the second fluid.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The microfluidic device of claim 18, further comprising:
a second inertial pump disposed in the third microfluidic channel to pump the first fluid and the second fluid at a second mixing ratio into the third microfluidic channel.

### Claim 20

A method of a microfluidic device comprising:
synchronously pumping, via actuation of a first fluid actuator asymmetrically disposed in a microfluidic channel, a first fluid and a second fluid into the microfluidic channel at a mixing ratio of the first fluid and the second fluid based on a position of the first fluid actuator in the microfluidic channel, the first fluid pumped from a first microfluidic channel coupled to the microfluidic channel at a fluid junction, and the second fluid pumped from a second microfluidic channel coupled to the microfluidic channel at the fluid junction, wherein the first microfluidic channel and the second microfluidic channel intersect at the fluid junction of the microfluidic channel and wherein the first fluid actuator is positioned in the microfluidic channel unequally with respect to the first microfluidic channel and the second microfluidic channel to provide the mixing ratio in response to the actuation of the first fluid actuator.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20, further comprising:
after pumping the first fluid and the second fluid into the microfluidic channel, mixing, with another fluid actuator disposed in the microfluidic channel, the first fluid and the second fluid in the microfluidic channel at the mixing ratio based on a position of the first fluid actuator in the microfluidic channel with respect to the first microfluidic channel and the second microfluidic channel.

### Claim 22 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20, further comprising:
pumping, using a second fluid actuator disposed in the microfluidic channel, an additional amount of the first fluid and the second fluid into the microfluidic channel, wherein pumping with the first fluid actuator and pumping with the second fluid actuator are performed asynchronously.