Structures on microfluidic devices to control sedimentation
AssigneeBio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
InventorsRobert Dean Lovchik, Iago Pereiro Pereiro, Govind Kaigala, Anna Fomitcheva Khartchenko
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A microfluidic device may be provided. The microfluidic device comprises a processing surface having an aperture. The microfluidic device comprises a liquid ejection channel. The liquid ejection channel guides to the aperture. The microfluidic device comprises a first liquid injection channel guiding to the liquid ejection channel. The first liquid injection channel has a first end and a second end and is arranged to provide a fluid flow from the first end to the second end. At least a portion of the first liquid injection channel is closer to the processing surface than (both) the first and second ends to sediment particles.
Claims17
A microfluidic probe for processing surfaces and objects by scanning across said surfaces and objects, the microfluidic probe comprising:
- a processing surface having an aperture, the processing surface configured to contact processing liquid;
- a liquid ejection channel guiding to the aperture;
- a first liquid injection channel guiding to the liquid ejection channel, wherein the first liquid injection channel has a first end and a second end, wherein the first liquid injection channel is arranged to provide a fluid flow from the first end to the second end, and wherein the first liquid injection channel comprises an angled elbow for sedimenting particles within the fluid flow;
- wherein at least a portion of the first liquid injection channel is closer to the processing surface than the first and second ends are, such that the portion of the first liquid injection channel is configured to sediment particles within the fluid flow at the angled elbow;
- and
- wherein the microfluidic probe is configured for processing samples in closed micro-channels by hydro-dynamically confining the processing liquid.
A system comprising:
- a microfluidic device including
- a processing surface having an aperture,
- a liquid ejection channel guiding to the aperture, and
- a first liquid injection channel guiding to the liquid ejection channel, wherein the first liquid injection channel has a first end and a second end, wherein the first liquid injection channel is arranged to provide a fluid flow from the first end to the second end, and wherein the first liquid injection channel comprises an angled elbow for sedimenting particles within the fluid flow;
- and
- an acoustic wave generator arranged at the microfluidic device and configured to transmit acoustic waves through the microfluidic device, wherein the acoustic waves are configured to sediment particles,
- wherein at least a portion of the first liquid injection channel is closer to the processing surface than the first and second ends are, such that the portion of the first liquid injection channel is configured to sediment particles within the fluid flow at the angled elbow.
A system comprising:
- a microfluidic device including
- a processing surface having an aperture,
- a liquid ejection channel guiding to the aperture, and
- a first liquid injection channel guiding to the liquid ejection channel, wherein the first liquid injection channel has a first end and a second end, wherein the first liquid injection channel is arranged to provide a fluid flow from the first end to the second end, and wherein the first liquid injection channel comprises an angled elbow for sedimenting particles within the fluid flow;
- and
- an electrical or magnetic device having at least two pads arranged at the microfluidic device to enable dielectrophoresis or magnetic drag in at least a portion of the first liquid injection channel, wherein the dielectrophoresis or magnetic drag is configured to sediment particles,
- wherein the angled elbow of the first liquid injection channel is closer to the processing surface than the first and second ends are, such that the portion of the first liquid injection channel is configured to sediment particles within the fluid flow at the angled elbow.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.