# US 8,540,416 B2 · Fluidic flow merging apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,540,416 B2 - Document ID: US8540416B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/278,620 - Filed: 2007-02-06 - Published: 2010-02-04 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2006-03-27 - Assignees: CapitalBio Corporation; Tsinghua University - Applicants: Xiaosheng Guan; Min Guo; Cheng Zhou; Yuming Hu; Jing Cheng - Inventors: Xiaosheng Guan; Min Guo; Cheng Zhou; Yuming Hu; Jing Cheng - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540416B2 ## CPC - G01N 27/44704: {Details; Accessories} - B01F 25/30: Injector mixers (mixing by creating vortex flow B01F25/10) - B01F 33/30: Micromixers - B01L 3/502715: {characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces} - B01L 3/502738: {characterised by integrated valves (throttle valves in microfluidic sample containers B01L3/502746)} - B01L 3/502746: {characterised by the means for controlling flow resistance, e.g. flow controllers, baffles or throttle valves} - B01L 3/502723: {characterised by venting arrangements} - B01L 2200/0621: Control of the sequence of chambers filled or emptied - B01L 2200/143: Quality control, feedback systems - B01L 2300/0816: Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions - B01L 2300/0867: Multiple inlets and one sample wells, e.g. mixing, dilution - B01L 2400/0487: fluid pressure, pneumatics - B33Y 80/00: Products made by additive manufacturing - Y10T 137/0329: Mixing of plural fluids of diverse characteristics or conditions - Y10T 137/2076: Utilizing diverse fluids - Y10T 137/8766: With selectively operated flow control means - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - B01F: MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING (mixing paints B44D3/06) - B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE - B33Y: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract The present invention provides a device for handling fluids, and more particularly a merging apparatus for fluidic and microfluidic devices utilizing passive valving in conjunction with a single sensor to uniformly blend contributory working fluid streams. Symmetric and non symmetric embodiments with and without branch channels are described. The present invention also provides methods for merging liquids using the device of the invention. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A microfluidic flow merging apparatus comprising: first and second tributary channels; an effluent channel; a junction formed at the joining of the first and second tributary channels, and the effluent channel; a flow obstruction formed within the junction; at least one fluid sensor configured proximate to the junction to sense the presence of working fluids; a pressure pump configured to drive a working fluid flow in one of the tributary channels; and a controller configured to be in operable communication with the fluid sensor and the pressure pump, wherein the first and second tributary channels, the effluent channel, the junction, and the flow obstruction are formed by walls comprising a hydrophilic material, and wherein the controller is configured to control the pressure pump responsive to a signal from the fluid sensor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The microfluidic flow merging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to reduce a working fluid drive pressure from the pressure pump responsive to a first signal from the fluid sensor, and to restore the working fluid drive pressure responsive to a second signal from the fluid sensor. ### Claim 3 A microfluidic flow merging apparatus comprising: a first tributary channel; a branching channel, joined to the first tributary channel at a first junction; a second tributary channel joined to the first tributary channel at a second junction; an intermediate effluent channel joined to the first tributary channel and the second tributary channel at the second junction; an effluent channel, joined to the intermediate effluent channel and the branching channel at a third junction but not jointed to the first tributary channel or the second tributary channel; at least one fluid sensor configured proximate to the second junction to sense the presence of working fluids; a pressure pump configured to drive a working fluid flow in one of the tributary channels; and a controller configured to be in operable communication with the fluid sensor and the pressure pump, wherein the first and second tributary channels, the branching channel, the intermediate effluent channel, the effluent channel, the first, second and third junctions, are formed by walls comprising a hydrophilic material, and wherein the controller is configured to control the pressure pump responsive to a signal from the fluid sensor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The microfluidic flow merging apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a flow obstruction formed in the second junction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The microfluidic flow merging apparatus of claim 3, wherein the controller is configured to reduce a working fluid drive pressure from the pressure pump responsive to a first signal from the fluid sensor, and to restore the working fluid drive pressure responsive to a second signal from the fluid sensor. ### Claim 6 A microfluidic flow merging apparatus comprising: a first tributary channel; a first intermediate tributary channel a first branching channel, joined to the first tributary channel and the first intermediate tributary channel at a first junction; a second tributary channel; a second intermediate tributary channel; a second branching channel, joined to the second tributary channel and the second intermediate tributary channel at a second junction; a third junction joining the first and second branching channels; an effluent channel; a fourth junction joining the first intermediate tributary channel, the second intermediate tributary channel, and the effluent channel; first and second fluid sensors configured proximate to the first and second tributary channels, respectively, to sense the presence of working fluids; a pressure pump configured to drive a working fluid flow in one of the tributary channels; and a controller configured to be in operable communication with the fluid sensor and the pressure pump, wherein the first and second tributary channels, the first and second branching channels, the first and second intermediate tributary channels, the intermediate effluent channel, the effluent channel, and the first, second, third and fourth junctions, are formed by walls comprising a hydrophilic material, and wherein the controller is configured to control the pressure pump responsive to a signal from at least one of the first and second fluid sensors. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The microfluidic flow merging apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a flow obstruction formed in the second junction. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The microfluidic flow merging apparatus of claim 6, wherein the controller is configured to reduce a working fluid drive pressure from the pressure pump responsive to a first signal from the first fluid sensor, and to restore the working fluid drive pressure responsive to a second signal from the second fluid sensor.