Method and apparatus for reducing sample dispersion in turns and junctions of microchannel systems
US6733730B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 6, 2000 |
| Grant date | May 11, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 7, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S366/03
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
What is disclosed pertains to improvement in the performance of microchannel devices by providing turns, wyes, tees, and other junctions that produce little dispersion of a sample as it traverses the turn or junction. The reduced dispersion results from contraction and expansion regions that reduce the cross-sectional area over some portion of the turn or junction. By carefully designing the geometries of these regions, sample dispersion in turns and junctions is reduced to levels comparable to the effects of ordinary diffusion. The low dispersion features are particularly suited for microfluidic devices and systems using either electromotive force, pressure, or combinations thereof as the principle of fluid transport. Such microfluidic devices and systems are useful for separation of components, sample transport, reaction, mixing, dilution or synthesis, or combinations thereof.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.