Autonomous electrochemical actuation of microfluidic circuits
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A microfluidic structure comprising:
- control layers comprising control channels;
fluidic layers comprising microfluidic channels, the microfluidic channels adapted to be controlled by the control channels; and
a pressure source comprising an electrolyte adapted to be electrolitically dissociated in one or more fluids, the pressure source fluidically connected with at least one control channel,wherein, upon electrolytic dissociation of the electrolyte, the one or more fluids travel along the at least one control channel to control the microfluidic channels.
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Abstract
A microfluidic structure with an electrically controlled pressure source is shown. The pressure source is an electrolyte connected with electrodes. Dissociation of the electrolyte generates the pressure, which is used to obtain a valve-like or pump-like behavior inside the microfluidic structure. A process for manufacturing the microfluidic structure and a method to circulate fluids in a microfluidic channel are also described.
10 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A microfluidic structure comprising:
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control layers comprising control channels; fluidic layers comprising microfluidic channels, the microfluidic channels adapted to be controlled by the control channels; and a pressure source comprising an electrolyte adapted to be electrolitically dissociated in one or more fluids, the pressure source fluidically connected with at least one control channel, wherein, upon electrolytic dissociation of the electrolyte, the one or more fluids travel along the at least one control channel to control the microfluidic channels. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A process for manufacturing a microfluidic structure containing a pressure source, comprising:
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forming electrodes; forming microfluidic chambers and microfluidic channels; positioning the electrodes in a microfluidic chamber of the formed microfluidic chambers; locating an electrolyte in the microfluidic chamber, the electrolyte contacting the electrodes and acting as a pressure source upon dissociation of the electrolyte into one or more fluids when current passes through the electrodes; and connecting the microfluidic chamber with at least one microfluidic channel of the microfluidic channels. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A method to circulate at least one between oxygen and hydrogen in a microfluidic channel, comprising:
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locating electrically controlled water inside a chamber of a microfluidic circuit comprising the microfluidic channel; fluidically connecting the chamber with the microfluidic channel; and electrolitically dissociating the water into oxygen and hydrogen, whereby at least one of oxygen and hydrogen circulates in the microfluidic channel. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification