Fluidic switches and methods for controlling flow in fluidic systems
AssigneePresident and Fellows of Harvard College
InventorsRustem F. Ismagilov, Paul J. A. Kenis, George M. Whitesides, David Rosmarin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to fluidic systems, including switches for fluidic systems. The switches of the present invention may be particularly applicable to microfluidic systems. The switches of the invention may include a switching region having more than one position corresponding to more than one aspect ratio. Alternatively, the switches of the invention may include multiple inlets and a system for the selective supply of carrier fluid. The present invention also relates to a method of controlling a fluid in a microfluidic system and may be performed using the switches of the present invention.
Claims31
A method of controlling fluid flow in a fluidic system, comprising:
- providing a fluidic system, including a first fluid path having a first inlet and a second fluid path in fluid contact with the first fluid path at a fluid contact point;
- flowing a fluid through the first fluid path;
- and
- changing an aspect ratio of the first fluid path at the fluid contact point to switch at least a portion of the fluid from the first fluid path to the second fluid path at the fluid contact point.
A method of controlling fluid flow in a fluidic system comprising:
- providing a fluidic system, including a first fluid path having a first inlet, a second inlet and a third inlet, and a second fluid path in fluid contact with the first fluid path at a fluid contact point;
- supplying a process fluid to the first inlet of the first fluid path;
- supplying a carrier fluid to the second inlet of the first fluid path such that the carrier fluid forces the process fluid into a first portion of the first fluid path, inhibiting switching of the process fluid to the second fluid path at the fluid contact point;
- ceasing supplying the carrier fluid to the second fluid path;
- and
- supplying the carrier fluid to the third inlet of the first fluid path such that the carrier fluid forces the process fluid into a second portion of the first fluid path, facilitating switching of the process fluid to the second fluid path at the fluid contact point.
A method comprising:
- allowing a first fluid to flow along a first fluid path;
- allowing a second fluid to flow along a second fluid path tangentially intersecting the first fluid path, the first and second fluid paths essentially free of the second and first fluids, respectively;
- and
- manipulating a valve associated with either fluid path, diverting at least a portion of the first fluid into the second path.
A fluidic system, comprising:
- a first fluid path having a first inlet;
- a second fluid path in fluid contact with the first fluid path at a fluid contact point;
- a switch for selectively controlling whether, at the fluid contact point, a portion of fluid flowing in one of the first or second fluid paths continues to flow in the same fluid path or flows into the other of the first or second fluid paths;
- and
- a fluid flowing in at least one of the first fluid path and the second fluid path under laminar flow conditions.
A microfluidic system, comprising:
- a first fluid path having a first inlet;
- a second fluid path in fluid contact with the first fluid path at a fluid contact point;
- and
- a switch for selectively controlling whether, at the fluid contact point, a portion of fluid flowing in one of the first or second fluid paths continues to flow in the same fluid path or flows into the other of the first or second fluid paths;
- wherein at least one of the first fluid path and the second fluid path has a cross-sectional dimension of less than about 500 μm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.