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Flow control in microfluidic systems

  • US 9,849,455 B2
  • Filed: 02/27/2017
  • Issued: 12/26/2017
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2008
  • Status: Active Grant
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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