Microfluidics and small volume mixing based on redox magnetohydrodynamics methods
First Claim
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1. A microfluidic device comprising:
- at least one microfluidic channel having a length;
at least two electrodes creating an electric field within the at least one channel wherein the field is perpendicular to the length of the channel by means of at least one anode and at least one cathode in the channel and opposite to each other;
a magnetic field within the channel and perpendicular to the electric field and the channel;
at least two solutions that are substantially immiscible, wherein at least one solution has a current carrying species, the current carrying species being capable of accepting at least one electron from the cathode and transferring the at least one electron to the anode such that the current carrying species does not accumulate upon the cathode or the anode and gaseous bubbles are not formed;
wherein the current carrying species is a redox compound;
wherein the electric field and the magnetic field induce the solution to flow in a direction perpendicular to both the electric field and the magnetic field.
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Abstract
Microfluidic channels utilizing magnetohydrodynamics are used to pump very small volumes of solution. The channels have electrodes along the walls of the channel and a current carrying species within the solution carries the current through the solution. The electric field generated by the use of the current carrying species is perpendicular to a magnetic field applied to the channel. The combination of the electric and magnetic fields causes the solution to flow through the channel.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A microfluidic device comprising:
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at least one microfluidic channel having a length; at least two electrodes creating an electric field within the at least one channel wherein the field is perpendicular to the length of the channel by means of at least one anode and at least one cathode in the channel and opposite to each other; a magnetic field within the channel and perpendicular to the electric field and the channel; at least two solutions that are substantially immiscible, wherein at least one solution has a current carrying species, the current carrying species being capable of accepting at least one electron from the cathode and transferring the at least one electron to the anode such that the current carrying species does not accumulate upon the cathode or the anode and gaseous bubbles are not formed; wherein the current carrying species is a redox compound; wherein the electric field and the magnetic field induce the solution to flow in a direction perpendicular to both the electric field and the magnetic field. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 18, 19)
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11. A magnetohydrodynamic microfluidic device for performing assays comprising:
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at least one assay structure having a cathode and an anode; at least one conduit for applying a sample to the assay structure; at least one first solution within the at least one conduit; at least one second solution within the at least one conduit; wherein the at least one first solution and the at least one second solution are immiscible; wherein the first solution is pushed through the at least one conduit by the force of the at least one second solution being a propelled by magnetohydrodynamic means, said second solution comprising a current carrying species, the current carrying species being capable of repeatedly accepting at least one electron from the cathode and transferring the at least one electron to the anode such that the current carrying species does not accumulate upon the cathode or the anode and gaseous bubbles are not formed; and
,at least one immiscible fluid plug in the at least one conduit capable of preventing the mixing of the at least aqueous solutions. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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20. A microfluidic device comprising:
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at least one microfluidic channel having a length; at least two electrodes creating an electric field within the at least one channel wherein the field is perpendicular to the length of the channel by means of at least one anode and at least one cathode in the channel and opposite to each other; a magnetic field within the channel and perpendicular to the electric field and the channel; at least two solutions that are substantially immiscible, wherein at least one solution has a current carrying species the current carrying species being capable of accepting at least one electron from the cathode and transferring the at least one electron to the anode such that the current carrying species does not accumulate upon the cathode or the anode and gaseous bubbles are not formed; wherein the current carrying species is conductive nanoparticles; wherein the electric field, and the magnetic field induce the solution to flow in a direction perpendicular to both the electric field and the magnetic field. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A microfluidic device comprising:
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at least one microfluidic channel having a length, wherein the at least one channel is constructed from at least one layer of ceramic tape; at least two electrodes creating an electric held within the at least one channel wherein the field is perpendicular to the length of the channel by means of at least one anode and at least one cathode in the channel and opposite to each other; a magnetic field within the channel and perpendicular to the electric field and the channel; at least two solutions that are substantially immiscible, wherein at least one solution has a current carrying species the current carrying species being capable of accepting at least one electron from the cathode and transferring the at least one electron to the anode such that the current carrying species does not accumulate upon the cathode or the anode and gaseous bubbles are not formed; wherein the electric field and the magnetic field induce the solution to flow in a direction perpendicular to both the electric field and the magnetic field. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification