Microfluidic device

Abstract

A microfluidic device includes: a microfluidic wafer, a negative pressure source assembly, a first conduit and a second conduit, a first container and a second container, and a mounting structure. The microfluidic wafer includes: first and second inlet ports, first and second inlet channels, a mixing channel, and an outlet port. The first and second inlet ports are each connected to the first and second inlet channels. The first and second inlet channels converge at a junction and communicate with the mixing channel. The outlet port communicates with the mixing channel. The negative pressure source assembly is connected to the outlet port. The first container is connected to the first inlet port via the first conduit, and the second container is connected to the second inlet port via the second conduit. The first and second containers are mounted on the mounting structure, and the mounting structure allows the height of the first and second containers to be adjusted.

Claims

1. A microfluidic device, comprising: a microfluidic chip, including: a first liquid inlet channel and a second liquid inlet channel; a mixing channel, wherein the first liquid inlet channel and the second liquid inlet channel converge at a junction and communicate with the mixing channel; a first liquid inlet port and a second liquid inlet port, wherein the first liquid inlet port communicates with the first liquid inlet channel and the second liquid inlet port communicates with the second liquid inlet channel; and a liquid outlet port, communicating with the mixing channel; a negative pressure source assembly, communicating with the liquid outlet port; a first conduit and a second conduit; A first container and a second container, wherein the first container is configured to hold a first liquid and the second container is configured to hold a second liquid, the first container being connected to a first inlet port via a first conduit and the second container being connected to a second inlet port via a second conduit, wherein a negative pressure source assembly is configured to generate a negative pressure to cause the first liquid and the second liquid to flow through the junction into the mixing channel; and a mounting structure, wherein the first container and the second container are disposed on the mounting structure, the mounting structure being configured to allow an adjustable height for each of the first container and the second container.

2. The microfluidic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the negative pressure source assembly is configured to provide the negative pressure from 0.05 atmospheres to 1 atmosphere.

3. The microfluidic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the negative pressure source assembly is configured to allow each of the first liquid and the second liquid to flow into the microfluidic chip at a flow rate between 0.01 ml / s and 50 ml / s.

4. The microfluidic device as described in claim 1, wherein the negative pressure source assembly is configured to generate the negative pressure manually.

5. The microfluidic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the first conduit and the second conduit has a scale.

6. The microfluidic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the diameter of each of the first conduit and the second conduit is greater than the width of each of the first inlet channel and the second inlet channel.

7. The microfluidic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a first hydraulic resistance of the first liquid in the first inlet channel is different from a second hydraulic resistance of the second liquid in the second inlet channel.

8. The microfluidic device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the ratio of the first hydraulic resistance to the second hydraulic resistance is between 1:1 and 1:

20.

9. The microfluidic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the negative pressure source assembly, the first conduit, the second conduit, the first inlet channel, the second inlet channel, and the mixing channel are configured such that a first linear velocity of the first liquid in the first inlet channel and a second linear velocity of the second liquid in the second inlet channel are between 1 cm / s and 5 m / s.

10. The microfluidic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a first length of the first conduit and a second length of the second conduit are greater than about 5 cm.

11. The microfluidic device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a mounting base, wherein the mounting base includes: a base plate having a groove for receiving the microfluidic wafer; a top cover configured to be disposed above the base plate and the microfluidic wafer; and at least one fastener configured to secure the base plate and the top cover, wherein the at least one fastener is removable.

12. The microfluidic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mixing channel is straight or has multiple bends.

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