Jet vortex mixer

• US 20010048900A1
• Filed: 05/23/2001
• Published: 12/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: PerkinElmer Health Sciences, Inc. (Revvity, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: PerkinElmer Health Sciences, Inc. (Revvity, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bardell, Ronald L., Klein, Gerald L.
• Application Number:
  US09/864,046
• Publication Number:
  US 20010048900A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/100
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 11/00 Solvent extraction
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2025/913 Vortex flow, i.e. flow spiraling in a tangential direction and moving in an axial direction
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2025/9171 Parallel flow, i.e. every point of the flow moves in parallel layers where intermixing can occur by diffusion or which do not intermix; Focusing, i.e. compressing parallel layers without intermixing them
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/10 Mixing by creating a vortex flow, e.g. by tangential introduction of flow components
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/3011 using a sheathing stream of a fluid surrounding a central stream of a different fluid, e.g. for reducing the cross-section of the central stream or to produce droplets from the central stream
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/3039 with mixing achieved by diffusion between layers
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/834 Mixing in several steps, e.g. successive steps B01F33/81, B01F33/82 and B01F33/85 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/81 Forming mixtures with changing ratios or gradients
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 13/02 for receptacle or instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0621 Control of the sequence of chambers filled or emptied
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0636 Focussing flows, e.g. to laminate flows
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0694 Creating chemical gradients in a fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0809 rectangular shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0867 Multiple inlets and one sample wells, e.g. mixing, dilution
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/087 Multiple sequential chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0874 Three dimensional network
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0887 Laminated structure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/123 Flexible; Elastomeric
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0406 capillary forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0481 squeezing of channels or chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0638 : membrane valves, flap valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0655 : pinch valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0688 : surface tension valves, capillary stop, capillary break
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5027 : by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip B01L3/5023 takes precedence; micromixers B01F33/30; microreactors for synthesis B01J19/0093; microcapillary devices in general B81B1/00
• 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: B01L 3/502738 : characterised by integrated valves microvalves F16K99/0001
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502776 : specially adapted for focusing or laminating flows
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/565 : Seals in general F16L
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 7/52 : with provision for submitting samples to a predetermined sequence of different temperatures, e.g. for treating nucleic acid samples amplification or hybridisation processes per se C12Q1/68; controlling sequential reactions for synthesis B01J19/0046
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 7/525 : with physical movement of samples between temperature zones
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/527 : for microfluidic devices, e.g. used for lab-on-a-chip
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0001 : Microvalves microdevices B81B1/00; manufacture or treatment of devices or systems in or on a substrate B81C1/00; microfluidic structures B01L3/5027; micropumps F04B19/006
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0017 : Capillary or surface tension valves, e.g. using electro-wetting or electro-capillarity effects
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0028 : Valves having multiple inlets or outlets
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0057 : the fluid being the circulating fluid itself, e.g. check valves
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00158 : Elements containing microarrays, i.e. "biochip"
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00247 : Microvalves
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00514 : Stationary mixing elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1097 : characterised by the valves valves in general F16K
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2076 : Utilizing diverse fluids

Abstract

A device for mixing separate distinct fluids within a microfluidic device to form a substantially homogeneous flow stream. The device is generally circular-shaped and contains no moving parts, and is capable of mixing both serial and laminar flow streams.

Claims

1. A microfluidic device for mixing discrete fluids, comprising:

at least one fluid port;

a mixing chamber coupled to said first fluid port;

a first discrete fluid introduced into one of said fluid ports;

and a second discrete fluid introduced into one of said ports;

whereby said mixing chamber is shaped to create a vortex when said first and second fluids enter said chamber such that said first and second fluids are mixed into an essentially homogeneous mixture.

2. The device of

claim 1

, wherein said first and second fluids enter said mixing change in side-by-side relationship in a single stream.

3. The device of

claim 1

, wherein said first and second fluids enter said mixing device seriatim.

4. The device of

claim 1

, further comprising an exit port, coupled to said mixing chamber, for removing said homogeneous mixture from said chamber.

5. The device of

claim 1

, wherein the shape of said mixing chamber comprises a mathematically smooth perimeter.

6. The device of

claim 1

, wherein the shape of said mixing chamber is selected from the following:

triangular, square, pentagonal, and hexagonal.

7. The device of

claim 4

, further comprising pump means coupled to one of said ports, capable of transferring fluids into and out of said mixing chamber.

8. The device of

claim 1

, wherein said first and second fluids have a Reynolds number between 1 and 2000.

9. A microfluidic device for mixing discrete fluids, comprising:

a first fluid port for introduction of a first discrete fluid;

a second fluid port for introduction of a second discrete fluid;

and a mixing chamber coupled between said first and second ports,

whereby said mixing chamber is so shaped as to create a vortex when said first and second fluids are introduced into said mixing chamber such that said first and second fluids are mixed into an essentially homogeneous mixture.

10. The device of

claim 9

, further comprising a third fluid port coupled to said mixing chamber for removing the essentially homogeneous mixture from said chamber.

11. The device of

claim 9

, wherein use of said ports includes pump means coupled to said mixing chamber for transferring fluids into and out of said mixing chamber to further enhance mixing.

12. The device of

claim 9

, wherein said first fluid port and said second fluid port are located in the same plane.

13. The device of

claim 9

, wherein said first fluid port and said second fluid port are located in different planes.

14. The device of

claim 12

, wherein said third fluid port is oriented in a plane perpendicular to said first and second ports.

15. The device of

claim 10

, further comprising a second mixing chamber, coupled to said third fluid port and so shaped to create a vortex when fluids are introduced, to further enhance the mixing of said first and second fluids.

16. The device of

claim 9

, wherein said first and second fluids each have a Reynolds number between 1 and 2000.

17. A microfluidic device for mixing discrete fluids, comprising:

a first fluid port for introduction of a first discrete fluid;

a second fluid port for introduction of a second discrete fluid;

and a mixing chamber coupled between said first and second ports,

whereby said mixing chamber is so shaped as to cause turbulence within said chamber when said first and second fluids are introduced such that said first and second fluids are mixed into an essentially homogeneous mixture.