Device and method for handling liquid
AssigneeBiosurfit, S.A.
InventorsTania Moura Pires De Andrade Tenreiro, Luis Miguel Dias Martins
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Devices and methods for handling liquids are provided. The devices and methods make use of centrifugal forces to drive liquid flow and facilitate one or more of the mixing, metering and sequencing of liquids, for example on a microfluidic device.
Claims46
A device for handling liquid, the device being configured for rotation about an axis of rotation and the device comprising:
- a first cavity with a first port, the first cavity comprising a proximal portion radially inwards of a distal portion;
- a second cavity with a second port, the second cavity comprising a proximal portion radially inwards of a distal portion;
- and
- a first conduit structure connecting the first and second ports to guide liquid flow therebetween;
- wherein the first and second ports are disposed in the respective distal portions of the first and second cavities;
- wherein the second port is radially outwards of the first port;
- and
- wherein the second cavity is configured such that as liquid flows into the second cavity, a gas volume is trapped in the second cavity and a pressure of the gas increases.
A device for handling liquid, the device being configured to be rotated about an axis of rotation, the device comprising:
- a first cavity with a first plurality of ports, the first cavity comprising a proximal portion radially inwards of a distal portion;
- an air ballast structure configured such that as liquid flows out of the first plurality of ports, a volume of gas is trapped in the air ballast structure and a pressure of the gas increases;
- and
- wherein the first plurality of ports are disposed in the distal portion of the first cavity.
A device for handling liquid, the device being configured for rotation about an axis of rotation and the device comprising:
- a first, vented, chamber with a first port, the first vented chamber comprising a proximal portion radially inwards of a distal portion;
- a second, unvented, chamber with a second port, the second unvented chamber comprising a proximal portion radially inwards of a distal portion;
- and
- a first conduit structure connecting the first and second ports to guide liquid flow therebetween;
- wherein the first and second ports are disposed in the respective distal portions of the first and second chambers;
- and
- wherein the second port is radially outwards of the first port.
A device for handling liquid, the device being configured for rotation about an axis of rotation and the device comprising:
- a vented cavity having a first port;
- an unvented cavity comprising a proximal portion radially inwards of a distal portion, the unvented cavity having a second port disposed in the distal portion to receive liquid from the first cavity;
- a downstream cavity;
- and
- an outlet conduit connecting the first port to an inlet of the downstream cavity, wherein the outlet conduit extends radially inwards of the first port to a first bend and radially outwards of the first bend to the inlet of the downstream cavity and wherein the first bend is disposed radially inwards of a radially-outermost aspect of the vented cavity and radially outwards of a radially-innermost aspect of the vented cavity.
42-54. (canceled)
A device for handling liquid, the device being configured for rotation about an axis of rotation to drive liquid flow within the device,
- wherein the device comprises a chamber and a conduit each for containing liquid;
- wherein the chamber has an inlet port connected to an upstream liquid handling structure to receive liquid from the upstream liquid handling structure;
- wherein the chamber has an outlet port connected to the conduit;
- wherein the conduit extends radially inward from the outlet port to a crest and radially outward from the crest;
- wherein the chamber extends radially inward of the crest;
- wherein the chamber has a first radial region extending radially inward and outward of the crest and a second radial region radially outward of the first radial region in which the outlet port is disposed;
- and
- wherein a cross-sectional area of the chamber in the first radial region is smaller than a cross-sectional area of the chamber in the second radial region.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.