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US 2023/0166233 A1Published application
Electromechanically driven oscillatory flow in fluidic systems
AssigneeMassachusetts Institute of Technology
InventorsLeif-Thore Deck, Natalie Eyke, Travis Hart, Klavs F. Jensen
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Abstract
Fluidic systems and methods in which oscillatory flow is employed are generally described. In some instances, one or more solenoids are used to drive the oscillation of a magnetically-susceptible body which creates oscillatory flow of a fluid in a fluidic channel in fluid communication with a channel containing the magnetically-susceptible body.
Claims20
A device, comprising:
- a first fluidic channel;
- a second fluidic channel;
- a fluidic loop between and fluidically connected to the first fluidic channel and the second fluidic channel;
- valving configured such that:
- when the valving is in a first position, the valving establishes fluid communication between the first fluidic channel and a first connection of the fluidic loop, and the valving establishes fluid communication between the second fluidic channel and a third connection of the fluidic loop, and
- when the valving is in a second position, the valving establishes fluid communication between the first connection of the fluidic loop and a second connection of the fluidic loop, and the valving establishes fluid communication between the third connection of the fluidic loop and a fourth connection of the fluidic loop;
- a magnetically-susceptible body within the fluidic loop;
- and
- at least one solenoid associated with the fluidic loop and configured such that, upon application of a voltage to the solenoid, the solenoid generates a magnetic field that causes movement of the magnetically-susceptible body along the fluidic loop.
6 more elements
A device, comprising:
- a first fluidic channel;
- a second fluidic channel;
- a fluidic loop between and fluidically connected to the first fluidic channel and the second fluidic channel;
- a first valve fluidically connected to the first fluidic channel and the fluidic loop such that:
- when the first valve is in a first position, the first valve establishes fluid communication between the first fluidic channel and a first connection of the fluidic loop, and
- when the first valve is in a second position, the first valve establishes fluid communication between the first connection of the fluidic loop and a second connection of the fluidic loop;
- a second valve fluidically connected to the second fluidic channel and the fluidic loop such that:
- when the second valve is in a first position, the second valve establishes fluid communication between the second fluidic channel and a third connection of the fluidic loop, and
- when the second valve is in a second position, the second valve establishes fluid communication between the third connection of the fluidic loop and a fourth connection of the fluidic loop;
- a magnetically-susceptible body within the fluidic loop;
- and
- at least one solenoid associated with the fluidic loop and configured such that, upon application of a voltage to the solenoid, the solenoid generates a magnetic field that causes movement of the magnetically-susceptible body along the fluidic loop.
9 more elements
A device, comprising:
- a fluidic channel;
- a magnetically-susceptible body within the fluidic channel;
- a magnet comprising a magnetic field that lies at least partially within the fluidic channel;
- and
- a solenoid associated with the fluidic channel and configured such that, upon application of a voltage to the solenoid, the solenoid generates a magnetic field that causes movement of the magnetically-susceptible body within the fluidic channel.
2 more elements
A method, comprising:
- transporting a droplet from a first channel of a device into a first portion of a fluidic loop of a device while the device is in a first configuration, wherein, in the first configuration:
- the first fluidic channel, the first portion of a fluidic loop, and a second fluidic channel are in fluid communication with each other, and
- a second portion of the fluidic loop is not in fluid communication with any of the first fluidic channel, the first portion of the fluidic loop, and the second fluidic channel;
- altering the configuration of the device from the first configuration to a second configuration in which:
- the first portion of a fluidic loop and the second portion of the fluidic loop are in fluid communication with each other,
- the first fluidic channel is not in fluid communication with the fluidic loop, and
- the second fluidic channel is not in fluid communication with the fluidic loop;
- and
- while the device is in the second configuration, actuating at least one solenoid associated with the fluidic loop to produce oscillatory flow of a magnetically-susceptible body within the fluidic loop.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.