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Fluid circuit components based upon passive fluid dynamics

  • US 6,601,613 B2
  • Filed: 09/27/2001
  • Issued: 08/05/2003
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/13/1998
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A non-wetted fluid circuit useful for consolidating or mixing fluids, said fluid circuit comprising a first microchannel and a second microchannel joining at an intersection to form a common downstream microchannel, wherein said first microchannel comprises a passive stopping means immediately upstream from said intersection;

  • wherein said passive stopping means creates resistance to an advancing first fluid to temporarily block the flow of said first fluid in said first microchannel prior to wetting of the downstream side of said passive stopping means, and permits flow of said first fluid through said passive stopping means upon wetting of the downstream side of said passive stopping means by a second fluid entering said intersection from said second microchannel, wherein said passive stopping means comprises a local modification to the dimensions or surface properties of said first microchannel selected from the group consisting of a hydrophobic patch, a surface tension patch, a hydrophobic short channel narrowing, a hydrophilic short channel narrowing, and a hydrophilic channel widening, and wherein said passive stopping means is sufficient to at least temporarily block the flow of fluid in said first microchannel.

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