Microfluidic Chip Vertical Stacking for Droplet Generation Rate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing microfluidic chips face challenges in increasing droplet generation rate without expanding their area, which hinders miniaturization and portability requirements.
Innovation Solution
The microfluidic chip design incorporates multiple generation parts stacked perpendicular to the chip surface, allowing for increased droplet generation efficiency without increasing the chip's area. This design includes delivery channels with a slope relative to the first delivery channel, ensuring stable droplet flow and preventing breakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple generation parts are stacked perpendicular to the chip surface, then droplet generation rate is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies vertical stacking of multiple generation parts in the third dimension perpendicular to the chip surface, transforming a planar two-dimensional layout into a three-dimensional structure. This enables multiple droplet generation units to coexist within a compact footprint, increasing throughput without expanding the chip's planar area, thus resolving the contradiction between productivity and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The chip is divided into multiple independent generation parts, each capable of generating droplets autonomously. These segmented units are stacked vertically and connected through delivery channels, allowing parallel droplet production. The segmentation enables scalable increase in droplet generation rate while maintaining modular simplicity, addressing the contradiction between productivity and complexity.
2Reliability
If delivery channels have a slope relative to the first delivery channel, then droplet flow stability is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery channels are designed with localized slope variations rather than uniform structures. Specifically, channels from upper generation parts are inclined relative to the first delivery channel to facilitate gravitational or pressure-driven flow into the collection region. This local quality adjustment optimizes droplet flow stability without requiring high-precision manufacturing across the entire chip, as only specific channel segments need controlled angles.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a microfluidic chip and a microfluidic device including the microfluidic chip. The microfluidic chip includes at least two units stacked in a first direction perpendicular to the microfluidic chip, each unit of the at least two units includes a generation part configured to generate a target fluid.