THREE-DIMENSIONAL MICROFLUIDIC MICRO-DROPLET ARRAYS FOR ELECTRONIC INTEGRATED CIRCUIT AND COMPONENT COOLING, ENERGY-HARVESTING, CHEMICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL MICROREACTORS, MINIATURE BIOREACTORS, AND OTHER APPLICATIONS

• US 20130213812A1
• Filed: 02/19/2013
• Published: 08/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NRI R&D Patent Licensing, LLC (Advanced Touchscreen and Gesture Technologies, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Lester F. Ludwig
• Inventors: LUDWIG, Lester F.
• Granted Patent: US 9,441,308 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 204/601
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/025 Align devices or objects to ensure defined positions relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0874 Three dimensional network
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1822 using Peltier elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1827 using resistive heater
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/185 using a liquid as fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1883 using thermal insulation
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1894 Cooling means; Cryo cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0427 Electrowetting
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50273 characterised by the means or forces applied to move the fluids micropumps F04B19/006, of the membrane type F04B43/043
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502784 specially adapted for droplet or plug flow, e.g. digital microfluidics automatic analysis using a stream of discrete samples in a tube system G01N35/08
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502792 for moving individual droplets on a plate, e.g. by locally altering surface tension
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 7/525 with physical movement of samples between temperature zones
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/00 Heat-exchange apparatus with the intermediate heat-transfer medium in closed tubes passing into or through the conduit walls ; Heat-exchange apparatus employing intermediate heat-transfer medium or bodies F28D17/00, F28D19/00, F28D20/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2250/08 Fluid driving means, e.g. pumps, fans
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2260/02 having microchannels
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/44773 Multi-stage electrophoresis, e.g. two-dimensional electrophoresis
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/44791 Microapparatus sample containers with integrated microfluidic structures B01L3/5027
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/38 Cooling arrangements using the Peltier effect
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/473 by flowing liquids H01L23/4332, H01L23/4338 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 : Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00

Abstract

A microfluidic transport system for transporting microdroplets in three spatial dimensions. In an example arrangement, a first planar arrangement for transporting microdroplets in two spatial dimensions responsive to electric fields created by electrical operation of electrodes is fluidically connected by one or more conduits to other planar arrangement for transporting microdroplets in two spatial dimensions responsive to electric fields created by electrical operation of electrodes. Microdroplets can be transported through the one or more conduits so as to be moved among the first and second planar arrangements.

The system can be used for heat transfer, fluidic transfer, and other uses, and can be implemented within a printed circuit board, integrated circuit housing, or using materials such as metal, glass, polymer, plastic, layered materials, fibrous materials, etc. Example applications include integrated circuit cooling, energy harvesting, microfluidic systems, chemical reactors, biochemical reactors, chemical analysis arrangements, biochemical analysis arrangements, and other apparatus.

Claims

1. A microfluidic transport system for transporting microdroplets of fluidic material in three spatial dimensions, the system comprising:

a first planar arrangement for transporting microdroplets of fluidic material in two spatial dimensions, the first planar arrangement comprising a first array of electrodes, the first array of electrodes configured for controlled transport of microdroplets responsive to electric fields created by electrical operation of at least some of the electrodes within the first array of electrodes;

a second planar arrangement for transporting microdroplets of fluidic material in two spatial dimensions, the second planar arrangement comprising a second array of electrodes, the second array of electrodes configured for controlled transport of microdroplets responsive to electric fields created by electrical operation of at least some of the electrodes within the second array of electrodes, and

a first conduit situated between the first planar arrangement and second planar arrangement, the first conduit connecting the first planar arrangement and second planar arrangement and arranged to permit at least one microdroplet of fluidic material to move between the first planar arrangement and second planar arrangement;

wherein the system is arranged so that a microdropet of fluidic material is transported by the first planar arrangement, then moved through the first conduit, and then transported by the second planar arrangement, wherein said transport is responsive to electric fields created by at least electrical operation of at least some of the electrodes within the first array of electrodes and second array of electrodes.

2. The microfluidic transport system of claim 1, wherein the first conduit further comprises at least one conduit electrode.

3. The microfluidic transport system of claim 2, wherein the microdroplet moves between the first planar arrangement and second planar arrangement responsive in at least part to electrical operation of the conduit electrode.

4. The microfluidic transport system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second conduit situated between the first planar arrangement and second planar arrangement, the second conduit connecting the first planar arrangement and second planar arrangement and arranged to permit at least one microdroplet of fluidic material to move between the first planar arrangement and second planar arrangement;

wherein the system is arranged so that a microdropet of fluidic material is transported by the second planar arrangement, then moved through the second conduit, and then transported by the first planar arrangement.

5. The microfluidic transport system of claim 4, wherein the second conduit further comprises at least one conduit electrode.

6. The microfluidic transport system of claim 1, further comprising:

at least a third planar arrangement for transporting microdroplets of fluidic material in two spatial dimensions, the third planar arrangement comprising a third array of electrodes, the third array of electrodes configured for controlled transport of microdroplets responsive to electric fields created by electrical operation of at least some of the electrodes within the third array of electrodes, and

at least one conduit situated between the first planar arrangement and third planar arrangement, the at least one conduit connecting the first planar arrangement and third planar arrangement and arranged to permit at least one microdroplet of fluidic material to move between the first planar arrangement and third planar arrangement;

wherein the system is arranged so that a microdropet of fluidic material is transported by the first planar arrangement, then moved through the at least one conduit, and then transported by the third planar arrangement, and

wherein said transport is responsive to electric fields created by at least electrical operation of at least some of the electrodes within the first array of electrodes and third array of electrodes.

7. The microfluidic transport system of claim 6, wherein the at least one conduit is an extension of the first conduit.

8. The microfluidic transport system of claim 1, wherein the microdroplet comprises a thermofluid.

9. The microfluidic transport system of claim 1, wherein the resulting system provides a heat transfer function by using the microdroplet to carry heat.

10. The microfluidic transport system of claim 1, wherein the first planar arrangement further comprises an interface to a thermoelectric material.

11. The microfluidic transport system of claim 1, wherein the second planar arrangement further comprises an interface to a thermoelectric material.

12. The microfluidic transport system of claim 1, wherein the first planar arrangement further comprises an interface to a sensor.

13. The microfluidic transport system of claim 1, wherein the second planar arrangement further comprises an interface to a sensor.

14. The microfluidic transport system of claim 1, wherein the resulting system provides fluidic transport in a chemical reaction system.

15. The microfluidic transport system of claim 1, wherein the resulting system provides fluidic transport in a chemical analysis system.

16. The microfluidic transport system of claim 1, wherein the resulting system provides fluidic transport in a biochemical reaction system.

17. The microfluidic transport system of claim 1, wherein the resulting system provides fluidic transport in a biochemical analysis system.

18. The microfluidic transport system of claim 1, wherein the first planar arrangement further comprises an interface to a membrane.

19. The microfluidic transport system of claim 1, wherein the second planar arrangement further comprises an interface to a membrane.

20. The microfluidic transport system of claim 1, wherein the first planar arrangement further comprises an interface to a reaction chamber.

21. The microfluidic transport system of claim 1, wherein the second planar arrangement further comprises an interface to a reaction chamber.