Microfluidic pumps and mixers driven by induced-charge electro-osmosis
AssigneeMassachusetts Institute of Technology
InventorsTodd M. Squires, Martin Z. Bazant
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A microfluidic device includes one or more microchannels providing a passageway for transmitting an electrolyte fluid. A field source provides a defined field in the one or more microchannels, wherein at least one conductor element that is placed in at least one specific location in the device. Interactions between the defined field and the at least one conductor element produce electro-osmotic flows so that the electrolyte fluid is driven across the one or more microchannels.
Claims37
A microfluidic device comprising:
- one or more microchannels providing a passageway for transmitting an electrolyte fluid;
- a source providing a defined electric field in said one or more microchannels;
- at least one conductor element that is placed in at least one specific location in said device, wherein interactions between said defined field and said at least one conductor element producing electro-osmotic flows so that said electrolyte fluid is driven across said one or more microchannels.
A method of forming a microfluidic device, said method comprising:
- providing one or more microchannels transmitting a passageway for sending an electrolyte fluid;
- providing a field source providing a defined field in said one or more microchannels;
- providing at least one conductor element that is placed in at least one specific location in said device;
- allowing interactions between said field and said at least one conductor element;
- and
- producing induced-charge electro-osmotic flows so that said electrolyte fluid is driven across said one or more microchannels.
A microfluidic device comprising at least one conductor element that is placed in at least one specific location in said device, wherein interactions between a defined field and said at least one conductor element producing electro-osmotic flows.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.