Method and system for pre-programmed self-power microfluidic circuits
First Claim
1. A microfluidic device for a self-powered microfluidic cicuit including a capillary pump operable to drive a fluid through the self-powered microfluidic circuit, the microfluidic device comprising:
- a first microfluidic channel having a first predetermined width, a first predetermined depth, a first end coupled to a first predetermined portion of the microfluidic circuit, and a second distal end coupled to a first end of a third microfluidic channel;
a second microfluidic channel having a second predetermined width over a predetermined section of the second microfluidic channel, a second predetermined depth, a first end coupled to a second end of the third microfluidic channel, and a second distal end coupled to a second predetermined portion of the microfluidic circuit;
the third microfluidic channel disposed between the first and second microfluidic channels, the third microfluidic channel having a third predetermined width and a third predetermined depth;
a cover over the first, second, and third microfluidic channels, the cover comprising a hydrophobic coating on a predetermined region of the cover adjacent the first, second, and third microfluidic channels, the predetermined region comprising at least where the third microfluidic channel intersects the first microfluidic channel;
wherein at least one of the second predetermined width and the second predetermined depth of the second microfluidic channel is selected to establish a predetermined retention pressure for the microfludic device composed of the combination of the first, second, and third microfluidic channels; and
wherein the fluid fed into the first microfluidic channel from the self-powered microfluidic circuit flows by capillary action into the second and third microfluidic channels and is retained therein provided a pressure within the first microfluidic channel, generated by the capillary pump the self-powered microfluidic circuit, is less than the predetermined retention pressure, and wherein when the pressure within the first microfluidic channel exceeds the predetermined retention pressure, the fluid is burst released out of the first end of the second microfluidic channel, through the third microfluidic channel, and into the first microfluidic channel for draining back into the self-powered microfluidic circuit, thereby draining the fluid from the first, second, and third microfluidic channels simultaneously without the fluid being trapped within the third microfluidic channel.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A major challenge for the general use of “lab-on-a-chip” (LOAC) systems and point-of-care (POC) devices has been the generally complex and need for sophisticated peripheral equipment, such that it is more difficult than anticipated to implement low cost, robust and portable LOAC/POC solutions. It would be beneficial for chemical, medical, healthcare, and environmental applications to provide designs for inexpensive LOAC/POC solutions compatible with miniaturization and mass production, and are potentially portable, using compact possibly hand-held instruments, using reusable or disposable detectors. Embodiments of the invention address improved circuit elements for self-powered self-regulating microfluidic circuits including programmable retention valves, programmable trigger valves, enhanced capillary pumps, and flow resonators. Additionally embodiments of the invention allow for the flow direction within a microfluidic circuit to be reversed as well as for retention of reagents prior to sale or deployment of the microfluidic circuit for eased user use.
-
Citations
21 Claims
-
1. A microfluidic device for a self-powered microfluidic cicuit including a capillary pump operable to drive a fluid through the self-powered microfluidic circuit, the microfluidic device comprising:
-
a first microfluidic channel having a first predetermined width, a first predetermined depth, a first end coupled to a first predetermined portion of the microfluidic circuit, and a second distal end coupled to a first end of a third microfluidic channel; a second microfluidic channel having a second predetermined width over a predetermined section of the second microfluidic channel, a second predetermined depth, a first end coupled to a second end of the third microfluidic channel, and a second distal end coupled to a second predetermined portion of the microfluidic circuit; the third microfluidic channel disposed between the first and second microfluidic channels, the third microfluidic channel having a third predetermined width and a third predetermined depth; a cover over the first, second, and third microfluidic channels, the cover comprising a hydrophobic coating on a predetermined region of the cover adjacent the first, second, and third microfluidic channels, the predetermined region comprising at least where the third microfluidic channel intersects the first microfluidic channel; wherein at least one of the second predetermined width and the second predetermined depth of the second microfluidic channel is selected to establish a predetermined retention pressure for the microfludic device composed of the combination of the first, second, and third microfluidic channels; and wherein the fluid fed into the first microfluidic channel from the self-powered microfluidic circuit flows by capillary action into the second and third microfluidic channels and is retained therein provided a pressure within the first microfluidic channel, generated by the capillary pump the self-powered microfluidic circuit, is less than the predetermined retention pressure, and wherein when the pressure within the first microfluidic channel exceeds the predetermined retention pressure, the fluid is burst released out of the first end of the second microfluidic channel, through the third microfluidic channel, and into the first microfluidic channel for draining back into the self-powered microfluidic circuit, thereby draining the fluid from the first, second, and third microfluidic channels simultaneously without the fluid being trapped within the third microfluidic channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A microfluidic device for a self-powered microfluidic circuit including a capillary pump operable to generate a pump capillary pressure to drive a fluid through at least a main fluid channel of the self-powered microfluidic circuit, the microfluidic device comprising:
-
first, second and third microfluidic channels in serial fluid flow communication and integrally formed with one another, the third microfluidic channel being disposed between the first and second microfluidic channels; the first microfluidic channel having an first end adapted to communicate with the main fluid channel of the microfluidic circuit such as to receive the fluid therefrom and/or transmit the fluid thereto, a second opposed end of the first microfluidic channel end being connected in fluid communication with an inner end of the third microfluidic channel, the first microfluidic channel having a first width and a first depth; the second microfluidic channel having a first end connected in fluid communication with an outer end of the third microfluidic channel and a second end adapted to communicate with a vent of the self-powered microfluidic circuit, the second microfluidic channel having a second width over a section of the second microfluidic channel between the first and second ends thereof, the second width of the section of the second microfluidic channel at least partially defining a predetermined retention pressure for the self-powered microfluidic device; the third microfluidic channel interconnecting the first and second microfluidic channels and having a third width, a third length and a third depth, the third width being greater than the first width of the first microfluidic channel and less than the second width of the portion of the second microfluidic channel; a cover over the first, second, and third microfluidic channels, the cover comprising a hydrophobic coating on a predetermined region of the cover adjacent the first, second, and third microfluidic channels, the predetermined region comprising at least where the third microfluidic channel intersects the first microfluidic channel; and wherein the fluid fed into the first microfluidic channel flows by capillary action into the second and third microfluidic channels and is retained therein until a pressure within the first microfluidic channel generated by the capillary pump via the main fluid channel exceeds the predetermined retention pressure, and when the pressure within the first microfluidic channel exceeds the predetermined retention pressure the fluid is burst released out of the first end of the second microfluidic channel, through the third microfluidic channel, and into the first microfluidic channel for draining back into the main fluid channel of the self-powered microfluidic circuit, thereby draining the fluid from the first, second, and third microfluidic channels simultaneously without the fluid being trapped within the third microfluidic channel. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
Specification