Microfluidic Rounded Corners for Bubble-Free Liquid Transport

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing microfluidic devices face challenges in efficiently guiding the transport of liquids due to the presence of non-rounded corners that can lead to bubble formation and trapping, affecting the accuracy and efficiency of liquid transport.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a substrate and structures with rounded corners, where at least a portion of the structures defining the reservoirs do not include non-rounded corners that extend continuously from the substrate to the top surface of the structures, facilitating smooth liquid transport and reducing bubble formation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If non-rounded corners are used in microfluidic device structures, then manufacturing is simpler, but bubble formation and trapping occur leading to poor liquid transport reliability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveliquid transport reliabilityVSAvoidstructure manufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies curvature by replacing non-rounded corners with rounded corners in the microfluidic device structures. This design modification eliminates bubble formation and trapping issues while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standard fabrication processes capable of producing rounded geometries.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Productivity

If non-rounded corners extend continuously from substrate to top surface, then device structure is simpler, but liquid flow efficiency decreases due to bubble formation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveliquid transport efficiencyVSAvoidstructure design complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements continuous rounded corners that extend from the substrate to the top surface of the structures. This curved geometry design eliminates dead zones where bubbles can form, ensuring smooth liquid flow through the microfluidic device while maintaining structural integrity and manageable design complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Reliability

If rounded corners are implemented in all structures, then bubble formation is reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebubble formation controlVSAvoidcorner rounding precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent specifies that rounded corners have a radius of curvature of at least 50 micrometers. This parameter specification balances the need for effective bubble prevention with the capabilities of standard microfabrication processes, ensuring that the rounding is sufficient to eliminate bubble trapping while remaining manufacturable with conventional precision levels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20250033038A1Microfluidic devices with rounded corners

Publication Date: 2025.01.30 QUREATOR INC

AI summary

A device includes a substrate, and one or more structures. At least a portion of a bottom surface of the one or more structures is coupled to the substrate, and the one or more structures include a first portion defining a first reservoir and a second portion defining a second reservoir that is in communication with the first reservoir via one or more channels defined at least between the substrate and the one or more structures. The second portion of the one or more structures does not include a non-rounded corner that extends continuously from the substrate to a top surface of the one or more structures.