Low-Dead Volume Microfluidic Component and Method
First Claim
1. A method for reducing a dead volume of a microfluidic circuit comprising a reservoir, an outlet, and a microfluidic flowpath fluidly connecting the reservoir and the outlet, the method comprising:
- providing a variable-volume fluid chamber located between the reservoir and the outlet for performing a function and in fluidic communication with the microfluidic flowpath,wherein the variable-volume fluid chamber comprises a total volume comprising a working volume and a dead volume, wherein the working volume comprises a volume necessary for the variable-volume fluid chamber to perform the function and the dead volume comprises a volume unnecessary for the variable-volume fluid chamber to perform the function; and
configuring the variable-volume fluid chamber to reduce the dead volume, such that the working volume is substantially the same as the total volume.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method is described for reducing a dead volume of a microfluidic circuit that includes, in one embodiment, a reservoir, an outlet, and a microfluidic flowpath fluidly connecting the reservoir and the outlet. The method includes providing a variable-volume fluid chamber between the reservoir and the outlet for performing a function and in fluidic communication with the microfluidic flowpath, wherein the variable-volume fluid chamber includes a total volume including a working volume and a dead volume. The working volume is a volume necessary for the variable-volume fluid chamber to perform the function and the dead volume is a volume unnecessary for the variable-volume fluid chamber to perform the function. The method includes configuring the variable-volume fluid chamber to reduce the dead volume, such that the working volume of the component is substantially the same as the total volume.
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Citations
5 Claims
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1. A method for reducing a dead volume of a microfluidic circuit comprising a reservoir, an outlet, and a microfluidic flowpath fluidly connecting the reservoir and the outlet, the method comprising:
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providing a variable-volume fluid chamber located between the reservoir and the outlet for performing a function and in fluidic communication with the microfluidic flowpath, wherein the variable-volume fluid chamber comprises a total volume comprising a working volume and a dead volume, wherein the working volume comprises a volume necessary for the variable-volume fluid chamber to perform the function and the dead volume comprises a volume unnecessary for the variable-volume fluid chamber to perform the function; and configuring the variable-volume fluid chamber to reduce the dead volume, such that the working volume is substantially the same as the total volume. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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Specification