Scale-up of microfluidic devices
AssigneePresident and Fellows of Harvard College
InventorsMark Romanowsky, Adam R. Abate, David A. Weitz
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Abstract
Parallel uses of microfluidic methods and devices for focusing and/or forming discontinuous sections of similar or dissimilar size in a fluid are described. In some aspects, the present invention relates generally to flow-focusing-type technology, and also to microfluidics, and more particularly parallel use of microfluidic systems arranged to control a dispersed phase within a dispersant, and the size, and size distribution, of a dispersed phase in a multi-phase fluid system, and systems for delivery of fluid components to multiple such devices.
Claims21
A method for forming droplets in a microfluidic device in parallel, comprising:
- (a) providing a microfluidic device that comprises:
- (i) a plurality of subject fluid channels;
- (ii) a dispersing fluid distribution channel connecting a source of dispersing fluid to a plurality of dispersing fluid outlets, wherein each of the plurality of dispersing fluid outlets is directly fluidly connected to a different microfluidic interconnected region of a separate subject fluid channel;
- and
- (iii) one or more downstream channels fluidly connected to each of the microfluidic interconnected regions;
- (b) directing subject fluids through the plurality of subject fluid channels to the microfluidic interconnected regions;
- and
- (c) directing dispersing fluid through the dispersing fluid distribution channel to the microfluidic interconnected regions fluidly coupled thereto, to form droplets of subject fluids in a stream of dispersing fluid in the one or more downstream channels.
A method for forming droplets in a microfluidic device in parallel, comprising:
- (a) providing a microfluidic device that comprises:
- (i) a plurality of subject fluid channels each directly fluidly connected to a different microfluidic interconnected region;
- (ii) a source of dispersing fluid fluidly connected to each of the microfluidic interconnected regions;
- and
- (iii) one or more downstream channels fluidly connected to each of the microfluidic interconnected regions;
- (b) directing subject fluids through the plurality of subject fluid channels to the microfluidic interconnected regions;
- and
- (c) directing dispersing fluid from the source of dispersing fluid to the microfluidic interconnected regions fluidly coupled thereto, to form droplets of subject fluids in a stream of dispersing fluid in the one or more downstream channels.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.