Flow control in microfluidic systems
First Claim
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1. A method of operating a microfluidic system, comprising:
- applying a pressure drop across an inlet and an outlet of a microfluidic system, while carrying out the following steps;
flowing a first fluid at a first flow rate;
flowing a second fluid in the microfluidic system, wherein the first and second fluids have different viscosities, and wherein the first fluid and the second fluid are separated by a separation fluid that is substantially immiscible with the first and second fluids;
flowing the first fluid from a first channel portion to a second channel portion positioned between the inlet and the outlet of the microfluidic system, wherein a fluid path defined by the first channel portion has a larger cross-sectional area than a cross-sectional area of a fluid path defined by the second channel portion;
causing a volumetric flow rate of the first fluid to decrease by a factor of at least 50 in the microfluidic system; and
preventing any of the first fluid from exiting the microfluidic system via the outlet during operation of the microfluidic system.
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Abstract
Microfluidic systems and methods including those that provide control of fluid flow are provided. Such systems and methods can be used, for example, to control pressure-driven flow based on the influence of channel geometry and the viscosity of one or more fluids inside the system.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of operating a microfluidic system, comprising:
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applying a pressure drop across an inlet and an outlet of a microfluidic system, while carrying out the following steps; flowing a first fluid at a first flow rate; flowing a second fluid in the microfluidic system, wherein the first and second fluids have different viscosities, and wherein the first fluid and the second fluid are separated by a separation fluid that is substantially immiscible with the first and second fluids; flowing the first fluid from a first channel portion to a second channel portion positioned between the inlet and the outlet of the microfluidic system, wherein a fluid path defined by the first channel portion has a larger cross-sectional area than a cross-sectional area of a fluid path defined by the second channel portion; causing a volumetric flow rate of the first fluid to decrease by a factor of at least 50 in the microfluidic system; and preventing any of the first fluid from exiting the microfluidic system via the outlet during operation of the microfluidic system.
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2. A device comprising:
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a microfluidic system comprising; a first plug comprising a first fluid and a second plug comprising a second fluid contained in the microfluidic system, wherein the first and second plugs are separated by a separation fluid comprising a gas, and wherein the first plug, the second plug, and the separation fluid are present in the microfluidic system prior to first use of the device; an inlet and an outlet; an analysis region positioned between the inlet and the outlet; a microfluidic channel in fluid communication with the analysis region, the microfluidic channel comprising a first channel portion having a first cross-sectional area; and a flow constriction region positioned downstream of the first channel portion and upstream of the outlet, wherein the flow constriction region has a second cross-sectional area, the second cross-sectional area being at least 10 times smaller than the first cross-sectional area, wherein the flow constriction region has a height and/or a width of less than 75 microns, and wherein the flow constriction region has a length of at least 1 cm. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification