Microparticle producing system which comprises carrying fluid, and a controlling method thereof
Inventors
Kim, Ju Hee • Kim, Donghoon • CHON, Chan Hee
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11731100-B2
Publication Date
2023-08-22
Expiration Date
Abstract
A microparticle producing system using microfluidics and a controlling method thereof, and specifically, to a microparticle producing system that may stably transport droplets produced using microfluidics without agglomeration or destruction, compared to the conventional art, and a method of controlling the microparticle producing system to transport the droplets more stably in the microparticle producing system. By the microparticle producing system and the controlling method thereof, which are disclosed herein, droplets produced by the microparticle producing system using microfluidics may be stably transported without agglomeration or destruction, resulting in more effective microparticle production.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a microfluidic microparticle producing system and control in which a discharge fluid from a droplet producing microfluidic chip is transported to a product storage tank while enabling stable droplet transport without agglomeration or destruction. One material comprising at least a first material and a second material is supplied to the droplet producing microfluidic chip to form a discharge fluid that comprises a material fluid and a droplet, where the droplet is produced in the droplet producing chip from the one material.
A combined fluid is generated by combining the discharge fluid with a carrier fluid in a transport channel, where supplying the carrier fluid causes a flow rate of the combined fluid to be larger than that of the discharge fluid. A key aspect is controlling whether the droplet comes into contact with air before the discharge fluid and the carrier fluid are combined.
This control is achieved through a carrier fluid controller that controls one or more selected from an inflow time point, an inflow stop time point, an inflow time, an inflow stop time, an inflow amount, and a flow rate of the carrier fluid, a flow velocity of the carrier fluid in the transport channel, and an inflow location of the carrier fluid. The disclosed system architecture supports transport of discharge fluid to a product storage tank by carrier-fluid supply coordinated with the controller, including preventing carrier fluid backflow, limiting delivery to storage capacity, and maintaining laminar flow at confluences when multiple transport channels are used.
Claims Coverage
The partial content identifies two independent claims, a controlling method and a corresponding microparticle producing system. Together, they define four inventive features centered on droplet-to-carrier-fluid combination, air-contact control, controller-based actuation, and transport to a product storage tank.
Combined-fluid flow rate larger than discharge-fluid flow rate
Supplying a carrier fluid to a transport channel to generate a combined fluid by combining the carrier fluid with discharge fluid, wherein the supplying causes a flow rate of the combined fluid to be larger than that of the discharge fluid.
Droplet air-contact control before combination
Producing a microparticle by controlling whether the droplet comes into contact with air before the discharge fluid and the carrier fluid are combined, where the controlling is achieved by carrier fluid controller control of selected inflow and flow characteristics and/or inflow location.
Carrier-fluid controller control via selected inflow parameters and flow characteristics
Controlling one or more selected from an inflow time point, an inflow stop time point, an inflow time, an inflow stop time, an inflow amount, and a flow rate of the carrier fluid, a flow velocity of the carrier fluid in the transport channel, and an inflow location of the carrier fluid.
Microfluidic droplet producing chip discharge to transport channel
A first droplet producing microfluidic chip with an inlet channel, a microchannel, a junction, and a first outlet channel, where the first outlet channel and the transport channel are in fluid connection with one another, and the transport channel transports a discharge fluid comprising a material and a droplet to a product storage tank.
Control signal controlling droplet air contact via carrier fluid source
A carrier fluid source and a carrier fluid controller configured to transmit a control signal to the carrier fluid source for producing microparticles from the droplets by controlling whether or not the droplets come into contact with air.
Across the two independent claims, microparticle production is enabled by combining discharge fluid from a droplet producing microfluidic chip with a carrier fluid in a transport channel such that the combined-fluid flow rate exceeds the discharge-fluid flow rate, while controlling whether droplets contact air prior to combination. The control is implemented via a carrier fluid controller that governs selected inflow timing, amount, location, and flow rate or velocity, and via a control signal to a carrier fluid source for transporting to a product storage tank.
Stated Advantages
Enhances stable droplet transport to a product storage tank without agglomeration or destruction.
Prevents carrier fluid backflow.
Limits combined-fluid delivery to tank storage capacity.
Maintains laminar flow at confluences when multiple transport channels are used.
Documented Applications
Transporting discharge fluid including droplets and material from a droplet-producing microfluidic chip to a product storage tank in a microparticle producing system.
Parallel or mass production via multiple droplet-producing chips and transport channels, including arrays and multiple transport channels converging at a confluence to a product storage tank.
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