Multi-stream microfluidic aperture mixers
First Claim
1. A microfluidic device for mixing a plurality of fluid streams, the mixing device comprising:
- a plurality of microfluidic inlet channels that merge into a microfluidic junction channel, the junction channel being defined in a first device layer and having a characteristic cross-sectional area; and
a plurality of contraction/expansion regions in fluid communication with the junction channel and arranged in series, each contraction/expansion region including;
an aperture defined in a second device layer, the aperture having a characteristic cross-sectional area that is substantially smaller than the area of the junction channel; and
a microfluidic expansion channel defined in either the first device layer or a third device layer, the expansion channel having a characteristic cross-sectional area that is substantially larger than the area of the aperture.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Robust microfluidic mixing devices mix multiple fluid streams passively, without the use of moving parts. In one embodiment, these devices contain microfluidic channels that are formed in various layers of a three-dimensional structure. Mixing may be accomplished with various manipulations of fluid flow paths and/or contacts between fluid streams. In various embodiments, structures such as channel overlaps, slits, converging/diverging regions, turns, and/or apertures may be designed into a mixing device. Mixing devices may be rapidly constructed and prototyped using a stencil construction method in which channels are cut through the entire thickness of a material layer, although other construction methods including surface micromachining techniques may be used.
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Citations
43 Claims
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1. A microfluidic device for mixing a plurality of fluid streams, the mixing device comprising:
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a plurality of microfluidic inlet channels that merge into a microfluidic junction channel, the junction channel being defined in a first device layer and having a characteristic cross-sectional area; and
a plurality of contraction/expansion regions in fluid communication with the junction channel and arranged in series, each contraction/expansion region including;
an aperture defined in a second device layer, the aperture having a characteristic cross-sectional area that is substantially smaller than the area of the junction channel; and
a microfluidic expansion channel defined in either the first device layer or a third device layer, the expansion channel having a characteristic cross-sectional area that is substantially larger than the area of the aperture. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A microfluidic mixing device comprising:
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a first device layer defining two fluid input channels and a junction, the fluid channels each having a characteristic width and converging at the junction;
a second device layer defining a first fluid output channel, the first fluid output channel having a characteristic width, with a portion of the first fluid output channel overlapping the junction at a first channel overlap region; and
a spacer layer disposed between the first device layer and the second device layer, the spacer layer defining a first aperture positioned at the first channel overlap region;
wherein the first aperture has a major dimension that is substantially smaller than the width of each of the fluid input channels and the first fluid output channel. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A microfluidic mixing device comprising:
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a first device layer defining a first channel having an outlet, the first channel having a height dimension and a width dimension;
a mixing layer defining a contraction/expansion region in fluid communication with the outlet;
a second device layer defining a second channel having an inlet in fluid communication with the contraction/expansion region, the second channel having a height dimension and a width dimension;
wherein the contraction/expansion region includes at least one aperture having a major dimension, the aperture being substantially smaller in major dimension than at least one dimension of the first channel and substantially smaller than at least one dimension of the second channel. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A microfluidic mixing device comprising:
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a first stencil layer defining a first channel having an outlet;
a means for mixing fluids in fluid communication with the outlet;
a second stencil layer defining a second channel having an inlet in fluid communication with the mixing means;
wherein the mixing means includes at least one aperture having a major dimension, the aperture being substantially smaller in major dimension than a major dimension of the first channel and substantially smaller in major dimension than a major dimension of the second channel. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification