# US 9,810,607 B2 · Microfluidic device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,810,607 B2 - Document ID: US9810607B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/344,478 - Filed: 2012-09-14 - Published: 2014-11-13 - Granted: 2017-11-07 - Earliest claimed: 2011-09-14 - Assignees: Embl - Applicants: Christoph Merten; Ramesh Utharala - Inventors: Christoph Merten; Ramesh Utharala - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9810607B2 ## CPC - G01N 1/28: Preparing specimens for investigation {including physical details of (bio-)chemical methods covered elsewhere, e.g. G01N33/50, C12Q}(mounting specimens on microscopic slides G02B21/34; means for supporting the objects or the materials to be analysed in electron microscopes H01J37/20 {; laboratory gas handling apparatus B01L5/00}) - B01L 3/502784: {specially adapted for droplet or plug flow, e.g. digital microfluidics} - G01J 3/46: Measurement of colour; Colour measuring devices, e.g. colorimeters (measuring colour temperature G01J5/60) - B01L 2200/026: Fluid interfacing between devices or objects, e.g. connectors, inlet details - B01L 2200/061: Counting droplets - B01L 2200/0673: Handling of plugs of fluid surrounded by immiscible fluid - B01L 2200/0694: Creating chemical gradients in a fluid - B01L 2300/0816: Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions - B01L 2400/0481: squeezing of channels or chambers - B01L 2400/0487: fluid pressure, pneumatics - G01J 2003/466: {Coded colour; Recognition of predetermined colour; Determining proximity to predetermined colour} - Y10T 137/0318: Processes - Y10T 137/469: Sequentially filled and emptied [e.g., holding type] - Y10T 137/877: With flow control means for branched passages - 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) - B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE - G01J: MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRARED, VISIBLE OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT; COLORIMETRY; RADIATION PYROMETRY (light sources F21, H01J, H01K, H05B; investigating properties of materials by optical means G01N) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract The present disclosure teaches an apparatus and a method for providing one or more substance liquids to a microfluidic channel network (30). The microfluidic apparatus includes valves for switching the one or more substance liquids to a microfluidic channel network (30). The apparatus can be used to generate a sequence of the one or more substance liquids as individual droplets in an immiscible separation liquid wherein individual ones of the sequence of droplets are located between the separation liquid. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A microfluidic apparatus for providing one or more substance liquids to a microfluidic channel network, the microfluidic apparatus comprising the microfluidic channel network, at least one first substance liquid inlet, a second substance liquid inlet, at least one first inlet valve, a second inlet valve, and at least one input device for continuously applying a substantially constant pressure or a substantially continuous flow to the at least one first substance liquid at the at least one first substance liquid inlet, wherein the microfluidic channel network comprises a substance liquid combining area, the substance liquid combining area being connected to a droplet generation junction, and wherein the at least one first inlet valve is switchable between a first position, in which a liquid connection from the at least one first substance liquid inlet to the substance liquid combining area-is open, and a second position, in which the liquid connection from the at least one first substance liquid inlet to substance liquid combining area-is closed, wherein the second inlet valve is switchable between a first position in which a liquid connection from the second substance liquid inlet to the substance liquid combing area microfluidic channel network is open, and a second position, in which the liquid connection from the second substance liquid inlet to substance liquid combining area the microfluidic channel network is closed. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The microfluidic apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a first substance liquid drain fluidly connectable to the first substance inlet, wherein the substance liquid drain is closed in a first position and wherein the substance liquid drain is open in a second position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The microfluidic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a separation liquid channel; and a droplet channel; wherein the separation liquid channel is connected to the droplet channel at the droplet generation junction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The microfluidic apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a substance liquid combining area which is a section of a microfluidic channel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The microfluidic apparatus of claim 3, wherein at least one of the separation liquid channel and the droplet channel are, in use, filled with a separation liquid of an immiscible oil. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The microfluidic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first substance liquid is at least one of an aqueous solution, an organic solvent or a combination thereof comprising a first substance.