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US 7,418,977 B2Granted
Liquid-handling apparatus having a liquid switch and method for handling liquids
AssigneeAlbert-Ludwigs-Universitaet
InventorsJens Ducreé, Roland Zengerle, Thilo Brenner, Thomas Glatzel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A liquid-handling apparatus has a liquid switch, which has a first channel branching into a second and a third channel, wherein the channels are formed in a rotation body. The channels are adapted to route a liquid volume from the first channel into one of the second channel and the third channel dependent on whether a Coriolis force and/or an Euler force prevails a centrifugal force or not. A liquid-handling apparatus having such a liquid switch is particularly suited for applications in which different volumes of liquid have to be passed through a stationary phase.
Claims44
A liquid-handling apparatus having a liquid switch, the liquid switch comprising:
- a rotation body rotatable around a rotation axis;
- a first channel formed in the rotation body and, in a branching area, branching into a second channel and a third channel formed in the rotation body;
- wherein the first, second and third channels are adapted for a centrifugal liquid flow therethrough upon rotation of the rotation body,
- wherein the channels are adapted to route a liquid volume from the first channel into one of the second channel and the third channel, dependent on at least one selected from the group comprising a frequency of rotation, a sense of rotation and an acceleration of rotation of the rotation body,
- wherein a portion of the first channel running into the branching area extends in a first direction, wherein a portion of the second channel running into the branching area extends in a second direction, wherein a portion of the third channel running into the branching area extends in a third direction, and wherein the angle between the first and second directions is identical but opposite to the angle between the first and third directions.
2 more elements
A liquid-handling apparatus having a liquid switch, the liquid switch comprising:
- a rotation body rotatable around a rotation axis;
- a first channel, a second channel and a third channel formed in the rotation body, wherein, in a branching area, the second channel and the third channel run into the first channel;
- wherein the first, second and third channels are adapted for a centrifugal liquid flow thereth rough upon rotation of the rotation body,
- wherein the channels are adapted to route a liquid volume from the first channel into one of the second channel and the third channel, dependent on at least one selected from the group comprising a frequency of rotation, a sense of rotation and an acceleration of rotation of the rotation body,
- wherein a portion of the first channel running into the branching area extends in a first direction, wherein a portion of the second channel running into the first channel extends in a second direction, wherein a portion of the third channel running into the first channel extends in a third direction, and wherein an angle between the first and second directions is less than an angle between the first and third directions.
2 more elements
A method for handling liquid, comprising:
- delivering a liquid volume to an inlet of a first channel branching into a second and a third channel in a branching area, wherein a portion of the first channel running into the branching area extends in a first direction, wherein a portion of the second channel running into the branching area extends in a second direction, wherein a portion of the third channel running into the branching area extends in a third direction, and wherein the angle between the first and second directions is identical but opposite to the angle between the first and third directions, wherein the channels are formed in a rotation body and are adapted for a centrifugal fluid flow therethrough upon rotation of the rotation body, and
- routing the liquid volume from the first channel into one of the second channel and the third channel by rotating the rotation body while controlling at least one of the group comprising a frequency of rotation, a sense of rotation and an acceleration of rotation of the rotation body.
A method for handling liquid, comprising:
- delivering a liquid volume to an inlet of a first channel, wherein, in a branching area, a second and a third channel run into the first channel, wherein a portion of the first channel running into the branching area extends in a first direction, wherein a portion of the second channel running into the first channel extends in a second direction, wherein a portion of the third channel running into the first channel extends in a third direction, and wherein an angle between the first and second directions is less than an angle between the first and third directions, and wherein the channels are formed in a rotation body and are adapted for a centrifugal fluid flow therethrough upon rotation of the rotation body, and
- routing the liquid volume from the first channel into one of the second channel and the third channel by rotating the rotation body while controlling at least one of the group comprising a frequency of rotation, a sense of rotation and an acceleration of rotation of the rotation body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.