Microfluidic Dilution Device Using Nested Junctions
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for microfluidic devices that can perform precise and reproducible successive fluid dilutions on the nanoliter to attoliter scale while maintaining a small size, compatible with lab-on-a-chip technologies, and capable of quickly and accurately changing fluid compositions for applications like drug discovery and medical diagnostics.
Innovation Solution
The development of microfluidic devices with a plurality of channels and junctions, including bifurcated, trifurcated, and merging junctions, organized into multiple mixing levels, allowing for the manipulation of fluids to produce multiple controlled successive dilutions and mixtures, with the number of possible outlet channels increasing with the number of mixing levels, enabling precise control over fluid composition and concentration gradients.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If microfluidic devices are designed to perform precise successive fluid dilutions on the nanoliter to attoliter scale, then manufacturing precision and measurement precision are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into multiple mixing levels (first mixing level, second mixing level, etc.) with each level containing specific junctions (bifurcated junctions, trifurcated junctions, merging junctions). This segmentation allows complex fluid manipulation tasks to be broken down into discrete, manageable stages, achieving precise dilutions through systematic organization of simple components rather than requiring a single complex structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple mixing levels are nested vertically, with the second mixing level positioned above the first mixing level. Each level contains junctions that are hierarchically organized, creating a nested structure where simpler components (junctions) are arranged in nested configurations to achieve complex fluid manipulation functions while maintaining compact device footprint.
2Volume of moving object
If the apparatus size is reduced for lab-on-a-chip compatibility, then the device becomes more compact and portable, but the complexity of achieving precise fluid manipulation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device utilizes vertical stacking of mixing levels to achieve three-dimensional configuration. By arranging mixing levels and junctions in the vertical dimension rather than only horizontal expansion, the apparatus achieves compact footprint suitable for lab-on-a-chip applications while maintaining complex fluid manipulation capabilities through spatial optimization across multiple dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple functions are merged into a single integrated device structure. The apparatus combines multiple mixing levels, various types of junctions (bifurcated, trifurcated, merging), and fluid manipulation capabilities into one compact unit, eliminating the need for separate external equipment and achieving precise successive dilutions within a single miniaturized device.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple mixing levels are added to increase the number of outlet channels, then fluid composition control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each mixing level is designed with universal functionality to perform multiple operations. The junctions (bifurcated, trifurcated, merging) at each level can handle different fluid combinations and produce various outlet channels with controlled compositions. This multi-functional design allows the same structural pattern to be repeated across multiple levels, achieving high adaptability through systematic replication rather than requiring unique complex structures for each function.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a method and apparatus for manipulating fluids. The apparatus may include a microfluidic structure including inlet channels (1 and 2) and outlet channels (306, 307, 308, 309, 310, 311, 312, 313, and 314) oriented among bifurcated (5), trifurcated (6) and merging junctions (7 and 8). The apparatus splits and merges fluids flowing in the channels to produce successive dilutions of the fluids within the outlet channels. Multiple apparatus may be combined in serial, parallel, combined serial and parallel and/or stacked configurations. One or more apparatus may be used alone or to provide various devices or chambers with the diluted fluids.