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US 2008/0279698 A1Published application
Controlled magnetohydrodynamic fluidic networks and stirrers
AssigneeThe Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania
InventorHaim H. Bau
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AssigneeThe Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania
InventorHaim H. Bau
Estimating the term…
The present invention relates to controlled, magnetohydrodynamically-driven, fluidic networks containing a plurality of individually controlled branches. The branches consist of conduits equipped with pairs of electrodes that are controlled by electrode controllers. In operation, the network is placed within a magnetic field and potentials or currents are applied across electrode pairs within the various branches of the network in specifically determined magnitudes and polarities for specifically determined time intervals in accordance with an activation sequence that may be determined by an algorithm. Placed within a temperature gradient, at least a part of the network can act as a thermal cycler for use in biological interactions that employ temperature variations. The invention also relates to magnetohydrodynamic stirrers comprising a conduit or cavity having at least two electrodes disposed in such an orientation that, upon the application of a potential or current across the electrode pair within a magnetic field, secondary flows such as chaotic advection is generated.
A method for generating Lorentz body forces in an at least slightly conductive fluid within a fluidic network comprising (a) a plurality of connected and individually controlled conduits for the transmission of said at least slightly conductive fluid, each conduit having at least one pair of opposing walls and at least one pair of electrodes disposed along the opposing walls, and (b) at least one electrode controller in operational engagement with the electrodes for implementing an activation sequence of currents or potentials applied across the electrodes;
A method for controlling the flow of an at least slightly conductive fluid within a fluidic network comprising (a) a plurality of connected and individually controlled conduits for the transmission of said at least slightly conductive fluid, each conduit having at least one pair of opposing walls and at least one pair of electrodes disposed along the opposing walls, and (b) at least one electrode controller in operational engagement with the electrodes for implementing an activation sequence of currents or potentials applied across the electrodes;
A method for cycling a fluid through different temperature zones comprising the step of operating the fluidic network across a temperature gradient, wherein said fluidic network comprises (a) a plurality of connected and individually controlled conduits for the transmission of said at least slightly conductive fluid, each conduit having at least one pair of opposing walls and at least one pair of electrodes disposed along the opposing walls, and (b) at least one electrode controller in operational engagement with the electrodes for implementing an activation sequence of currents or potentials applied across the electrodes.
A method for promoting polymerase chain reactions comprising the step of cycling a fluid containing polymerase chain reaction reagents across a temperature gradient of fluidic network, wherein said fluidic network comprises (a) a plurality of connected and individually controlled conduits for the transmission of said at least slightly conductive fluid, each conduit having at least one pair of opposing walls and at least one pair of electrodes disposed along the opposing walls, and (b) at least one electrode controller in operational engagement with the electrodes for implementing an activation sequence of currents or potentials applied across the electrodes.
A magnetohydrodynamic stirrer, comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.