MAGNETIC CONNECTORS FOR MICROFLUIDIC APPLICATIONS
First Claim
1. A magnetic connector assembly for microfluidic devices comprising:
- a first magnetic connector comprising a first side surface and a second side surface;
an orifice extending from said first side surface to said second side surface of said first magnetic connector;
a microfluidic chip comprising a first side surface and a second side surface;
an orifice in said first side surface of said microfluidic chip;
a microchannel in said microfluidic chip in flow communication with said orifice in said first side surface of said first magnetic connector;
a second magnetic connector configured to magnetically engage said first magnetic connector with microfluidic chip disposed therebetween;
one of said first magnetic connector and said second magnetic connector comprises at least one of a permanent magnet and an electromagnet and the other of said first magnetic connector and said second magnetic connector comprises at least one of a ferromagnetic material, a permanent magnet, and an electromagnet;
a seal configured and disposed to seal said first side surface of said first magnetic connector to said first side surface of said microfluidic chip upon said first magnetic connector being placed on said first side surface of said microfluidic chip and said second magnetic connector being placed on said second side surface of said microfluidic chip and disposed to magnetically engage said first magnetic connector;
said orifice extending from said first side surface to said second side surface of said first magnetic connector being configured to sealingly cooperate with a fluid transport device at its opening in said second side surface, said fluid transport device being configured to provide fluid flow into or out of said orifice and said micro-channel, in said microfluidic chip, through said orifice in said first magnetic connector;
said first magnetic connector and said second magnetic connector being axially polarized and configured to provide an attracting force therebetween throughout a full 360°
rotation of said first magnetic connector with respect to said second magnetic connector;
said first and said second magnetic connectors being configured to provide a magnetic force therebetween sufficient for sealing said first side surface of said first magnetic connector with said first side surface of said microfluidic chip, with said seal therebetween;
said first and said second magnetic connectors being configured to provide a magnetic force therebetween wherein said first magnetic connector is releasable from said first side surface of said microfluidic chip upon a force being applied by hand to said first or said second magnetic connector.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A magnetic connector assembly for microfluidic devices comprises a first magnetic connector with at least one orifice extending therethrough and a second magnetic connector. The first and second connectors are configured to magnetically attract each other. In one aspect, the first magnetic connector is configured to sealingly engage a surface of a microfluidic chip with the second magnetic connector disposed on an opposite side of the microfluidic chip. The first magnetic connector is configured to seal with the microfluidic chip about a channel opening in the microfluidic chip and provide flow communication between the channel opening and the orifice in the first magnetic connector. In at least one other aspect, the first magnetic connector and second magnetic connector each have at least one orifice and are configured to change a flow communication therebetween upon a rotation of the first or second magnetic connector with respect to the other magnetic connector.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A magnetic connector assembly for microfluidic devices comprising:
-
a first magnetic connector comprising a first side surface and a second side surface; an orifice extending from said first side surface to said second side surface of said first magnetic connector; a microfluidic chip comprising a first side surface and a second side surface; an orifice in said first side surface of said microfluidic chip; a microchannel in said microfluidic chip in flow communication with said orifice in said first side surface of said first magnetic connector; a second magnetic connector configured to magnetically engage said first magnetic connector with microfluidic chip disposed therebetween; one of said first magnetic connector and said second magnetic connector comprises at least one of a permanent magnet and an electromagnet and the other of said first magnetic connector and said second magnetic connector comprises at least one of a ferromagnetic material, a permanent magnet, and an electromagnet; a seal configured and disposed to seal said first side surface of said first magnetic connector to said first side surface of said microfluidic chip upon said first magnetic connector being placed on said first side surface of said microfluidic chip and said second magnetic connector being placed on said second side surface of said microfluidic chip and disposed to magnetically engage said first magnetic connector; said orifice extending from said first side surface to said second side surface of said first magnetic connector being configured to sealingly cooperate with a fluid transport device at its opening in said second side surface, said fluid transport device being configured to provide fluid flow into or out of said orifice and said micro-channel, in said microfluidic chip, through said orifice in said first magnetic connector; said first magnetic connector and said second magnetic connector being axially polarized and configured to provide an attracting force therebetween throughout a full 360°
rotation of said first magnetic connector with respect to said second magnetic connector;said first and said second magnetic connectors being configured to provide a magnetic force therebetween sufficient for sealing said first side surface of said first magnetic connector with said first side surface of said microfluidic chip, with said seal therebetween; said first and said second magnetic connectors being configured to provide a magnetic force therebetween wherein said first magnetic connector is releasable from said first side surface of said microfluidic chip upon a force being applied by hand to said first or said second magnetic connector. - View Dependent Claims (2)
-
-
3. A connector assembly for microfluidic devices comprising:
-
a first connector comprising a first side surface and a second side surface; a second connector configured to magnetically engage said first connector with a microfluidic chip therebetween; said first side surface of said first connector being configured to sealingly engage a first side surface of said microfluidic chip upon said first and second connectors being placed on opposing side surfaces of said microfluidic chip and disposed to magnetically engage each other; at least one orifice extending from said first side surface to said second side surface of said first connector configured to be disposed in flow communication with at least one orifice in said first side surface of said microfluidic chip; and said first and said second connectors being configured to provide an attracting magnetic force therebetween greater than a separating force between said first side surface of said microfluidic chip and said first side surface of said first connector caused by a fluid pressure in said at least one orifice in said first connector or in the at least one orifice in said microfluidic chip. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A valve assembly for microfluidic devices comprising:
-
a first connector comprising a first side surface and a second side surface; said first connector comprising a first orifice extending from an off center portion of said first side surface to said second side surface of said first connector; said first orifice of said first connector being configured to sealingly cooperate with a fluid transport device at its opening in said second side surface; a second connector comprising a first side surface and a second side surface; said second connector comprising a first orifice extending from an off center portion of said first side surface to said second side surface of said second connector; said first orifice of said second connector being configured to sealingly cooperate with a fluid transport device at its opening in said second side surface; said first connector being configured to magnetically engage said second connector and to rotatingly seal said first side surface of said first connector to said first side surface of said second connector upon magnetic engagement of said first connector with said second connector; said first orifice of said first connector being disposed to be in flow communication with said first orifice of said second connector upon said first connector being in a first rotational position with respect to said second connector; said first orifice of said first connector being disposed to not be in flow communication with said first orifice of said second connector upon said first connector being in a second rotational position with respect to said second connector; said first and said second connectors being configured to provide a magnetic force therebetween sufficient to form a seal between said first side surface of said first connector and said first side surface of said second connector; and said first and said second connectors being configured to provide a magnetic force therebetween wherein said first connector is releasable from said second connector upon an axial or rotational force being applied by hand to said first or said second connector. - View Dependent Claims (20)
-
Specification