Microfluidic mixer
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsAlexander GOVYADINOV, Pavel KORNILOVICH, Erik D. TORNIAINEN, David P. MARKEL
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Abstract
One example provides a microfluidic mixing device that includes a main fluidic channel to provide main fluidic channel flow and a number of I-shaped secondary channels extending outwardly from a portion of the main fluidic channel. A number of inertial pumps are located within the I-shaped secondary channels to create serpentine flows in the direction of the main fluidic channel flow or create vorticity-inducing counterflow in the main fluidic channel.
Claims15
A microfluidic mixing device comprising:
- a main fluidic channel to provide main fluidic channel flow;
- a number of I-shaped secondary channels extending outwardly from a portion of the main fluidic channel;
- and
- a number of inertial pumps located within the I-shaped secondary channels to create serpentine flows in the direction of the main fluidic channel flow or create vorticity-inducing counterflow in the main fluidic channel.
A microfluidic mixing system comprising:
- a microfluidic mixing device comprising:
- a main fluid mixing channel;
- a number of I-shaped secondary channels extending from the main fluid mixing channel;
- and
- a number of inertial pumps located in the secondary channels to pump fluids within the secondary channels,
- wherein the I-shaped secondary channels produce a flood and drain flow into and out of the I-shaped secondary channels to create serpentine flows in the direction of the main fluid mixing channel flow or to create vorticity-inducing counterflow in the main fluid mixing channel;
- a fluid source;
- and
- a control device to provide fluids from the fluid source to the microfluidic mixing device and activate the secondary-channel inertial pumps.
A method of controlling a microfluidic mixer, the method comprising:
- activating a number of secondary-channel inertial pumps located within a number of I-shaped secondary channels fluidly coupled to a main microfluidic channel to pump fluids through the secondary channels,
- wherein the inertial pumps located within the I-shaped secondary channels create serpentine flows in the direction of the main microfluidic channel flow or to create vorticity-inducing counterflow in the main microfluidic channel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.