Microfluidic device, system, and method for reversing a flow through a microfluidic channel
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Publication Number
US-11311879-B2
Publication Date
2022-04-26
Expiration Date
Abstract
There is provided a microfluidic device for reversing a flow through a microfluidic channel. The microfluidic device comprises a first microfluidic channel extending between a first inlet and a first outlet, a second microfluidic channel which fluidically connects a first point of the first microfluidic channel to a second outlet via a first valve, a third microfluidic channel which fluidically connects a second point of the first microfluidic channel to a second inlet via a second valve, the second point being located between the first point and the first outlet, and at least one circuit for opening the first valve and the second valve. The first and the second valves are arranged to be initially closed, Upon opening of the first and the second valve during use, the flow direction through the first microfluidic channel between the first point and the second point is reversed.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a microfluidic device for reversing a flow through a microfluidic channel by using capillary trigger valves arranged to be initially closed and then opened to change the flow direction between two points of the first microfluidic channel. A first microfluidic channel extends between a first inlet and a first outlet, and a second microfluidic channel and a third microfluidic channel fluidically connect a first point and a second point of the first microfluidic channel to a second outlet and to a second inlet, respectively, via first and second capillary trigger valves.
The first capillary trigger valve and the second capillary trigger valve are arranged to prevent fluid from the first microfluidic channel reaching the second outlet and the second inlet during an initial state. During use, fluid initially flows in the first microfluidic channel in a first direction from the first inlet to the first outlet, and at least one circuit is configured to open the first and the second capillary trigger valves.
The at least one circuit comprises a first microfluidic circuit that fluidically connects the first capillary trigger valve to the second inlet, in which the first capillary trigger valve is configured to be opened by fluid from the second inlet reaching the first capillary trigger valve via the first microfluidic circuit. The second capillary trigger valve is configured to be opened by fluid from the second inlet reaching the second capillary valve via a portion of the third microfluidic channel, and upon opening, the flow direction through the first microfluidic channel between the first point and the second point is reversed from the first direction to a second direction as fluid flows from the second inlet via the first microfluidic channel to the second outlet.
Claims Coverage
The document includes one independent claim. The independent claim covers a microfluidic device that reverses flow through a portion of a first microfluidic channel by initially keeping two capillary trigger valves closed and then opening them through at least one circuit so that fluid driven from a second inlet flows in the opposite direction through the first microfluidic channel.
Flow reversal via initially closed capillary trigger valves and at least one circuit
A microfluidic device for reversing a flow through a microfluidic channel, comprising a first microfluidic channel between a first inlet and a first outlet, a second microfluidic channel fluidically connecting a first point of the first microfluidic channel to a second outlet via a first capillary trigger valve, and a third microfluidic channel fluidically connecting a second point of the first microfluidic channel to a second inlet via a second capillary trigger valve, wherein the first and second capillary trigger valves are initially closed to prevent fluid from the first microfluidic channel reaching the second outlet and the second inlet respectively; during use fluid initially flows in the first microfluidic channel in a first direction from the first inlet to the first outlet; and at least one circuit configured to open the first and second capillary trigger valves so that upon opening the flow direction through the first microfluidic channel between the first point and the second point is reversed from the first direction to a second direction as fluid flows from the second inlet via the first microfluidic channel to the second outlet.
Opening by fluid from the second inlet through a first microfluidic circuit
The at least one circuit comprises a first microfluidic circuit that fluidically connects the first capillary trigger valve to the second inlet, where the first capillary trigger valve is configured to be opened by fluid from the second inlet reaching the first capillary trigger valve via the first microfluidic circuit.
Opening the second capillary trigger valve via a portion of the third microfluidic channel
The second capillary trigger valve is configured to be opened by fluid from the second inlet reaching the second capillary trigger valve via a portion of the third microfluidic channel.
Overall, the claim coverage is centered on reversing flow through a portion of a first microfluidic channel by coordinating initially closed first and second capillary trigger valves, using at least one circuit to route fluid from the second inlet and thereby reverse flow direction between two defined points.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
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