Microfluidic Valve Layout for Inward Capillary Liquid Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
In complex microfluidic systems, especially highly integrated biological testing chips, the increasing radius of the chip complicates fluid transfer and manufacturing, requiring external forces for fluid transfer, which is cumbersome and limits application.
Innovation Solution
A valve system for driving fluid in microfluidic chips, comprising a fluid unit far from the rotation center, a fluid unit close to the rotation center, and a fluid pipeline connecting them, where the fluid outlet's rotation radius is greater than the inlet's, allowing liquid transfer via capillary action without external force, facilitated by surfactant modification for enhanced fluid flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple liquid processing steps and reaction processes are added to increase system functionality, then the adaptability and versatility of the microfluidic chip improve, but the chip radius continuously increases, leading to increased device complexity and manufacturing difficulty
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional centrifugal flow direction by using outward centrifugal force to drive liquid inward toward the rotation center through a specially designed fluid transferring unit. This inversion allows the chip to process multiple liquid steps within a compact radius, resolving the contradiction between increased functionality and chip size expansion
2Ease of operation
If external force is applied to drive fluid transfer in complex microfluidic systems, then the fluid transfer capability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to tedious operation steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service fluid transfer by designing a fluid transferring unit that automatically controls liquid flow using the centrifugal force generated during chip rotation. The unit includes a fluid outlet positioned at a larger rotation radius and a fluid inlet at a smaller radius, creating automatic inward flow without external intervention, thereby simplifying operation while maintaining complex fluid processing capabilities
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
The system simplifies fluid transfer within microfluidic chips by reducing the need for external forces, enabling efficient liquid backflow to the rotation center, thus reducing chip size and operational complexity.
Implementation Method 1
When the centrifugation stops, liquid in the fluid unit far away from the rotation center is transferred into the fluid unit close to the rotation center via the fluid pipeline under capillary action
Implementation Method 2
facilitated by surfactant modification for enhanced fluid flow
Data Source
AI summary
A valve system for driving fluid and a method for using the same are provided. The valve system includes a fluid unit far away from the rotation center, a fluid unit close to the rotation center, a fluid transferring unit and a gas path pipeline for communicating the fluid unit close to the rotation center with the fluid unit far away from the rotation center. A rotation radius of a fluid outlet of the fluid unit far away from the rotation center is greater than that of a fluid inlet of the fluid unit close to the rotation center. The fluid outlet of the fluid unit far away from the rotation center is located at an end thereof away from the rotation center, and the fluid inlet of the fluid unit close to the rotation center is located at an end thereof close to the rotation center.