Flow focusing method and system for forming concentrated volumes of microbeads, and microbeads formed further thereto
First Claim
1. A method of forming one or more concentrated volumes of microbeads, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) flowing, a focused stream of a polymer solution, polymer suspension, or polymer solution and suspension towards a fluid bath, with the polymer solution, polymer suspension, or polymer solution and suspension comprising a polymer dissolved, dispersed, or dissolved and dispersed in a medium;
(b) flowing a focusing stream of a focusing fluid towards the fluid bath, and into intersection with the focused stream;
(b.1) after step (b), maintaining the fluid bath under stirring so that the focusing fluid and the polymer solution continue to be mixed and intermingled;
(c) after step (b), flowing the focusing stream and the focused stream into the fluid bath and allowing the microbeads to, thus, form and solidify in the fluid bath;
(d) flowing a volume of the focusing fluid from the fluid bath while leaving the microbeads in the fluid bath, so as to concentrate the microbeads in the fluid bath; and
(e) recycling at least part of the volume of the focusing fluid, flowing from the fluid bath in step (d), as at least part of the focusing stream flowing into intersection with the focused stream in step (b).
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a method and system for forming concentrated volumes of microbeads, a polymer solution and/or suspension includes a polymer dissolved and/or dispersed in a medium. Streams of a focusing fluid and of the polymer solution and/or suspension flow towards a fluid bath, and into intersection with one another, so &s to focus the polymer solution and/or suspension. The polymer solution and/or suspension stream forms microbeads in the fluid bath. Some of the focusing fluid is drawn from the fluid bath, so as to concentrate the microbeads in die fluid bath. The system includes a flow focusing apparatus and a liquid-containing cell. The focusing apparatus includes polymer and focusing nozzles. The cell contains the fluid bath and has an outlet port, through which the focusing fluid is drawn from the fluid bath.
171 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method of forming one or more concentrated volumes of microbeads, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) flowing, a focused stream of a polymer solution, polymer suspension, or polymer solution and suspension towards a fluid bath, with the polymer solution, polymer suspension, or polymer solution and suspension comprising a polymer dissolved, dispersed, or dissolved and dispersed in a medium; (b) flowing a focusing stream of a focusing fluid towards the fluid bath, and into intersection with the focused stream; (b.1) after step (b), maintaining the fluid bath under stirring so that the focusing fluid and the polymer solution continue to be mixed and intermingled; (c) after step (b), flowing the focusing stream and the focused stream into the fluid bath and allowing the microbeads to, thus, form and solidify in the fluid bath; (d) flowing a volume of the focusing fluid from the fluid bath while leaving the microbeads in the fluid bath, so as to concentrate the microbeads in the fluid bath; and (e) recycling at least part of the volume of the focusing fluid, flowing from the fluid bath in step (d), as at least part of the focusing stream flowing into intersection with the focused stream in step (b). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification