Flow control in microfluidic devices
AssigneeColorado State University Research Foundation
InventorsCharles S. Henry, Ilhoon Jang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A microfluidic device includes a device body defining a microfluidic pathway including a first channel, a second channel downstream of the first channel, and a junction including a transition between the first channel and the second channel. The transition is configured to inhibit fluid entering the transition from the first channel from forming a meniscus across the second channel, thereby inhibiting capillary-driven flow into the second channel. The microfluidic device further includes a valve that, when activated while capillary-driven flow of the fluid is inhibited at the transition, induces capillary-driven flow through the second channel by facilitating formation of the meniscus.
Claims10
A microfluidic device comprising:
- a device body defining a microfluidic pathway, the microfluidic pathway including:
- a first channel,
- a second channel downstream of the first channel, and
- a junction including a transition between the first channel and the second channel, the transition to inhibit fluid entering the transition from the first channel from forming a meniscus across the second channel, thereby inhibiting capillary-driven flow into the second channel;
- a valve that, when activated while capillary-driven flow of the fluid is inhibited at the transition, induces capillary-driven flow through the second channel by facilitating formation of the meniscus;
- wherein the fluid entering the transition from the first channel is a first fluid,
- the valve includes a plurality of valve channels defined by the device body, each of the plurality of valve channels in communication with the junction,
- the valve is activated by providing one or more second fluids through the plurality of valve channels such that each of the one or more second fluids reach the junction, and
- the meniscus is a combined meniscus formed by combination of the first fluid and each of the one or more second fluids at the junction, the valve facilitating formation of the combined meniscus by delivering each of the one or more second fluids to the junction.
A microfluidic device comprising:
- a device body formed from laminated layers, the laminated layers defining a microfluidic pathway, the microfluidic pathway including:
- a first channel defined by a first set of layers of the laminated layers,
- a second channel downstream of the first channel and defined by a second set of layers of the laminated layers, and
- a junction including a transition between the first channel and the second channel, the transition to inhibit fluid entering the transition from the first channel from forming a meniscus across the second channel, thereby inhibiting capillary-driven flow into the second channel;
- and
- a valve that, when activated while capillary-driven flow of the fluid is inhibited at the transition, induces capillary-driven flow through the second channel by facilitating formation of the meniscus;
- wherein the fluid entering the transition from the first channel is a first fluid,
- the valve includes a plurality of valve channels defined by the device body, each of the plurality of valve channels in communication with the junction,
- the valve is activated by providing one or more second fluids through the plurality of valve channels such that each of the one or more second fluids reach the junction, and
- the meniscus is a combined meniscus formed by combination of the first fluid and each of the one or more second fluids at the junction, the valve facilitating formation of the combined meniscus by delivering each of the one or more second fluids to the junction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.