Back to results
US 9,789,451 B2Granted
Method and electro-fluidic device to produce emulsions and particle suspensions
AssigneesGeorgia Tech Research Corporation, Universidad de Sevilla, Universidad De Malaga
InventorsAntonio Barrero Ripoll, Ignacio González-Loscertales, Venkata Ramana Gundabala, Alberto Fernandes-Nieves
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention refers to a method, and to a device to produce emulsions and particle suspensions by using electro-hydrodinamic forces and microfluidics This combined use allow the production of droplets with mean diameters which may be either smaller than those obtained in conventional microfluidic devices or larger than those obtained by electrospray, bridging the gap between the two methods acting independently.
Claims15
A system comprising:
- a micro-channel having a central axis along its length;
- a pump for pumping a dielectric fluid in a first flow direction within the micro-channel;
- a first capillary tip located within the micro-channel and extending along the central axis of the micro-channel for a portion of the length of the micro-channel;
- a pump for pumping a first conducting fluid in the first flow direction within the first capillary tip;
- a second capillary tip located downstream in the first flow direction from the first capillary tip, the second capillary tip located within the micro-channel and extending along the central axis of the micro-channel for a portion of the length of the micro-channel;
- an annular gap extending the length of the second capillary defined by the difference between the diameters of the micro-channel and the second capillary tip;
- a pump for pumping a second conducting fluid in a second flow direction within the second capillary tip;
- and
- an electrical potential generator;
- wherein the dielectric fluid is immiscible or poorly miscible with the conducting fluids;
- wherein the second flow direction of the second conducting fluid flows counter with respect to the first flow direction of the dielectric fluid;
- wherein upon flow of the dielectric, first and second fluids a steady state interface is formed separating the dielectric fluid and the first conducting fluid;
- wherein upon flow of the dielectric, first and second fluids, when an electrical potential difference is applied by the electrical potential generator to the first capillary tip and the second capillary tip, a steady state capillary jet is formed, producing a stream of charged droplets which move towards the steady state interface under the combined action of the electric and hydrodynamic forces;
- and
- wherein once the droplets reach the steady state interface they discharge and form an emulsion that leaves through the annular gap.
12 more elements
An electro-fluidic method to produce emulsions and particle suspensions comprising:
- immersion of a capillary in a dielectric fluid that flows along a micro-channel;
- said dielectric fluid being immiscible or poorly miscible with a first conducting fluid and a second conducting fluid;
- and wherein said second conducting fluid flows through a second capillary immersed in the dielectric fluid, an annular gap extending the length of the second capillary defined by the difference between the diameters of the micro-channel and the second capillary tip;
- pumping counter-flow said second conducting fluid with respect to the dielectric fluid and forming a steady state interface;
- and
- applying an appropriate electrical potential difference to said conducting fluids, producing a stream of charged droplets which move towards the steady state interface under the combined action of the electric and hydrodynamic forces;
- wherein once the charged droplets reach the steady state interface they give up their charge and form a neutral emulsion that leaves through the annular gap.
4 more elements
An electro-fluidic method to produce emulsions and particle suspensions comprising:
- immersion of a first capillary tip in a dielectric fluid that flows along a micro-channel in a first flow direction, wherein the dielectric fluid is immiscible or poorly miscible with a first conducting fluid and a second conducting fluid;
- injecting in a second flow direction the second conducting fluid through a second capillary tip and forming a steady state interface, the second capillary tip immersed in the dielectric fluid and located downstream in the first flow direction from the first capillary tip, wherein the second flow direction of the second conducting fluid flows counter with respect to the first flow direction of the dielectric fluid, an annular gap extending the length of the second capillary defined by the difference between the diameters of the micro-channel and the second capillary tip;
- and
- applying an electrical potential difference to the first and second conducting fluids, producing charged droplets that move towards the steady state interface under the combined action of the electric and hydrodynamic forces;
- wherein once the charged droplets reach the steady state interface, they give up their charge and form a neutral emulsion that travel through the annular gap.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.