Fluid mixing device
OwnerMark A. DeVries, John Lahmanninventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A diagnostic cartridge includes a fluid mixing device including a first chamber, a second chamber, a protrusion separating the first chamber from the second chamber, and a U-shaped channel extending around a first end of the protrusion and fluidly coupling the first chamber to the second chamber. The diagnostic cartridge further includes a pulse-controlled amplification chamber and a fluidic channel fluidly coupling the pulse-controlled amplification chamber to an opening in the U-shaped channel to supply fluid to the fluid mixing device for mixing and to drain the fluid from the fluid mixing device after mixing.
Claims15
A diagnostic cartridge comprising:
- a fluid mixing device comprising:
- a first chamber;
- a second chamber;
- a protrusion separating the first chamber from the second chamber;
- and
- a U-shaped channel extending around a first end of the protrusion and fluidly coupling the first chamber to the second chamber;
- a pulse-controlled amplification chamber;
- and
- a fluidic channel fluidly coupling the pulse-controlled amplification chamber to an opening in the U-shaped channel to supply fluid to the fluid mixing device for mixing and to drain the fluid from the fluid mixing device after mixing.
A method of homogenizing a mixture, the method comprising:
- supplying a portion of the mixture to a fluid mixing device through a fluidic channel, the fluid mixing device comprising:
- a first chamber;
- a second chamber;
- a protrusion separating the first chamber from the second chamber;
- and
- a U-shaped channel extending around a first end of the protrusion and fluidly coupling the first chamber to the second chamber, the U-shaped channel including an opening fluidly coupled to the fluidic channel;
- pressurizing the first chamber to force the portion of the mixture toward the second chamber through the U-shaped channel;
- pressurizing the second chamber to force the portion of the mixture toward the first chamber through the U-shaped channel;
- draining the portion of the mixture from the fluid mixing device to a pulse-controlled amplification chamber through the opening in the U-shaped channel;
- and
- passing the portion of the mixture through the pulse-controlled amplification chamber.
A diagnostic cartridge comprising:
- a pump interface fluidly coupleable to a pump;
- a fluid mixing device comprising:
- a first chamber;
- a second chamber;
- a protrusion separating the first chamber from the second chamber;
- and
- a U-shaped channel extending around a first end of the protrusion and fluidly coupling the first chamber to the second chamber;
- a fluidic channel fluidly coupled to a bottom portion of the U-shaped channel to supply fluid to and drain fluid from the fluid mixing device;
- a pulse-controlled amplification chamber fluidly coupled to the fluidic channel to receive the fluid from the fluid mixing device;
- a first opening at a top portion of the first chamber;
- a second opening at a top portion of the second chamber;
- a first valve positionable to fluidly couple the first opening at the top portion of the first chamber to the pump interface;
- and
- a second valve positionable to fluidly couple the second opening at the top portion of the second chamber to the pump interface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.