Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-12168230-B2
Publication Date
2024-12-17
Expiration Date
Abstract
The invention provides a microdroplet- or bubble-producing device that does not require separate through-holes for different liquid droplet/air bubble-producing flow channels. The droplet-producing flow channels are configured in a three-dimensional manner unlike in a conventional device where they are configured in a two-dimensional plane, and therefore the flow channels can be provided in a more high-density configuration than the prior art. In the microdroplet/bubble-producing device comprising slit(s) and the row of the plurality of microflow channels, the slit(s) is/are a continuous phase supply slit, a dispersion phase supply slit and a discharge slit, the plurality of microflow channels are configured so that the ends of the slit(s) and the two supply ports on both sides or the supply port and discharge port on either side are mutually connected, and at the sites of connection between the microflow channels and the slit(s), the dispersion phase undergoes shear with the continuous phase flow as the driving force, producing droplets or air bubbles of the dispersion phase, which are recovered from the discharge port.
Core Innovation
The disclosed microdroplet/bubble-producing device includes a row of a plurality of microflow channels on a reference plane and a slit connected with the plurality of microflow channels at an end of the slit. The slit has a linear slit end face with a width and axis line having a larger dimension than the size of the width in the reference plane, and the slit extends from the reference plane in a transverse direction of the reference plane. The device further includes a dispersion phase supply port, a continuous phase supply port, and a discharge port, each having an end connected with the plurality of microflow channels.
The end of the slit is connected through each of the microflow channels with any two from among the end of the dispersion phase supply port, the end of the continuous phase supply port, and the end of the discharge port, and is configured to be sandwiched along the axis line of each of the plurality of microflow channels by the two from among the end portions. In this arrangement, the plurality of microflow channels transport one of the dispersion phase and continuous phase from one of the sandwiching ports to the sites of connection between the sandwiched slit and the plurality of the microflow channels, while the sandwiched slit transports the other one of the dispersion phase and continuous phase to the same sites of connection; alternatively, the plurality of microflow channels transport both phases from the sandwiching ports to the sites of connection.
At the sites of connection between the sandwiched slit and the microflow channels, the device is configured to provide shearing of the dispersion phase by the flow of the continuous phase as the driving force. This shearing forms droplets or air bubbles of the dispersion phase in the continuous phase, and the discharge port is configured for recovery of a product comprising the droplets or air bubbles of the dispersion phase in the continuous phase.
Claims Coverage
The document provides two independent claims: clm-00001 directed to a microdroplet/bubble-producing device and clm-00022 directed to a microdroplet/bubble-producing method using the device. Across these independent claims, the inventive concept is centered on a sandwiched linear slit connected to microflow channels between dispersion/continuous/discharge port connection sites, and on forming droplets or air bubbles by shearing of the dispersion phase using continuous-phase flow, with recovery via a discharge port.
Sandwiched linear slit connected to microflow channels
A microdroplet/bubble-producing device comprising a row of a plurality of microflow channels on a reference plane, and a slit connected with the plurality of microflow channels at an end of the slit, where the slit has a linear slit end face with a width and axis line having a larger dimension than the size of the width in the reference plane, and extends from the reference plane in a transverse direction; the end of the slit is connected through each microflow channel with any two from among ends of the dispersion phase supply port, the continuous phase supply port, and the discharge port, and the end of the slit is configured to be sandwiched along the axis line of each microflow channel.
Dispersion and continuous phase transport to connection sites
The plurality of microflow channels are configured to transport one of the dispersion phase and continuous phase from one of the sandwiching ports to the sites of connection between the sandwiched slit and the microflow channels, while the sandwiched slit transports the other one of the dispersion phase and continuous phase to the sites of connection; or the plurality of microflow channels are configured to transport both of the dispersion phase and continuous phase from the sandwiching ports to the sites of connection between the sandwiched slit and the microflow channels.
Shearing-driven droplet or bubble formation at slit-channel connection sites
The sites of connection between the sandwiched slit and the microflow channels are configured to provide shearing of the dispersion phase by the flow of the continuous phase as the driving force, forming droplets or air bubbles of the dispersion phase in the continuous phase.
Recovery of droplets or air bubbles via discharge port
The discharge port is configured for recovery of the product comprising the droplets or air bubbles of the dispersion phase in the continuous phase.
Method flow for supplying, shearing, and recovering using the sandwiched slit device
A microdroplet/bubble-producing method using the microdroplet/bubble-producing device, comprising supplying a dispersion phase to the dispersion phase supply port and a continuous phase to the continuous phase port; transporting the dispersion phase and the continuous phase through two from among the sandwiched slit and the sandwiching ports to the microflow channels; meeting the dispersion phase and continuous phase at the sites of connection; providing shearing of the dispersion phase by the flow of the continuous phase at the sites; forming droplets or air bubbles; and recovering the product comprising the droplets or air bubbles from the discharge port.
The claims cover a device and method in which a transverse linear slit is connected to a row of microflow channels such that the slit end is sandwiched at channel connection sites between dispersion-phase, continuous-phase, and discharge-port end connections. Dispersion and continuous phases are transported to these sites, where continuous-phase flow shears the dispersion phase to form droplets or air bubbles, and the resulting product is recovered via the discharge port.
Stated Advantages
Provides recovery of a product comprising droplets or air bubbles of the dispersion phase in the continuous phase via the discharge port.
Documented Applications
Microdroplet/bubble production by forming droplets or air bubbles of a dispersion phase in a continuous phase, with recovery of the product from a discharge port.
Interested in licensing this patent?