Integrated fluidic flow network for fluid management

Abstract

An apparatus and method is presented for the management of fluid flow utilizing different adjacent wettability regions to form a fluidic network structure on a substrate. The fluidic network structure may include liquid-absorptive fluidic channels, where the fluid can flow within these channels and be removed from the substrate. Fluid can be moved by gravitational force, compression force, capillary force and surface tension force.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a 35 U.S.C. §111(a) continuation of PCT international application number PCT / US2015 / 021889 filed on Mar. 20, 2015, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, which claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61 / 969,040 filed on Mar. 21, 2014, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Priority is claimed to each of the foregoing applications.[0002]The above-referenced PCT international application was published as PCT International Publication No. WO 2015 / 143411 on Sep. 24, 2015, which publication is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT[0003]Not ApplicableINCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF COMPUTER PROGRAM APPENDIX[0004]Not ApplicableNOTICE OF MATERIAL SUBJECT TO COPYRIGHT PROTECTION[0005]Not ApplicableBACKGROUND[0006]1. Technical Field[0007]The technology of this disclosure pertains generally t...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes a way to create a structure for managing fluid using different regions with different properties. These regions form fluidic channels that can transport and remove moisture using gravity, instead of absorption. The substrate can also help to move the fluid through the channels using surface tension or compression. The technical effect of this invention is to provide an improved way to control fluid management in a more efficient and effective manner.

Problems solved by technology

Without efficient sweat removal during intensive activity, accumulated sweat can drastically increase the humidity level surrounding the skin, resulting in a very uncomfortable feeling.

However, serious problems exist in this wicking-evaporation moisture removal mode.

This saturated fabric can result in an uncomfortable feeling on skin.

This mechanism works satisfactorily with small amounts of perspiration but performs poorly when the wearer perspires heavily.

When the wearer rapidly perspires, the whole garment becomes equally wet, heavy, sticky and uncomfortable, even on the regions of the body where the garment barely touches the skin.

Moreover, the regions of the body that rarely touch the fabric can experience an unpleasant chill due to the evaporation of the moisture on the saturated shirt that is in contact with the skin.

One cause for the aforementioned problems is that when designing these typical garment structures, the fact that the human body has various sweat rates on different sections of the body is overlooked.

These fabrics do not manage moisture in a way that is comfortable for the human body.

However, critical problems still exist in these fabrics.

There is reduced gas permeability and a huge increase in weight when the fabric absorbs the liquid.

The increased area results in an additional increase in the weight change when the fabric becomes wet compared with normal fabric.

However, the final outcome is still a hydrophilic fiber that does not enable the transport or removal of fluids when made into fabrics.

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