Microfluidic Reservoir for Uniform Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
In microfluidic processes, maintaining a uniform volume flow of fluid over time is crucial for reliable reagent dissolution and reaction processes, but existing systems face challenges with fluid flow reduction due to clogging and agglomeration, leading to potential falsification of detection reaction results.
Innovation Solution
A microfluidic apparatus with a capillary stop mechanism, including a reservoir that compensates for reduced flow rates by storing separated fluid and ensuring a consistent flow through a funnel-shaped outlet, assisted by structural elements and capillary forces, maintains a uniform volume flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a filter or membrane is used for particle separation, then separation efficiency is improved, but flow rate decreases due to pore clogging and agglomeration
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into two independent flow paths: a first channel for initial separation and a second channel for maintaining flow. The separation function is segmented from the flow maintenance function, allowing each to optimize its performance independently.
Solution Approach 2:
A reservoir is introduced as an intermediary component between the filter and the detection reaction area. This reservoir acts as a buffer that decouples the flow rate reduction at the filter from the flow requirements at the detection area, maintaining reliable separation while ensuring sufficient flow for reagent dissolution.
2Manufacturing precision
If fluid flow rate is reduced during separation, then separation precision is improved, but reagent dissolution reliability deteriorates due to insufficient flow
Solution Approach 1:
The reservoir is pre-filled with separated fluid before the detection reaction begins. This preliminary accumulation ensures that when the detection reaction starts, there is already sufficient fluid volume available for reliable reagent dissolution, even though the flow rate during separation was reduced for precision.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a reservoir is added to maintain uniform flow, then flow uniformity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reservoir is integrated with the microfluidic chip structure, combining multiple functions (separation, accumulation, and flow regulation) into a single unified device. The first and second channels are merged into one chip, reducing overall system complexity despite adding reservoir functionality.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution ensures a consistent and reliable volume flow over time, preventing clumping and ensuring accurate results in microfluidic analyses by maintaining a stable fluid flow despite initial reductions during separation processes.
Implementation Method 1
The membrane or the filter can absorb liquid by the capillary action of its pores or capillaries
Implementation Method 2
The stop means or fluid stop in the microfluidic arrangement according to the invention is preferably a capillary stop
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a microfluidic apparatus for producing a volume flow that is uniform over time in a metering process. In various solution processes or reaction processes it is essential to have a specified given volume flow or mass flow of fluid available to ensure reliable dissolution of the reagent or ensure that the reaction takes place. In microfluidic apparatus in which separation of particles from a fluid, particularly blood, is carried out through a membrane, the volume flow through the membrane decreases continuously. In order to achieve a uniform volume flow during metering, it is envisaged that first of all a reservoir is filled from a first channel, so that the contents of the reservoir can then be fed to the metering process by opening a fluid stop. The emptying of the reservoir takes place with a uniform volume flow of 0.05 microliters per second to 10 microliters per second.