Fluid circulation systems incorporating fluid leveling devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10160944-B2
Application number	US-201514819358-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 5, 2015
Priority date	Aug 5, 2014
Publication date	Dec 25, 2018
Grant date	Dec 25, 2018

Abstract

Fluid circulation and leveling systems and methods of using the same are described. A fluid circulation system includes a fluid mixing chamber and open fluid chambers in fluid communication with the fluid mixing chamber. Each open fluid chamber includes a microfluidic fluid leveling conduit with an orifice disposed in the open fluid chamber at a minimum fluid level associated with a corresponding minimum fluid volume. A controller causes a first pump to generate a first direction of fluid flow during a first time period between the open fluid chambers, and causes the first pump to generate a second direction of fluid flow during a second time period between the first and second open fluid chambers. The controller also causes a second pump to generate a flow of fluid during a third time period from one of the first and second open fluid chambers into the fluid mixing chamber.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A fluid circulation and levelling system comprising:
a fluid mixing chamber;
a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber that are each in fluid communication with the fluid mixing chamber, wherein each of the first fluid chamber and second fluid chamber is an open container having a floor and is configured to contain a fluid within a defined range of fluid volumes such that the fluid disposed therein is exposed to the external environment;
a first microfluidic conduit with an orifice at one end, wherein the first microfluidic conduit extends into the first fluid chamber such that the orifice is positioned at a first height above the floor of the first fluid chamber;
a second microfluidic conduit with an orifice at one end, wherein the second microfluidic conduit extends into the second fluid chamber such that the orifice is positioned at a second height above the floor of the second fluid chamber;
a first pump in fluid communication with the microfluidic fluid conduits of the first and second fluid chambers;
a second pump in fluid communication with at least one of the first and second fluid chambers and the fluid mixing chamber; and
a controller coupled to the first and second pumps, and programmed to:
cause the first pump to generate a first direction of fluid flow during a first time period between the first and second fluid chambers through the first microfluidic conduit of the first fluid chamber such that a fluid level in the first fluid chamber drops to about the first height;
cause the first pump to generate a second direction of fluid flow during a second time period between the first and second fluid chambers through the second microfluidic conduit of the second fluid chamber such that a fluid level in the second fluid chamber drops to the second height; and
cause the second pump to generate a flow of fluid during a third time period from one of the first and second fluid chambers into the fluid mixing chamber.

2. The fluid circulation system of claim 1 , wherein each of the microfluidic fluid leveling conduits includes a hydrophobic coating around a perimeter of its orifice disposed in its respective open fluid chamber.

3. The fluid circulation system of claim 1 , wherein the microfluidic fluid leveling conduits in at least one of the first and second open fluid chambers comprise a bidirectional microfluidic conduit through which the first direction of fluid flow and the second direction of fluid flow occurs.

4. The fluid circulation system of claim 1 , wherein the microfluidic fluid leveling conduits in at least one of the first and second open fluid chambers comprises a fluid sipper extending into the fluid chamber from an open top of the open fluid chamber.

5. The fluid circulation system of claim 1 , wherein the microfluidic fluid leveling conduits in at least one of the first and second open fluid chambers comprises a fluid snorkel extending upward from a floor of the open fluid chamber.

6. The fluid circulation system of claim 1 , wherein the microfluidic fluid leveling conduits in at least one of the first and second open fluid chambers includes a spillway extending through a raised wall of the open fluid chamber.

7. The fluid circulation system of claim 1 , comprising a third open fluid chamber fluidically coupled to the fluid mixing chamber in parallel with at least one of the two open fluid chambers.

8. The fluid circulation system of claim 1 , comprising a third open fluid chamber fluidically coupled to the fluid mixing chamber in series with at least one of the first and second open fluid chambers.

9. The fluid circulation and levelling system of claim 1 , comprising:
a third fluid chamber and a fourth fluid chamber that are each in fluid communication with the fluid mixing chamber, wherein each of the third fluid chamber and fourth fluid chamber is an open container having a floor and is configured to contain a fluid within a defined range of fluid volumes such that the fluid disposed therein is exposed to the external environment;
a third microfluidic conduit with an orifice at one end, wherein the third microfluidic conduit extends into the third fluid chamber such that the orifice is positioned at a third height above the floor of the third fluid chamber;
a fourth microfluidic conduit with an orifice at one end, wherein the fourth microfluidic conduit extends into the fourth fluid chamber such that the orifice is positioned at a fourth height above the floor of the fourth fluid chamber;
wherein:
the third and fourth fluid chambers correspond to a first biological subsystem and are fluidically coupled to one another via their respective microfluidic conduits and a third pump; and
the first and second fluid chambers correspond to a second biological subsystem.

10. The fluid circulation system of claim 9 , wherein the second pump is further fluidically coupled to at least one of the third and fourth open fluid chambers and the controller is configured to pump fluid from the second biological system into the fluid mixing chamber.

11. The fluid circulation system of claim 9 , further comprising a fourth pump fluidically coupled to at least one of the third and fourth open fluid chambers and to the fluid mixing chamber, and the controller is configured to cause the fourth pump to cause fluid to flow from the first biological system into the fluid mixing chamber.

12. The fluid circulation system of claim 9 , further comprising a fourth pump fluidically coupled to the fluid mixing chamber and at least one of the third and fourth open fluid chambers, and the controller is further programmed to cause the fourth pump to generate a flow of fluid from the fluid mixing chamber into the first biological subsystem.

13. A method of mixing and circulating fluid, the method comprising:
configuring a fluid circuit comprising:
a fluid mixing chamber;
a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber that are each in fluid communication with the fluid mixing chamber, wherein each of the first fluid chamber and second fluid chamber is an open container having a floor and is configured to contain a fluid within a defined range of fluid volumes such that the fluid disposed therein is exposed to the external environment;
a first microfluidic conduit with an orifice at an end, wherein the first microfluidic conduit extends into the first fluid chamber such that the orifice is positioned at a first height above the floor of the first fluid chamber;
a second microfluidic conduit with an orifice at an end, wherein the second microfluidic conduit extends into the second fluid chamber such that the orifice is positioned at a second height above the floor of the second fluid chamber;
a first pump in fluid communication with the first and second microfluidic fluid conduits of the first and second fluid chambers;
a second pump in fluid communication with at least one of the first and second fluid chambers and the fluid mixing chamber; and
a controller coupled to the first and second pumps;

causing, via the controller, the first pump to generate a first direction of fluid flow during a first time period between the first and second fluid chambers through the first microfluidic conduit of the first fluid chamber such that a fluid level in the first fluid chamber drops to about the first height;
causing, via the controller, the first pump to generate a second direction of fluid flow during a second time period between the first and second fluid chambers through the second microfluidic conduit of the second fluid chamber such that a fluid level in the second fluid chamber drops to about the second height; and
causing, v

Assignees

• Charles Stark Draper Laboratory Inc

Inventors

• Coppeta Jonathan
• Isenberg Brett
• Mescher Mark

Classifications

• C12M29/12

  Pulsatile flow · CPC title

• C12M27/18

  Flow directing inserts · CPC title

• C12M21/08 Primary

  for producing artificial tissue or for ex-vivo cultivation of tissue (prostheses A61F2/00, grafts A61L27/00) · CPC title

• C12M27/00 Primary

  Means for mixing, agitating or circulating fluids in the vessel (by introduction of gas C12M29/06, C12M29/14, mixing in general or mixers per se B01F; mixing in apparatus for chemical or physical processes B01J) · CPC title

• C12M41/44

  of volume or liquid level · CPC title