MICROFLUIDIC CHANNEL FOR REMOVING BUBBLES IN FLUID

• US 20130004385A1
• Filed: 11/23/2011
• Published: 01/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: LEE, Woochang, CHOI, Youn Suk, KIM, Sang Kyu, LEE, Soo Suk, JUNG, JaeYeon, HAHN, Young Ki
• Granted Patent: US 8,889,085 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/502
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0647 Handling flowable solids, e.g. microscopic beads, cells, particles
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0684 Venting, avoiding backpressure, avoid gas bubbles
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0867 Multiple inlets and one sample wells, e.g. mixing, dilution
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0409 centrifugal forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/043 magnetic forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0677 phase change valves; Meltable, freezing, dissolvable plugs; Destructible barriers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502723 characterised by venting arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

A microfluidic channel for effectively removing a gas from a fluid, and microfluidic apparatus including the same are provided. The microfluidic channel includes a first channel having a uniform cross-sectional area, and a second channel connected to the first channel and having a gradually expanded cross-sectional area.

Claims

1. A microfluidic channel for removing bubbles in a fluid, comprising:

a first channel having a uniform cross-sectional area; and

a second channel which is in fluid connection with the first channel and has a cross-sectional area which increases in a flow direction of the fluid.

2. The microfluidic channel of claim 1, wherein when the microfluidic channel is rotated about a rotation axis, the fluid flows in the flow direction by centrifugal force.

3. The microfluidic channel of claim 1, wherein the first channel rotates about a rotation axis, and forms an angle of less than 90°

with respect to the rotation axis.

4. The microfluidic channel of claim 1, wherein the second channel forms an angle of less than 90°

with respect to a lengthwise direction of the first channel.

5. The microfluidic channel of claim 1, wherein the first and second channels each include glass, silicon, silicon rubber, isobonyl acrylate, polyethylene terephthalate, polydimethylsiloxane, poly methyl methacrylate, polycarbonate, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, polysiloxane, polyimide and polyurethane, or any combination thereof.

6. The microfluidic channel of claim 1, wherein the second channel is in fluid connection with the first channel by a lamination process, a bonding process using an adhesive and surface reformation, or an ultrasonic fusion process.

7. The microfluidic channel of claim 1, further comprising a barrier at a terminal end of the first channel or within the second channel.

8. The microfluidic channel of claim 7, wherein the barrier includes polycaprolactone, polystyrene, propylene carbonate, ethylene carbonate, dimethylcarbonate, diethylcarbonate, dibutyl phthalate, dioctyl phthalate, diisooctyl phthalate, diheptylnonyl phthalate, tritolylphospate and dioctyl adipate, or any combination thereof.

9. The microfluidic channel of claim 1, further comprising a ventilation unit which is in fluid connection with a top portion of a terminal end of the microfluidic channel and extended to outside the microfluidic channel.

10. The microfluidic channel of claim 1, wherein the microfluidic channel rotates about a rotation axis, and further comprises a ventilation unit which has a curved shape extended fromt a terminal end of the microfluidic channel at a right angle to the rotation axis, the ventilation unit having a curved upper portion in fluid connection to outside the microfluidic channel.

11. The microfluidic channel of claim 1, wherein the fluid includes protein, deoxyribonucleic acid, ribonucleic acid, peptides, carbohydrates, bacteria, plants, mold, and animal cells, or any combination thereof.

12. A microfluidic apparatus comprising:

a substrate which rotates about a rotation axis and is driven by centrifugal force;

a fluid injector;

a fluid container which is in fluid connection with the fluid injector;

a first channel having a uniform cross-sectional area and in fluid connection with the fluid container;

a second channel having a cross-sectional area which gradually increases and is in fluid connection to the first channel; and

a valve which controls flow of a fluid.

13. The microfluidic apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first channel forms an angle of less than 90°

with respect to the rotation axis.

14. The microfluidic apparatus of claim 12, wherein the second channel forms an angle of less than 90°

with respect to a lengthwise direction of the first channel.

15. The microfluidic apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a barrier at a terminal end of the first channel or within the second channel.

16. The microfluidic apparatus of claim 15, wherein the barrier includes polycaprolactone, polystyrene, propylene carbonate, ethylene carbonate, dimethylcarbonate, diethylcarbonate, dibutyl phthalate, dioctyl phthalate, diisooctyl phthalate, diheptylnonyl phthalate, tritolylphospate and dioctyl adipate, or any combination thereof.

17. The microfluidic apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a ventilation unit which is in fluid connection with a top portion of a terminal end of the second channel and extended to outside the second channel.

18. The microfluidic apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a ventilation unit which has a curved shape which extends from a terminal end of the second channel at a right angle to the rotation axis, the ventilation unit having a curved upper portion in fluid connection to outside the second channel.

19. The microfluidic apparatus of claim 12, wherein the fluid includes protein, deoxyribonucleic acid, ribonucleic acid, peptides, carbohydrates, bacteria, plants, mold, animal cells or any combination thereof.

20. The microfluidic apparatus of claim 12, wherein

the fluid includes a gas, and

the flow of the fluid through the first channel toward the second channel removes the gas in the fluid.