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US 12,649,153 B2Granted
Activation and pressure balancing mechanism
AssigneeKatholieke Universiteit Leuven
InventorsJeroen Lammertyn, Dries Vloemans, Lorenz Van Hileghem, Francesco Dal Dosso
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Abstract
In general, the disclosure relates to a fluid conduit device, such as microfluidic technique, with minimal operation. More specifically, the present invention relates to an activation and pressure balancing mechanism suitable for robust activation of fluid conduit devices.
Claims11
A fluid conduit device comprising:
- a capillary pump, comprising a solid sorbent enclosed in an enclosure and having an inlet and an outlet;
- a fluid conduit filled with a working liquid and comprising an actuator zone and a liquid channel, wherein
- (i) the liquid channel is operationally connected between the actuator zone and the inlet of the capillary pump,
- (ii) the fluid conduit is connected to an upstream microfluidic network, and,
- (iii) the fluid conduit is separated from said upstream microfluidic network by a liquiphobic barrier which is permeable to air but retains liquids;
- a pressure release channel, wherein one end of the pressure release channel is operationally connected to the fluid conduit at a proximity of the inlet of the capillary pump and the other end of the pressure release channel is operationally connected to the capillary pump via a liquiphilic porous blocking vent;
- wherein the pressure release channel is configured to prevent a build-up of pressure within the liquid channel during actuation of the actuator zone as excess of displacement of the working liquid is directed in the pressure release channel.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.