Magnetohydrodynamic microfluidic systems including modified electrodes and methods of using the same

• US 10,641,732 B2
• Filed: 04/19/2018
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas (University of Arkansas System)
• Original Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas (University of Arkansas System)
• Inventors: Fritsch, Ingrid, Parette, David, Khan, Foysal Z.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phasge, Arun S
• Application Number:
  US15/957,832
• Publication Number:
  US 20180238830A1
• Time in Patent Office: 747 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0645 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0415 electrical forces, e.g. electrokinetic
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/043 magnetic forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502715 characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50273 characterised by the means or forces applied to move the fluids micropumps F04B19/006, of the membrane type F04B43/043
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/44786 of the magneto-electrophoresis type
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/44791 Microapparatus sample containers with integrated microfluidic structures B01L3/5027

Abstract

A magnetohydrodynamic microfluidic system and a method of pumping a fluid using a magnetohydrodynamic system are disclosed. The method includes applying at least one of an electric current and an electric voltage to a first modified electrode and a second electrode to generate an ionic current between the first modified electrode and the second electrode and to cause a current carrying species to move to or from the modified electrode, applying a magnetic field perpendicular to an ionic current vector, the magnetic field and the ionic current combining to induce flow of the fluid in a direction perpendicular to the magnetic field and the ionic current vector, and maintaining fluid flow by recharging the modified electrode.

Claims

1. A microfluidic system comprising:

a chip having a first and second electrode, said first electrode comprising at least one modified electrode including an immobilized electroactive chemical species;

at least one power source adapted to create an ionic current that passes between said electrodes;

at least one magnet adapted to create a magnetic field that is perpendicular to said ionic current;

said chip adapted to receive a fluid; and

said magnetic field and said ionic current combine to induce flow of the fluid in said chip.

2. The microfluidic system of claim 1 comprised of a plurality of permanent magnets, said magnets arranged to create alternating magnetic fields that are perpendicular to said ionic current.

3. The microfluidic system of claim 2 wherein said plurality of permanent magnets are arranged on a slide.

4. The microfluidic system of claim 2 wherein said plurality of permanent magnets are arranged on a round surface.

5. The microfluidic system of claim 2 wherein said plurality of permanent magnets are arranged on a cylinder.

6. The microfluidic system of claim 2 wherein said plurality of permanent magnets are arranged on a plurality of arms.

7. A microfluidic system comprising:

a plurality of chips having a first and second electrode, said first electrode comprising at least one modified electrode including an immobilized electroactive chemical species;

at least one power source adapted to create an ionic current that passes between said electrodes;

a plurality of magnets adapted to create a magnetic field that is perpendicular to said ionic current;

said chips adapted to receive a fluid; and

said magnetic field and said ionic current combine to induce flow of the fluid in said chips.

8. The microfluidic system of claim 7 wherein said plurality of permanent magnets are arranged to create alternating magnetic fields that are perpendicular to said ionic current.

9. The microfluidic system of claim 8 wherein said plurality of permanent magnets are arranged on a round surface.

10. The microfluidic system of claim 9 wherein said plurality of chips are arranged on a ring.

11. The microfluidic system of claim 8 wherein said plurality of permanent magnets are arranged on a cylinder.

12. The microfluidic system of claim 11 wherein said plurality of chips are arranged on a cylinder.

13. The microfluidic system of claim 12 wherein said cylinders are concentrically arranged.