Compact hydraulic manifold structure for shear sensitive fluids

• US 9,656,212 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2013
• Issued: 05/23/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Charles Stark Draper Laboratory Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Charles Stark Draper Laboratory Incorporated
• Inventors: DiBiasio, Christopher, Charest, Joseph L., Hufford, Kevin, Borenstein, Jeffrey T., Kim, Ernest S., Harjes, Daniel I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mellon, David C
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, PRANAV N
• Application Number:
  US13/736,685
• Publication Number:
  US 20140190884A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,596 Days
• Field of Search: 210224-231, 2103216, 21032175, 21032184, 422 44, 422 48, 422502, 422503, 422507, 422 53, 422534, 422535
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/0415 Details of supporting structures
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2313/08 Flow guidance means within the module or the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/28 Apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/085 specially adapted for two fluids in mass exchange flow
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/088 Microfluidic devices comprising semi-permeable flat membranes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0864 comprising only one inlet and multiple receiving wells, e.g. for separation, splitting
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0874 Three dimensional network
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0887 Laminated structure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502746 characterised by the means for controlling flow resistance, e.g. flow controllers, baffles B01L3/502738 takes precedence

Abstract

An compact hydraulic manifold for transporting shear sensitive fluids is provided. A channel network can include a trunk and branch architecture coupled to a bifurcation architecture. Features such as tapered channel walls, curvatures and angles of channels, and zones of low fluid pressure can be used to reduce the size while maintaining wall shear rates within a narrow range. A hydraulic manifold can be coupled to a series of microfluidic layers to construct a compact microfluidic device.

Claims

1. A microfluidic device comprising:

a first network of channels having a plurality of First Channels, each First Channel having a height in the range of about 50 microns to about 500 microns;

a second network of channels having at least one Second Channel complementary to one or more of the First Channels;

a filtration membrane separating the one or more First Channels from the at least one Second Channel;

wherein the plurality of First Channels further comprises;

an input channel forming a primary channel, a plurality of secondary channels, and an outlet channel, wherein the primary channel bifurcates into first and second secondary channels at a first junction, such that a fluid flow rate through the first secondary channel is substantially the same as a fluid flow rate through the second secondary channel, and the total fluid flow rate between the first and second secondary channels is substantially the same as the fluid flow rate through the primary channel;

a first tertiary channel connecting to the first secondary channel at a second junction located at a first distance along the first secondary channel; and

a second tertiary channel connecting to the first secondary channel at a third junction located at a second distance, greater than the first distance, along the first secondary channel, wherein the first secondary channel and the first and second tertiary channels are configured such that flow of fluid through the first secondary channel beyond the second junction is substantially greater than flow of fluid into the first tertiary channel;

wherein at least one of the first and second tertiary channels bifurcates into first and second quaternary channels at a fourth junction, such that a fluid flow rate through the first quaternary channel is substantially the same as a fluid flow rate through the second quaternary channel, and the total fluid flow rate through the first and second quaternary channels is substantially the same as the fluid flow rate through the portion of the at least one tertiary channel between the first secondary channel and the fourth junction, the microfluidic device further comprising a flow divider for dividing fluid flow between the first and second quaternary channels, wherein the flow divider connects walls of the first and second quaternary channels with a curved surface that faces and is convex to the at least one tertiary channel, and the radius of curvature of the convex curved surface is greater than zero and less than the hydraulic diameter of the at least one tertiary channel.

2. The microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of First Channels is located within a first substrate.

3. The microfluidic device of claim 2, wherein the first substrate has a thickness of no less than 50 microns and no greater than 10 millimeters.

4. The microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein the filtration membrane separates only a subset of the plurality of First Channels from the at least one Second Channel.

5. The microfluidic device of claim 1, further comprising third and fourth quaternary channels that converge at a point where they have opposing curvatures to form a third tertiary channel, such that all of the fluid flowing through the third and fourth quaternary channels is subsequently transported into the third tertiary channel.

6. The microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein the diameter of at least one tertiary channel at a portion adjacent to its junction with the secondary channel is significantly greater than the diameter of the downstream portion of the at least one tertiary channel, such that a zone of low fluid pressure is created at the junction.

7. The microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein an angle formed by a centerline of at least one tertiary channel and a downstream portion of the centerline of the secondary channel to which the at least one tertiary channel connects measures between one and sixty degrees.

8. The microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of First Channels is further configured to maintain a shear rate of no less than two hundred inverse seconds and no more than two thousand inverse seconds when blood is transported through the channels.

9. The microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein at least one tertiary channel includes a curved portion directing flow away from at least one secondary channel.

10. The microfluidic device of claim 9, wherein the curved portion of the at least one tertiary channel has a radius of curvature that is not less than its hydraulic diameter.

11. The microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of First Channels or the at least one Second Channel has a substantially semicircular cross section.

12. The microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of First Channels or the at least one Second Channel has substantially flat top and bottom walls joined by curved sidewalls.

13. The microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein each of the First Channels has a length in the range of about 3 centimeters to about 20 centimeters.

14. The microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein each of the First Channels has a width in the range of about 50 microns to about 1.5 millimeters.