Back to results
US 12,023,637 B2Granted
Capillary tube droplet generation systems and methods
OwnerMark A. Grayinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A droplet generating system includes a reservoir configured to receive an organic fluid and an aqueous fluid, a barrier separating the reservoir into a first reservoir portion and a second reservoir portion, a tube, and an indexer. The barrier is capable of preventing the aqueous fluid from entering the second reservoir portion from the first reservoir portion. The tube is disposed near the barrier, and the tube has a microfluidic channel. The indexer guides the aqueous fluid and the organic fluid into the microfluidic channel so as to form droplets of the aqueous fluid.
Claims19
A droplet generating system comprising:
- a reservoir configured to receive an organic fluid and an aqueous fluid;
- a barrier separating the reservoir into a first reservoir portion and a second reservoir portion, wherein the barrier is capable of preventing the aqueous fluid from entering the second reservoir portion;
- a tube disposed beneath the barrier, the tube having a proximal end and a microfluidic channel;
- and
- an indexer defined by a cylinder having a top entrance and a bottom entrance,
- wherein the proximal end of the tube is disposed within the indexer cylinder, and between the indexer top entrance and the indexer bottom entrance,
- wherein the second reservoir portion of the reservoir extends below the bottom entrance of the indexer,
- wherein the indexer is configured to allow organic fluid flow from the second reservoir portion beneath the indexer, through the indexer bottom entrance, and into the microfluidic channel at the proximal end of the tube, and
- wherein the indexer guides the aqueous fluid and the organic fluid into the microfluidic channel so as to form droplets of the aqueous fluid.
6 more elements
A droplet generating device comprising:
- an indexer defined by a cylinder having a top circular entrance and a bottom circular entrance and configured to receive a first fluid enter from above the top circular entrance and downward through the top circular entrance and into the cylinder and a second fluid from below the bottom circular entrance and upward through the bottom circular entrance into the cylinder, wherein the first fluid and the second fluid are immiscible;
- and
- a tube having a proximal end and a microfluidic channel configured to receive the first fluid and second fluid,
- wherein the proximal end of the tube is disposed within the indexer cylinder, and between the indexer circular top entrance and the indexer circular bottom entrance.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.