US 8,617,899 B2 · Enhanced drop mixing using magnetic actuation

Abstract

A method and device for merging and mixing at least two separate and distinct fluid drops on a substrate, includes a drop merging area on the surface, where a first magnetic material is placed at a first location. A first drop of fluid is then placed at the first location on the surface, resulting in the first magnetic material being at least partially positioned within the first drop of fluid. A second drop of fluid is then placed at a second location on the surface of the drop merging area. A magnetic field is applied by a varying magnetic field generator to at least a portion of the drop merge area of the substrate, which includes at least the first location on the substrate. The varying magnetic field will act on the first magnetic material to move the first magnetic material within the first drop of fluid, causing a stirring of the fluid. A drop merging force from a drop merging mechanism is applied to at least one of the first drop of fluid and the second drop of fluid within the drop merge area. This causes at least one of the first drop of fluid and the second drop of fluid to move toward the other and make contact. The internal stirring of the fluid in the first drop of fluid by the movement of the magnetic material enhances the mixing of the constituents of the first drop of fluid and the constituents of the second drop of fluid.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A method of mixing and merging a first drop of fluid and a second drop of fluid comprising:

providing a nanocalorimeter device having a surface including at least a first location for supporting the first drop and a second location for supporting the second drop,
placing a coated magnetic material at the first location on the surface, wherein the coating prevents reaction of the magnetic material with constituents of the first drop of fluid and constituents of the second drop of fluid;
placing the first drop of fluid at the first location on the surface, resulting in the coated magnetic material being at least partially within the first drop of fluid;
placing the second drop of fluid at the second location on the surface;
initiating a drop merging operation by a drop merging mechanism of the nanocalorimeter device such that at least one of the first drop of fluid or the second drop of fluid are moved toward the other drop of fluid creating a merged drop including the coated magnetic material;
and
applying a varying magnetic field to at least a portion of the surface including at least the merged drop, the varying magnetic field acting on the coated magnetic material to move the coated magnetic material within the merged drop, causing an internal stirring of the fluid in the merged drop,
wherein the application of the varying magnetic field to the coated magnetic material in the merged drop generates a kinetic reaction of the constituents of the first and second drops producing a temperature rise in the micro-Kelvin range that is detectable by the nanocalorimeter, and that is at least five times greater than a signal generated by drop merger in the absence of the varying magnetic field.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Enhanced drop mixing using magnetic actuation

Life of this patent

Enhanced drop mixing using magnetic actuation

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12