Microfluidic mixing
AssigneeHeriot-Watt University
InventorsMaiwenn Kersaudy-Kerhoas, Antonio Liga
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Abstract
A microfluidic device (100) for mixing a liquid L is provided. The microfluidic device (100) comprises a microfluidic chamber (20), having an inlet (30), and arranged to receive the liquid L therein. In use, the microfluidic device (100) is arranged to control translation through the liquid L of a body B introduced therein, wherein the translation of the body B is due to a potential field acting on the body. In this way, the controlled translation of the body B mixes the liquid L in the microfluidic chamber (20).
Claims13
A microfluidic device comprising:
- a microfluidic chamber having an inlet comprising a gas nozzle for generating gas bubbles;
- and
- a wall portion;
- wherein:
- the microfluidic chamber is configured to receive a liquid therein;
- the microfluidic device is configured, in use, to control translation through the liquid of a gas bubble introduced therein via the inlet and generated by the gas nozzle, the translation of the gas bubble being due to a gravitational potential field acting on the gas bubble, the translation of the gas bubble through the liquid being due, in part, to a difference between a density of the gas bubble and a density of the liquid;
- and
- the wall portion is configured to, in part, control translation through the liquid of the gas bubble, whereby the controlled translation of the gas bubble mixes the liquid by fluid back-mixing due to displacement of the liquid during ascension of the gas bubble.
A process of mixing a liquid in a microfluidic device by controlling translation of a gas bubble therethrough, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving a liquid in the microfluidic chamber;
- generating a gas bubble and introducing the gas bubble into the liquid;
- and
- controlling translation of the gas bubble through the liquid, wherein the translation of the gas bubble is due to a gravitational potential field acting on the gas bubble, the translation of the gas bubble through the liquid being due, in part, to a difference between a density of the gas bubble and a density of the liquid;
- whereby the controlled translation of the gas bubble mixes the liquid by fluid back-mixing due to displacement of the liquid during ascension of the gas bubble.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.