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US 2012/0257470 A1Published application
Microfluidic mixer
AssigneeITI Scotland Limited
InventorsJulien Chapron, Stuart Polwart, Jonathan Salmon
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AssigneeITI Scotland Limited
InventorsJulien Chapron, Stuart Polwart, Jonathan Salmon
Estimating the term…
Provided is a microfluidic mixing system comprising a loop system for transferring one or more fluids, wherein the loop system comprises a plurality of sub loops, each sub loop formed from one or more common channels shared with at least one other sub loop and completed by an outer channel portion that is not shared by any other sub loop, and wherein the outer channel portion of each sub loop comprises one or more valves such that the sub loop is capable of isolation from all other sub loops and each common channel comprises one or more valves such that the common channel is capable of isolation from the remainder of the loop system, and wherein one or more sub loops in the system comprise valves that are configured to enable peristaltic mixing.
A microfluidic mixing system comprising a loop system for transferring one or more fluids, wherein the loop system comprises a plurality of sub loops, each sub loop formed from one or more common channels shared with at least one other sub loop and completed by an outer channel portion that is not shared by any other sub loop, and wherein the outer channel portion of each sub loop comprises one or more valves such that the sub loop is capable of isolation from all other sub loops and each common channel comprises one or more valves such that the common channel is capable of isolation from the remainder of the loop system, and wherein one or more sub loops in the system comprise valves that are configured to enable peristaltic mixing.
A microfluidic mixing system according to any preceding claim, wherein the loop system comprises n sub loops linked in series by n−1 common channels, wherein n is at least 2.
A microfluidic mixing system according to any preceding claim, wherein a plurality of sub loops share a single common channel,
A microfluidic mixing system according to any preceding claim, wherein each of the one or more sub loops configured to enable peristaltic mixing comprises 3 or more valves.
A microfluidic mixing system comprising a loop system for transferring one or more fluids, wherein the loop system comprises one or more peristaltic pumps each comprising at least 4 valves which are capable of being opened and closed in sequence so as to enable peristaltic movement of the one or more fluids around the loop system in order to mix the fluids, wherein the loop system comprises a single loop, and wherein the loop comprises a plurality of channels for storing and/or transferring a plurality of fluids.
A microfluidic mixing system according to any preceding claim which further comprises one or more inlets for delivering the one or more fluids to the loop system.
A microfluidic mixing system according to any preceding claim which further comprises one or more outlets for removing one or more fluids from the loop system.
A microfluidic mixing system according to any preceding claim which further comprises one or more chambers for storing, reacting or analysing one or more fluids.
A microfluidic mixing system according to any preceding claim wherein one, more or each sub loop comprises two valves in the common channel and one valve in the outer channel portion of the sub loop.
A microfluidic mixing system according to any preceding claim wherein a valve is provided proximal to each end of a common channel.
A method for processing, transporting or mixing fluids in a micro- or nanofluidic system, which method employs a microfluidic mixing system as defined in any preceding claim.
A method for mixing fluids in a microfluidic system, which method comprises filling a loop system with one or more fluids and subsequently opening and closing at least 4 valves in the loop system in sequence to enable peristaltic movement of the one or more fluids around the loop system in order to mix the fluids.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.