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US 12,678,800 B2Granted
Systems and methods for three-dimensional extraction of target particles ferrofluids
AssigneeAncera, LLC
InventorHur Koser
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems, methods and devices are presented for extracting target particles within a ferrofluid medium. In some embodiments, a fluidic channel receives a flow of a mix of one or more types of target particles, where at least one magnetic field source is configured to react with the flow such that a force (indirect or direct) is placed on the particles of the mix, across the width and/or the height of the fluidic channel. An extraction opening placed on one wall is provided and configured to extract at least one type of target particle.
Claims17
A method for extracting particles within a ferrofluid medium, the method comprising:
- flowing a single flow into and through a single microfluidic channel via an inlet of the single microfluidic channel, the single microfluidic channel having first and second ends defining a straight line that delineates a first direction, the single flow comprising a mixture of a ferrofluid medium and two or more types of target particles, the single microfluidic channel including:
- a second portion spaced downstream from the inlet,
- a first side spaced away from a second side and comprising a width of the single microfluidic channel, and
- a third side spaced away from a fourth side and comprising a height of the single microfluidic channel,
- wherein the single flow flows through the single microfluidic channel in the first direction from the inlet to the second portion;
- applying a first magnetic field across the width of the microfluidic channel so as to effect an indirect force on the at least two types of different target particles within the ferrofluid medium so as to focus each of the at least two types of target particles into at least two corresponding streamlines across a width region and a height region of the single microfluidic channel, such that a first of the at least two corresponding streamlines for at least one type of the at least two types of target particles flows along the third side toward an extraction opening,
- wherein the extraction opening comprises a single opening in the second portion that is parallel to the single flow flowing in the first direction;
- and
- diverting the first streamline for the at least one type of the at least two types of target particles through the extraction opening, wherein the first streamline includes an exit velocity from the extraction opening in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction, and the remainder of the single flow continues along the single microfluidic channel past the extraction opening in the first direction.
6 more elements
A method for extracting particles within a ferrofluid medium, the method comprising:
- flowing a single flow into and through a single microfluidic channel via an inlet of the single microfluidic channel, the single microfluidic channel having first and second ends defining a straight line that delineates a first direction, the single flow comprising a mixture of a ferrofluid medium and one or more types of target particles, the single microfluidic channel including:
- a second portion spaced downstream from the inlet,
- a first side spaced away from a second side and comprising a width of the single microfluidic channel, and
- a third side spaced away from a fourth side and comprising a height of the single microfluidic channel,
- wherein the single flow flows through the single microfluidic channel in the first direction from the inlet to the second portion;
- and
- applying a first magnetic field across the width of the microfluidic channel so as to effect an indirect force on the at least one type of target particles within the ferrofluid medium so as to focus the at least one type of target particles into a streamline across a width region and a height region of the single microfluidic channel, such that the streamline flows and interacts with the third side toward an extraction opening,
- wherein the extraction opening comprises a single opening in the second portion that is parallel to the single flow flowing in the first direction;
- and
- directing the streamline through the extraction opening in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction, wherein the remainder of the single flow continues along the single microfluidic channel past the extraction opening in the first direction.
7 more elements
A method for extracting particles within a ferrofluid medium, the method comprising:
- providing a microfluidic channel comprising:
- a first side spaced away from a second side and defining a width of the microfluidic channel,
- a third side spaced away from a fourth side and defining a height of the microfluidic channel, and
- first and second portions, wherein the first portion comprises an inlet, and the second portion is spaced downstream from the inlet and comprises an extraction opening comprising a single opening on the third side;
- flowing a mixture into the inlet of the microfluidic channel, wherein
- the mixture comprises a ferrofluid medium and two or more types of target particles, and
- the mixture flows through the microfluidic channel in a first direction delineated by a straight line from the first portion to the second portion;
- applying a magnetic field across the width of the microfluidic channel to focus each of the at least two types of target particles into at least two corresponding streamlines across a width region and a height region of the microfluidic channel, such that a first streamline of the at least two corresponding streamlines comprises at least one type of the target particles and flows along the third side towards the extraction opening;
- and
- diverting the first streamline through the extraction opening, wherein the first streamline includes an exit velocity from the extraction opening in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction, further wherein the remainder of the mixture continues along the microfluidic channel past the extraction opening in the first direction.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.