Micromixer using integrated three-dimensional porous structure
First Claim
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1. A micromixer disposed in a polymeric chip, comprising:
- a polymeric chip having a localized porous region, wherein the porous region is surrounded by a non-porous region of the polymeric chip;
a first microfluidic inlet channel to the porous region;
a second microfluidic inlet channel to the porous region at about the same location of the porous region as the first inlet; and
a microfluidic outlet channel from the porous region that is distal to the first and second inlets such that fluids from the first and second inlets are mixed in the porous region before exiting as a mixed fluid through the outlet channel,wherein the porous region and the non-porous region are formed from the polymeric chip and are monolithic with the polymeric chip.
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Abstract
A micromixer is fabricated using a selective high intensity focused ultrasound foaming technique. The micromixer employs a 3D porous region for effective mixing. The 3D porous micromixer can achieve sufficient mixing results with a short mixing length for flows with a Reynolds number as low as 0.1. The fabrication process of the micromixer is rapid, low-cost, and biocompatible. The pore size of the micromixer can be controlled by adjusting the selective high intensity focused ultrasound foaming parameters. The micromixer has potential for use in lab-on-a-chip and micro-total-analysis devices.
40 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A micromixer disposed in a polymeric chip, comprising:
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a polymeric chip having a localized porous region, wherein the porous region is surrounded by a non-porous region of the polymeric chip; a first microfluidic inlet channel to the porous region; a second microfluidic inlet channel to the porous region at about the same location of the porous region as the first inlet; and a microfluidic outlet channel from the porous region that is distal to the first and second inlets such that fluids from the first and second inlets are mixed in the porous region before exiting as a mixed fluid through the outlet channel, wherein the porous region and the non-porous region are formed from the polymeric chip and are monolithic with the polymeric chip. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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8. A micromixer disposed in a polymeric substrate, comprising:
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a polymeric substrate having a localized region of porous foam formed from the polymeric substrate material and internally located in the polymeric substrate material, wherein the porous foam defines a length with a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein the porous foam is surrounded by a non-porous region of the polymeric substrate; a first microfluidic channel leading to the porous foam at or about the proximal end; and a second microfluidic channel leading out from the porous foam at or about the distal end, such that one or more fluids entering the porous foam from the first microfluidic channel are mixed in the porous foam before exiting from the second microfluidic channel. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification