Hydrodynamic focusing devices
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A device comprising:
- a micro-fluidic inlet channel to convey a process flow;
a plurality of micro-fluidic focusing channels to each convey one of a plurality of focusing flows, wherein the plurality of focusing channels include a first channel on a first side of the inlet channel, a second channel on a second side of the inlet channel, a third upper channel over the inlet channel, and a fourth lower channel under the inlet channel, the first and second focusing channels being planar with the inlet channel and the third and fourth focusing channels being non-planar with the inlet channel;
a focusing manifold coupled with the inlet channel at an inlet port, coupled with the first channel at a first focusing channel port on a first side of the inlet channel, coupled with the second channel at a second focusing channel port on a second side of the inlet channel, coupled with the third channel at a third upper focusing channel port over the inlet channel on the first side of the inlet channel, and coupled with the fourth channel at a fourth lower focusing channel port under the inlet channel on the second side of the inlet channel, wherein the third upper focusing channel and the fourth lower focusing channel approach the focusing manifold from opposite sides thereof and are angled relative to the inlet channel with substantially equal angles, an additional upper focusing channel over the inlet channel on the second side of the inlet channel, and an additional lower focusing channel under the inlet channel on the first side of the inlet channel, wherein the additional upper focusing channel and the third upper focusing channel approach the focusing manifold from opposite sides thereof and are angled relative to the inlet channel with substantially equal angles and the additional lower focusing channel and the fourth lower focusing channel approach the focusing manifold from opposite sides thereof and are angled relative to the inlet, the focusing manifold to focus the process flow by contacting four sides of the process flow with the plurality of focusing flows; and
a micro-fluidic outlet channel coupled with the focusing manifold at an outlet channel port to convey the focused process flow and focusing flows from the focusing manifold.
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Abstract
A micro-fluidic device containing a micro-fluidic inlet channel to convey a process flow, a plurality of micro-fluidic focusing channels to each convey one of a plurality of focusing flows, a focusing manifold coupled with the inlet channel at an inlet port thereof and with the plurality of focusing channels at a plurality of focusing channel ports thereof to focus the process flow by contacting and hydrodynamically impacting at least three sides of the process flow with the focusing flows, and a micro-fluidic outlet channel coupled with the focusing manifold at an outlet channel port to convey the combined focused process flow and focusing flow from the focusing manifold.
111 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A device comprising:
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a micro-fluidic inlet channel to convey a process flow; a plurality of micro-fluidic focusing channels to each convey one of a plurality of focusing flows, wherein the plurality of focusing channels include a first channel on a first side of the inlet channel, a second channel on a second side of the inlet channel, a third upper channel over the inlet channel, and a fourth lower channel under the inlet channel, the first and second focusing channels being planar with the inlet channel and the third and fourth focusing channels being non-planar with the inlet channel; a focusing manifold coupled with the inlet channel at an inlet port, coupled with the first channel at a first focusing channel port on a first side of the inlet channel, coupled with the second channel at a second focusing channel port on a second side of the inlet channel, coupled with the third channel at a third upper focusing channel port over the inlet channel on the first side of the inlet channel, and coupled with the fourth channel at a fourth lower focusing channel port under the inlet channel on the second side of the inlet channel, wherein the third upper focusing channel and the fourth lower focusing channel approach the focusing manifold from opposite sides thereof and are angled relative to the inlet channel with substantially equal angles, an additional upper focusing channel over the inlet channel on the second side of the inlet channel, and an additional lower focusing channel under the inlet channel on the first side of the inlet channel, wherein the additional upper focusing channel and the third upper focusing channel approach the focusing manifold from opposite sides thereof and are angled relative to the inlet channel with substantially equal angles and the additional lower focusing channel and the fourth lower focusing channel approach the focusing manifold from opposite sides thereof and are angled relative to the inlet, the focusing manifold to focus the process flow by contacting four sides of the process flow with the plurality of focusing flows; and a micro-fluidic outlet channel coupled with the focusing manifold at an outlet channel port to convey the focused process flow and focusing flows from the focusing manifold. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A device comprising:
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a micro-fluidic inlet channel to convey a process flow; four micro-fluidic focusing channels to each convey one of a plurality of focusing flows, wherein the four micro-fluidic focusing channels comprise a first micro-fluidic focusing channel on a first side of the inlet channel, a second micro-fluidic focusing channel on a second side of the inlet channel, a third upper micro-fluidic focusing channel over the inlet channel, and a fourth lower micro-fluidic focusing channel under the inlet channel, the first and second focusing channels being planar with the inlet channel and the third and fourth focusing channels being non-planar with the inlet channel; a focusing manifold coupled with the inlet channel at an inlet port and with the four focusing channels at a plurality of focusing channel ports to focus the process flow by contacting four sides of the process flow with the plurality of focusing flows; and a micro-fluidic outlet channel coupled with the focusing manifold at an outlet channel port to convey the combined focused process flow and focusing flow from the focusing manifold. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 18, 19, 20, 22)
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9. A device comprising:
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a micro-fluidic inlet channel to convey a process flow; six micro-fluidic focusing channels to each convey one of a plurality of focusing flows, wherein the six micro-fluidic focusing channels comprise a first focusing channel on a first side of the inlet channel, a second focusing channel on a second side of the inlet channel, the first and second focusing channels being planar with the inlet channel, a third upper focusing channel over the inlet channel on the first side, a fourth upper focusing channel over the inlet channel on the second side, a fifth lower focusing channel under the inlet channel on the first side, and a sixth lower focusing channel under the inlet channel on the second side; a focusing manifold coupled with the inlet channel at an inlet port and with the six focusing channels at a plurality of focusing channel ports to focus the process flow by contacting at least four sides of the process flow with the plurality of focusing flows; and a micro-fluidic outlet channel coupled with the focusing manifold at an outlet channel port to convey the combined focused process flow and focusing flow from the focusing manifold. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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16. A device comprising:
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a micro-fluidic inlet channel to convey a process flow; at least four micro-fluidic focusing channels to each convey one of a plurality of focusing flows, wherein the at least four micro-fluidic focusing channels include first and second focusing channels coplanar with the inlet channel, and third and fourth focusing channels not coplanar with the inlet channel, wherein the fourth micro-fluidic focusing channel is under the micro-fluidic inlet channel; a focusing manifold coupled with the inlet channel at an inlet port, coupled with the at least four micro-fluidic focusing channels at a plurality of focusing channel ports; and a micro-fluidic outlet channel coupled with the focusing manifold at an outlet channel port to convey the focused process flow and focusing flows from the focusing manifold. - View Dependent Claims (17, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification