Compact hydraulic manifold structure for shear sensitive fluids
First Claim
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1. A microfluidic device comprising:
- a first network of channels having a plurality of First Channels, each First Channel having a height in the range of about 50 microns to about 500 microns;
a second network of channels having at least one Second Channel complementary to one or more of the First Channels;
a filtration membrane separating one or more of the First Channels from the at least one Second Channel;
wherein the plurality of First Channels further comprises;
an input channel forming a primary channel, a plurality of secondary channels, and an outlet channel, wherein the primary channel bifurcates into first and second secondary channels at a first junction;
a first tertiary channel connecting to the first secondary channel at a second junction located at a first distance along the first secondary channel; and
a second tertiary channel connecting to the first secondary channel at a third junction located at a second distance, greater than the first distance, along the first secondary channel;
wherein at least one of the first and second tertiary channels bifurcates into first and second quaternary channels at a fourth junction, the microfluidic device further comprising a flow divider for dividing fluid flow between the first and second quaternary channels, wherein at least one tertiary channel includes a curved portion that extends along a length of the at least one tertiary channel, the curved portion directing flow away from at least one secondary channel and having a radius of curvature that is not less than its hydraulic diameter.
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Abstract
An compact hydraulic manifold for transporting shear sensitive fluids is provided. A channel network can include a trunk and branch architecture coupled to a bifurcation architecture. Features such as tapered channel walls, curvatures and angles of channels, and zones of low fluid pressure can be used to reduce the size while maintaining wall shear rates within a narrow range. A hydraulic manifold can be coupled to a series of microfluidic layers to construct a compact microfluidic device.
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13 Claims
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1. A microfluidic device comprising:
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a first network of channels having a plurality of First Channels, each First Channel having a height in the range of about 50 microns to about 500 microns; a second network of channels having at least one Second Channel complementary to one or more of the First Channels; a filtration membrane separating one or more of the First Channels from the at least one Second Channel; wherein the plurality of First Channels further comprises; an input channel forming a primary channel, a plurality of secondary channels, and an outlet channel, wherein the primary channel bifurcates into first and second secondary channels at a first junction; a first tertiary channel connecting to the first secondary channel at a second junction located at a first distance along the first secondary channel; and a second tertiary channel connecting to the first secondary channel at a third junction located at a second distance, greater than the first distance, along the first secondary channel; wherein at least one of the first and second tertiary channels bifurcates into first and second quaternary channels at a fourth junction, the microfluidic device further comprising a flow divider for dividing fluid flow between the first and second quaternary channels, wherein at least one tertiary channel includes a curved portion that extends along a length of the at least one tertiary channel, the curved portion directing flow away from at least one secondary channel and having a radius of curvature that is not less than its hydraulic diameter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification