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US 2019/0017629 A1Published application
Long-Throw Microfluidic Actuator
OwnerDaniel Laser, Amy Droitcour +3inventors
InventorsDaniel Laser, Amy Droitcour, Hailemariam Negussie, Radu Raduta, Jared Frey
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A microfluidic device includes a three-dimensional slat structure having a plurality of interstices configured to generate a high power, high flow rate of fluids by electroosmotic flow. The microfluidic device includes a housing for holding and moving fluids through the slat structure, and a plurality of electrodes that generate an electric field within the plurality of interstices.
Claims21
-56. (canceled)
A microfluidic cartridge comprising:
- a plurality of fluid passageways;
- at least one junction connecting said plurality of fluid passageways;
- and
- at least two fluid transport means, including at least one high-performance fluidic actuator, the at least one high-performance fluidic actuator being a discrete component within the cartridge, and the at least one high-performance fluidic actuator having:
- a fluid power generation capacity of at least 10−8 watts and capable of sustaining said power for at least 30 seconds;
- and
- a response time for fluid power generation of less than 10 seconds.
4 more elements
A method, comprising:
- providing a first fluid to a channel connected to a plurality of fluid passageways, including at least one junction among such fluid passageways, in a microfluidic cartridge, wherein said microfluidic cartridge further comprises at least one high-speed microfluidic actuator, the at least one high-performance fluidic actuator being a discrete component within the cartridge, and the at least one high-performance fluidic actuator having a fluid power generation capacity of at least 10−8 watts and capable of sustaining said power for at least 30 seconds and a response time for power generation of less than 10 seconds;
- and
- operating said microfluidic actuators in a time-varying manner, such that said first fluid and a second fluid are introduced into said network of fluid passageways to generate alternating plugs of fluids, wherein a length of each plug volume is less than 5 times the smallest average diameter among such fluid passageways.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.