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US 6,601,613 B2Granted
Fluid circuit components based upon passive fluid dynamics
AssigneeBioMicro Systems, Inc.
InventorsMichael R. McNeely, Arnold R. Oliphant, Mark K. Spute
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AssigneeBioMicro Systems, Inc.
InventorsMichael R. McNeely, Arnold R. Oliphant, Mark K. Spute
Estimating the term…
Methods of controlling fluid flow through microchannels by use of passive valves or stopping means in the microchannels is presented. The passive valves act as pressure barriers impeding flow of solution past the stopping means until enough force is built up to overcome the force of the pressure barrier. Well planned use of such stopping means acting as passive valves allows the flow of fluids through microchannels to be regulated so as to allow fluids to be mixed or diluted after being introduced via a single channel, or to be split into multiple channels without the need for individual pipetting. Flow through the multiple channels can be regulated to allow a series of sister wells or chambers to all fill prior to the fluid flowing beyond any one of the sister wells or chambers. The filling of sister wells or chambers in this manner allows all wells or chambers to undergo reactions in unison. The use of air ducts to prevent trapping of air in the microchannels is also presented.
A non-wetted fluid circuit useful for consolidating or mixing fluids, said fluid circuit comprising a first microchannel and a second microchannel joining at an intersection to form a common downstream microchannel, wherein said first microchannel comprises a passive stopping means immediately upstream from said intersection;
A fluid circuit comprising:
A fluid circuit comprising:
A non-wetted fluid circuit having an hydrophobic inner surface and comprising a plurality of connected microchannels, wherein at least one said microchannel comprises a short microchannel narrowing, said microchannel narrowing having an inlet, an outlet, and a cross-sectional configuration relative to the microchannel tat creates a passive pressure barrier sufficient to temporarily block the flow of fluid that is advancing through said fluid circuit prior to wetting of a downstream side of said narrowing and to cause the fluid preferably to flow in an adjoining microchannel connected upstream of said narrowing rather to flow past said narrowing.
A non-wetted fluid circuit having an hydrophilic inner surface and comprising a plurality of connected microchannel, wherein at least one said microchannel comprises a short microchannel narrowing, said microchannel narrowing having an inlet, an outlet, and a cross-sectional configuration relative to the microchannel that creates a passive pressure barrier sufficient to temporarily block the flow of fluid that is advancing through said fluid circuit prior to wetting of a downstream side of said narrowing and to cause the fluid preferably to flow in an adjoining microchannel connected upstream or said narrowing rather than to flow past said narrowing.
The fluid circuit of claim 37, wherein said hydrophilic material comprises one or more materials selected from the group consisting of metal, glass, PMMA, polycarbonate, nylon 6/12 and PVC.
A non-wetted fluid circuit comprising a plurality of connected microchannels, wherein at least one said microchannel comprises a passive pressure barrier sufficient to temporarily block the flow fluid that is advancing through said fluid circuit prior to wetting of a downstream side of said passive pressure barrier and to cause the fluid preferably to flow in an adjoining microchannel connected upstream of said passive pressure baffler rather than flowing through said passive pressure barrier, wherein said passive pressure baffler comprises a local modification to the dimensions or surface properties of said at least one microchannel selected from the group consisting of a hydrophobic patch, a surface tension patch, a hydrophobic short channel narrowing, a hydrophilic short channel narrowing, and a hydrophilic channel widening to, and wherein said passive pressure barrier is sufficient to at least temporarily block the flow of fluid in said at least one microchannel.
A fluid circuit comprising at least a first microchannel and a second microchannel, said second microchannel joining said first microchannel at an intersection, said first microchannel comprising a passive stopping means downstream of said intersection, said passive stopping means causing fluid which is advancing through said fluid circuit preferably to flow in said second microchannel rather than to flow past said passive stopping means, wherein said passive stopping means is created by an abrupt change in the capillary force experienced by fluid advancing in said first microchannel, wherein said passive stopping means comprises a local modification to the dimensions or surface properties of said first microchannel selected from the group consisting of a hydrophobic patch, a surface tension patch, a hydrophobic short channel narrowing, a hydrophilic short channel narrowing, and a hydrophilic channel widening to, and wherein said passive stopping means is sufficient to at least temporarily block the flow of fluid in said first microchannel.
A method of controlling fluid flow through a non-wetted fluid circuit comprising at least two connected microchannels, each said microchannel containing a passive fluid flow barrier that creates a fluid pressure barrier, said method comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.