Microfluidic viscometer
AssigneeCaliper Technologies Corp.
InventorsMichael Spaid, Andrea W. Chow, Benjamin N. Wang, Ring-Ling Chien, J. Wallace Parce, Anne R. Kopf-Sill
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Abstract
Microfluidic devices, systems, and methods measure viscosity, flow times, and/or other flow characteristics within the channels, and the measured flow characteristics can be used to generate a desired flow. Multi-reservoir pressure modulator and pressure controller systems, electrokinetic systems and/or other fluid transport mechanisms can generate the flow, controllably mix fluids, and the like.
Claims5
A method for determining a difference in viscosity between a sample fluid and a reference fluid, the method comprising the following steps in the order named:
- flowing a reference fluid with a known viscosity through a first channel segment by applying a first driving force;
- flowing a detectable fluid through a second channel segment by applying a second driving force;
- combining the flow of the reference fluid from the first channel segment with the flow of detectable fluid from the second channel segment at a first intersection to produce a first combined flow, the first combined flow entering a third channel segment;
- measuring a first amount of detectable fluid flowing in the first combined flow;
- replacing the flow of reference fluid in the first channel segment with a flow of sample fluid through the first channel segment without changing the magnitudes of the first and second driving forces;
- combining the flow of the sample fluid from the first channel segment with the flow of detectable fluid from the second channel segment at a first intersection to produce a second combined flow, the second combined flow entering a third channel segment;
- measuring a second amount of detectable fluid flowing in the second combined flow;
- and
- determining a difference in viscosity between the reference fluid and the sample fluid from the difference between the first amount of detectable fluid and the second amount of detectable fluid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.