Formation and control of fluidic species
US9038919B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 7, 2005 |
| Grant date | May 26, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 7, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB29B2009/125
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
This invention generally relates to systems and methods for the formation and/or control of fluidic species, and articles produced by such systems and methods. In some cases, the invention involves unique fluid channels, systems, controls, and/or restrictions, and combinations thereof. In certain embodiments, the invention allows fluidic streams (which can be continuous or discontinuous, i.e., droplets) to be formed and/or combined, at a variety of scales, including microfluidic scales. In one set of embodiments, a fluidic stream may be produced from a channel, where a cross-sectional dimension of the fluidic stream is smaller than that of the channel, for example, through the use of structural elements, other fluids, and/or applied external fields, etc. In some cases, a Taylor cone may be produced. In another set of embodiments, a fluidic stream may be manipulated in some fashion, for example, to create tubes (which may be hollow or solid), droplets, nested tubes or droplets, arrays of tubes or droplets, meshes of tubes, etc. In some cases, droplets produced using certain embodiments of the invention may be charged or substantially charged, which may allow their further manipulati…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.