Microfluidic film evaporation with femtosecond laser-patterned surface
AssigneeHoneywell Federal Manufacturing & Technologies, LLC
InventorsConnor Daniel Pearson, Sabrina Marie Wells Torres
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Abstract
Systems, apparatuses, and methods for microfluidic fluid evaporation using femtosecond laser-patterned surfaces are disclosed. A microfluidic device may comprise a femtosecond laser-patterned substrate having at least one input path and at least one output path. The femtosecond laser-patterned substrate may comprise both superhydrophobic and superhydrophilic sections. Fluid deposited at an input path may be wicked to an output path due to the surface pattern. A heating device may be provided to heat the fluid to evaporate volatiles therefrom. Vacuums and gas streams may be used to aid in volatile removal. Gas streams may add gas to the microfluidic device to react with the fluid.
Claims20
A system for microfluidic film evaporation, the system comprising:
- a femtosecond laser-patterned substrate, comprising:
- one or more femtosecond laser-patterned input paths for receiving at least one fluid;
- and
- one or more femtosecond laser-patterned output paths,
- wherein the femtosecond laser-patterned substrate causes the at least one fluid to wick from the one or more femtosecond laser-patterned input paths to the one or more femtosecond laser-patterned output paths, and
- wherein the at least one fluid wicks in a thin film along a top surface of the femtosecond laser-patterned substrate;
- and
- a heating device for heating the femtosecond laser-patterned substrate, thereby evaporating volatiles from the at least one fluid.
A method for microfluidic film evaporation for removal of volatiles, comprising:
- providing at least one femtosecond laser-patterned substrate, comprising:
- one or more femtosecond laser-patterned input paths;
- and
- one or more femtosecond laser-patterned output paths,
- wherein the at least one femtosecond laser-patterned substrate is patterned to wick a fluid in a thin film across a top surface of the femtosecond laser-patterned substrate and from the one or more femtosecond laser-patterned input paths to the one or more femtosecond laser-patterned output paths;
- and
- providing heating for the at least one femtosecond laser-patterned substrate to heat the fluid and evaporate volatiles from the fluid.
A microfluidic film evaporation system, comprising:
- at least one fluid;
- a fluid input path;
- a volatiles outlet;
- a fluid output path;
- a cylindrical femtosecond laser-patterned surface extending between the fluid input path and the fluid output path,
- wherein the cylindrical femtosecond laser-patterned surface wicks the at least one fluid in a thin film along an inner surface of the cylindrical femtosecond laser-patterned surface and from the fluid input path to the fluid output path;
- and
- a heating coil coupled to an exterior of the cylindrical femtosecond laser-patterned surface,
- wherein, when the at least one fluid is heated by the heating coil, volatiles are evaporated from the at least one fluid and removed via the volatiles outlet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.