Microfluidic multi-splitter

• US 6,845,787 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2003
• Issued: 01/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nanostream, Inc.
• Inventors: Hightower, Adrian, Karp, Christoph D.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAMBERS, A MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US10/371,812
• Publication Number:
  US 20030159742A1
• Time in Patent Office: 704 Days
• Field of Search: 137/833, 422/100, 422/101, 204/601
• US Class Current: 137/833
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/314 wherein additional components are introduced at the circumference of the conduit
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/30 Micromixers
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7182 with means for feeding the material with a fractal or tree-type distribution in a surface
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/025 Align devices or objects to ensure defined positions relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0864 comprising only one inlet and multiple receiving wells, e.g. for separation, splitting
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0887 Laminated structure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502707 characterised by the manufacture of the container or its components by shaping or joining plastic parts B29C59/00, B29C65/00; by laminating B32B37/00; manufacture of microstructural devices in general B81C
• 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 3/502738 characterised by integrated valves microvalves F16K99/0001
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502746 characterised by the means for controlling flow resistance, e.g. flow controllers, baffles B01L3/502738 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/10 using a splitter
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/6095 Micromachined or nanomachined, e.g. micro- or nanosize
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2224 Structure of body of device

Abstract

A splitter for multi-layer microfluidic devices is provided. The splitter includes multiple forked channels defined in two or more device layers. The forked channels communicate fluidically at overlap regions. The overlap regions, in combination with symmetrical channel geometries balance the fluidic impedance in the system and promote even splitting.

Claims

1. A microfluidic device comprising:

a plurality of device layers

wherein at least two of the device layers are stencil layers;

wherein the stencil layers define a first forked channel, a second forked channel, and a third forked channel;

wherein the second forked channel is in fluid communication with the first forked channel at a first overlap region;

wherein the third forked channel is in fluid communication with the first forked channel at a second overlap region.

2. The microfluidic device of claim 1 wherein the second forked channel and the third forked channel are defined in different stencil layers.

3. The microfluidic device of claim 1 wherein the first forked channel, second forked channel, and third forked channel define a plurality of fluid flow paths, each fluid flow path having substantially the same length.

4. The microfluidic device of claim 3 wherein portions of at least two of the fluid flow paths of the plurality of fluid flow paths are overlapping.

5. The microfluidic device of claim 1 wherein the first forked channel, second forked channel, and third forked channel define a plurality of fluid flow paths, each fluid flow path having substantially the same volume.

6. The microfluidic device of claim 5 wherein portions of at least two of the fluid flow paths of the plurality of fluid flow paths are overlapping.

7. The microfluidic device of claim 1 wherein any of the forked channels are straight.

8. The microfluidic device of claim 1 wherein any of the forked channels has more than two forks.

9. The microfluidic device of claim 1 wherein the stencil layers include a polymeric material.

10. The microfluidic device of claim 9 wherein the polymeric material is a polyolefin.

11. The microfluidic device of claim 10 wherein the polyolefin is polypropylene.

12. The microfluidic device of claim 1 wherein the device layers are adhesivelessly bonded.

13. A microfluidic splitting device comprising:

a first stencil layer defining a first forked channel; and

a second stencil layer defining a second forked channel and a third forked channel;

wherein the first forked channel is in fluid communication with the second forked channel at a first overlap region;

wherein the first forked channel is in fluid communication with the third forked channel at a second overlap region.

14. The microfluidic splitting device of claim 13 wherein the first stencil layer and the second stencil layer are adjacent.

15. The microfluidic splitting device of claim 13, further comprising a spacer layer disposed between the first stencil layer and the second stencil layer, the spacer layer defining a first aperture along the first overlap region and defining a second aperture along the second overlap region.

16. The microfluidic device of claim 13 wherein the first forked channel, second forked channel, and third forked channel define a plurality of fluid flow paths, each fluid flow path having substantially the same length.

17. The microfluidic device of claim 16 wherein portions of at least two of the fluid flow paths of the plurality of fluid flow paths are overlapping.

18. The microfluidic device of claim 13 wherein the first forked channel, second forked channel, and third forked channel define a plurality of fluid flow paths, each fluid flow path having substantially the same volume.

19. The microfluidic device of claim 18 wherein portions of at least two of the fluid flow paths of the plurality of fluid flow paths are overlapping.

20. The microfluidic device of claim 13 wherein any of the forked channels are straight.

21. The microfluidic device of claim 13 wherein any of the forked channels has more than two forks.

22. The microfluidic device of claim 13 wherein the stencil layers include a polymeric material.

23. The microfluidic device of claim 22 wherein the polymeric material is a polyolefin.

24. The microfluidic device of claim 23 wherein the polyolefin is polypropylene.