Manipulation of Microfluidic Droplets
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A feedback control system for microfluidic droplet manipulation comprising:
- providing a microfluidic system comprising at least one microfluidic channel containing at least one fluidic droplet;
detecting at least one predetermined characteristics of said fluidic droplet at one or more positions within said microfluidic channel;
assessing said predetermined characteristic using an image sensor; and
transmitting said assessment from said image sensor to a feedback controller, wherein said feedback controller adjusts a flow rate of one or more fluids, thereby manipulating said fluidic droplet within said microfluidic channel.
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Abstract
The invention provides methods for assessing one or more predetermined characteristics or properties of a microfluidic droplet within a microfluidic channel, and regulating one or more fluid flow rates within that channel to selectively alter the predetermined microdroplet characteristic or property using a feedback control.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A feedback control system for microfluidic droplet manipulation comprising:
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providing a microfluidic system comprising at least one microfluidic channel containing at least one fluidic droplet; detecting at least one predetermined characteristics of said fluidic droplet at one or more positions within said microfluidic channel; assessing said predetermined characteristic using an image sensor; and transmitting said assessment from said image sensor to a feedback controller, wherein said feedback controller adjusts a flow rate of one or more fluids, thereby manipulating said fluidic droplet within said microfluidic channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A feedback control system for manipulating microfluidic droplet pairing ratios comprising:
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providing a microfluidic system comprising at least one microfluidic channel; producing a first plurality of fluidic droplets within said microfluidic channel at a first frequency; producing a second plurality of fluidic droplets within said microfluidic channel at a second frequency, wherein at least one fluidic droplet from said first plurality and at least one fluidic droplet from said second plurality are paired; assessing said first frequency and said second frequency using an image sensor; and transmitting said assessment of said first and said second frequency from the image sensor to a feedback controller;
wherein said feedback controller adjusts a flow rate of one or more fluids to provide a desired frequency ratio of said first to said second plurality of droplets, thereby manipulating the pairing ratios of said first and second pluralities of fluidic droplets within said microfluidic channel. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A feedback control system for controlling microfluidic droplet count comprising:
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providing a microfluidic system comprising at least one microfluidic channel; producing at least a first plurality of fluidic droplets within said microfluidic channel at a first frequency; assessing said first frequency using an image sensor; determining the time required to produce a predetermined amount of fluidic droplets based upon said frequency assessment; and transmitting said assessment to a feedback controller, wherein said feedback controller stops said introduction of said droplets after said determined time, thereby controlling the microfluidic droplet count.
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16. A feedback control system for independently controlling microfluidic droplet volume and frequency comprising:
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(a) providing a microfluidic system comprising at least one microfluidic channel; (b) producing a plurality of fluidic droplets within a carrier fluid within said microfluidic channel using a drive fluid; (b) assessing the frequency, volume, and flow rate of said plurality of droplets using an image sensor; (c) transmitting said assessed frequencies, volumes, and flow rates of the plurality of droplets from said image sensor to a feedback controller; (d) adjusting a flow rate of the carrier fluid using said feedback controller to attain a predetermined droplet frequency set point; and (e) adjusting a flow rate of the drive fluid using said feedback controller to attain a predetermined droplet volume set point;
wherein said feedback control system independently determines and controls microfluidic droplet frequency and volume. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification