Magnetohydrodynamic ( MHD) driven droplet mixer

A magnetohydrodynamic fluidic system for mixing a first sample and a second sample, comprising:

• first magnetohydrodynamic substrate means having a first flow channel and a first plurality of pairs of spaced electrodes operatively connected to said first flow channel for moving said first sample through said first flow channel,
• second magnetohydrodynamic substrate means having a second flow channel and a second plurality of pairs of spaced electrodes operatively connected to said second flow channel for moving said second sample through said second flow channel,
• third magnetohydrodynamic substrate means having a third flow channel and a third plurality of pairs of spaced electrodes operatively connected to said third flow channel for moving both said first sample and said second sample through said third flow channel,
• magnetic means operatively connected to said first magnetohydrodynamic substrate means, said second magnetohydrodynamic substrate means, and said third magnetohydrodynamic substrate means for providing a magnetohydrodynamic force to said first sample and said second sample,
• control means for selectively controlling said first plurality of pairs of spaced electrodes, said second plurality of pairs of spaced electrodes, and said third plurality of pairs of spaced electrodes to move said first sample through said first flow channel, to move said second sample through said second flow channel, and to move both said first sample and said second sample into said third flow channel where they are mixed.

A magnetohydrodynamic fluidic system for mixing chemicals and/or materials comprising:

• a first channel for directing a first droplet of a chemical and/or material,
• a first channel for directing a second droplet of a chemical and/or material,
• a mixing area operatively connected to said first channel and said second channel,
• a third channel operatively connected to said mixing area,
• a first plurality of pairs of spaced electrodes operatively connected to said first channel for moving said first droplet along said first channel into said mixing area by creating a magnetohydrodynamic force,
• a second plurality of pairs of spaced electrodes operatively connected to said second channel for moving said second droplet along said second channel into said mixing area by creating a magnetohydrodynamic force, and
• a third plurality of pairs of spaced electrodes operatively connected to said third channel for moving said mixed chemical and/or material along said third channel by creating a magnetohydrodynamic force.

A method of mixing a first substance and a second substance, the steps of:

• providing a first droplet of said first substance in a first channel,
• providing a second droplet of said second substance in a second channel,
• providing a mixing area operatively connected to said first channel and said second channel,
• moving said first droplet along said first channel into said mixing area using a magnetohydrodynamic force,
• moving said second droplet along said second channel into said mixing area using a magnetohydrodynamic force, and
• mixing said first droplet and said second droplet in said mixing area to provide a mixture of said first substance and said second substance.

A method of mixing chemicals and/or materials comprising the steps of:

• providing a first chemical and/or material in a first channel,
• providing a second chemical and/or material in a second channel,
• providing a mixing area operatively connected to said first channel and said second channel,
• providing a third channel operatively connected to said mixing area,
• moving said first chemical and/or material along said first channel into said mixing area using a magnetohydrodynamic force,
• moving said second chemical and/or material along said second channel into said mixing area using a magnetohydrodynamic force,
• mixing said first chemical and/or material and said second chemical and/or material in said mixing area to provide a mixed chemical and/or material, and
• moving the mixed chemical and/or material from said mixing area through said third channel using a magnetohydrodynamic force.