Accurate and rapid micromixer for integrated microfluidic devices

US9138700B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The Regents of the University of California · US

Inventors

• R. Michael Van Dam · Los Angeles, US
• Kan Liu · Mountain View, US
• Kwang-Fu Clifton Shen · Turlock, US
• Hsian-Rong Tseng · Los Angeles, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 21, 2009
• Grant date: Sep 22, 2015
• Expiry date: Nov 5, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T137/8593
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The invention may provide a microfluidic mixer having a droplet generator and a droplet mixer in selective fluid connection with the droplet generator. The droplet generator comprises first and second fluid chambers that are structured to be filled with respective first and second fluids that can each be held in isolation for a selectable period of time. The first and second fluid chambers are further structured to be reconfigured into a single combined chamber to allow the first and second fluids in the first and second fluid chambers to come into fluid contact with each other in the combined chamber for a selectable period of time prior to being brought into the droplet mixer.