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US 12,661,622 B2Granted
Continuous flow systems with bifurcating mixers
AssigneeThe University of British Columbia
InventorsEuan Ramsay, Robert James Taylor, Timothy Leaver, Andre Wild, Kevin Ou, Colin Walsh
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Abstract
Disclosed herein are continuous flow systems having bifurcated fluidic flow mixers. The mixers operate, at least partially, by Dean vortexing. Accordingly, the mixers are referred to as Dean Vortex Bifurcating Mixers (“DVBM”). DVBMs utilize Dean vortexing and bifurcation of the fluidic channels that form the mixers to achieve the goal of optimized microfluidic mixing.
Claims21
A system for continuous flow operation of a microfluidic chip, the system comprising:
- (1) the microfluidic chip, comprising:
- (a) a first inlet configured to receive a first solution;
- (b) a second inlet configured to receive a second solution;
- and
- (c) a bifurcating mixer configured to mix the first solution and the second solution, the bifurcating mixer comprising:
- (i) an inlet microchannel in fluid communication with the first and second inlets, the inlet microchannel leading into a first leg channel having a first hydrodynamic diameter defining a first fluidic impedance and a second leg channel having a second hydrodynamic diameter defining a second fluidic impedance, the first leg channel and the second leg channel defining a first mixing toroid and leading into a first neck region;
- (ii) the first neck region leading into a third leg channel having a third hydrodynamic diameter defining a third fluidic impedance and a fourth leg channel having a fourth hydrodynamic diameter defining a fourth fluidic impedance that differs from the third fluidic impedance, the third leg channel and the fourth leg channel defining a second mixing toroid and leading into a second neck region;
- and
- (iii) the second neck region leading into a fifth leg channel having a fifth hydrodynamic diameter defining a fifth fluidic impedance and a sixth leg channel having a sixth hydrodynamic diameter defining a sixth fluidic impedance, the fifth leg channel and the sixth leg channel defining a third mixing toroid and in fluid communication with a chip outlet of the microfluidic chip,
- wherein the first leg channel, the third leg channel, and the fifth leg channel are located on a first side of the bifurcating mixer and the second leg channel, the fourth leg channel, and the sixth leg channel are located on a second side of the bifurcating mixer,
- wherein at least two pairs of:
- a first pair of the first and second leg channels;
- a second pair of the third and fourth leg channels;
- and a third pair of the fifth and sixth leg channels are asymmetrical, and
- wherein a first ratio of the first fluidic impedance to the second fluidic impedance differs from at least one of a second ratio of the third fluidic impedance to the fourth fluidic impedance or a third ratio of the fifth fluidic impedance to the sixth fluidic impedance;
- and
- (d) the chip outlet in fluid communication with the bifurcating mixer;
- (2) a first continuous flow fluid driver configured to continuously drive the first solution into the first inlet of the microfluidic chip;
- (3) a second continuous flow fluid driver configured to continuously drive the second solution into the second inlet of the microfluidic chip;
- and
- (4) a system outlet in fluid communication with the chip outlet.
18 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.