Reconfigurable multi-step chemical synthesis system and related components and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11185839-B2
Application number	US-201716098333-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 2, 2017
Priority date	May 2, 2016
Publication date	Nov 30, 2021
Grant date	Nov 30, 2021

Abstract

The instant disclosure is related to fluidic distributors, fluidic systems, and associated methods and articles. Certain embodiments are related to fluidic distributors that comprise bays including fluidic connections with relative positions that substantially correspond to each other. In some embodiments, a fluidic distributor may comprise bays with electrical interfaces with relative positions that substantially correspond to each other.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fluidic system, comprising:
a fluidic distributor, comprising:
a first bay comprising first and second fluidic connections; and
a second bay comprising first and second fluidic connections;
wherein the relative positions of the first and second fluidic connections of the first bay substantially correspond to the relative positions of the first and second fluidic connections of the second bay;

a first fluidic module comprising an inlet and an outlet; and
a second fluidic module comprising an inlet and an outlet,
wherein the fluidic distributor, the first fluidic module, and the second fluidic module are configured to be interchangeable such that:
the relative positions of the inlet and the outlet of the first fluidic module substantially correspond to the relative positions of the first and second fluidic connections of the first bay;
the relative positions of the inlet and the outlet of the first fluidic module substantially correspond to the relative positions of the first and second fluidic connections of the second bay;
the relative positions of the inlet and the outlet of the second fluidic module substantially correspond to the relative positions of the first and second fluidic connections of the first bay; and
the relative positions of the inlet and the outlet of the second fluidic module substantially correspond to the relative positions of the first and second fluidic connections of the second bay.

2. A fluidic distributor, comprising:
a first bay comprising first and second fluidic connections and an electrical interface; and
a second bay comprising first and second fluidic connections and an electrical interface;
wherein:
a processor is electronically coupled to the electrical interfaces of the first and second bays; and
the relative positions of the first fluidic connection of the first bay and the electrical interface of the first bay substantially correspond to the relative positions of the first fluidic connection of the second bay and the electrical interface of the second bay.

3. The fluidic distributor of claim 2 , wherein relative positions of the first fluidic connection and the electrical interface of the first bay and relative positions of the first fluidic connection and the electrical interface of the second bay are arranged such that the first fluidic connection and electrical interface of the first bay can be superimposed over the first fluidic connection and the electrical interface of the second bay, while maintaining the relative positions between the first fluidic connection and electrical interface of the first bay and while maintaining the relative positions between the first fluidic connection and electrical interface of the second bay, such that:
the degree of overlap of the first fluidic connection of the first bay and the first fluidic connection of the second bay is at least 50%, and
the degree of overlap of the electrical interface of the first bay and the electrical interface of the second bay is at least 50%.

4. The fluidic distributor of claim 2 , wherein relative positions of the first fluidic connection and the electrical interface of the first bay and relative positions of the first fluidic connection and the electrical interface of the second bay are arranged such that the first fluidic connection and electrical interface of the first bay can be superimposed over the first fluidic connection and the electrical interface of the second bay, while maintaining the relative positions between the first fluidic connection and electrical interface of the first bay and while maintaining the relative positions between the first fluidic connection and electrical interface of the second bay, such that:
the degree of overlap of the first fluidic connection of the first bay and the first fluidic connection of the second bay is at least 95%, and
the degree of overlap of the electrical interface of the first bay and the electrical interface of the second bay is at least 95%.

5. The fluidic system of claim 1 , wherein relative positions of the first fluidic connection and the second fluidic connection of the first bay and relative positions of the first fluidic connection and the second fluidic connection of the second bay are arranged such that the first fluidic connection and the second fluidic connection of the first bay can be superimposed over the first fluidic connection and the second fluidic connection of the second bay, while maintaining the relative positions between the first fluidic connection and the second fluidic connection of the first bay and while maintaining the relative positions between the first fluidic connection and the second fluidic connection of the second bay, such that:
the degree of overlap of the first fluidic connection of the first bay and the first fluidic connection of the second bay is at least 50%, and
the degree of overlap of the second fluidic connection of the first bay and the second fluidic connection of the second bay is at least 50%.

6. The fluidic system of claim 1 , wherein relative positions of the first fluidic connection and the second fluidic connection of the first bay and relative positions of the first fluidic connection and the second fluidic connection of the second bay are arranged such that the first fluidic connection and the second fluidic connection of the first bay can be superimposed over the first fluidic connection and the second fluidic connection of the second bay, while maintaining the relative positions between the first fluidic connection and the second fluidic connection of the first bay and while maintaining the relative positions between the first fluidic connection and the second fluidic connection of the second bay, such that:
the degree of overlap of the first fluidic connection of the first bay and the first fluidic connection of the second bay is at least 95%, and
the degree of overlap of the second fluidic connection of the first bay and the second fluidic connection of the second bay is at least 95%.

7. The fluidic system of claim 1 , wherein the first fluidic connection of the first bay and the second fluidic connection of the first bay are arranged on a single surface.

8. The fluidic system of claim 1 , wherein the fluidic distributor further comprises a third bay.

9. The fluidic system of claim 8 , wherein the third bay comprises first and second fluidic connections, and the relative positions of the first and second fluidic connections of the first bay substantially correspond to the relative positions of the first and second fluidic connections of the third bay.

10. The fluidic system of claim 1 , wherein the first fluidic module comprises at least one of a reactor, a separator, and a mixer.

11. The fluidic system of claim 10 , wherein the second fluidic module comprises at least one of a reactor, a separator, and a mixer.

12. The fluidic system of claim 1 , wherein the first fluidic module comprises a unit operation, and the second fluidic module comprises a unit operation that is different from the unit operation of the first fluidic module.

13. The fluidic system of claim 1 , wherein the first fluidic module comprises a sensor configured to determine at least one condition within the first fluidic module selected from the group consisting of temperature, pressure, pH, a component concentration, and a flow rate.

14. The fluidic system of claim 13 , wherein the second fluidic module comprises a sensor configured to determine at least one condition within the second fluidic module selected from the group consisting of temperature, pressure, pH, a component concentration, and a f

Assignees

• Massachusetts Inst Technology

Inventors

• Adamo Andrea
• Thomas Iii Dale Arlington
• Jensen Klavs F
• Jamison Timothy F
• Bedermann Aaron A
• Aroh Kosisochukwu C

Classifications

• B01J19/0093 Primary

  Microreactors, e.g. miniaturised or microfabricated reactors (laboratory containers with capillary fluid transport in microfabricated channels or chambers B01L3/5027) · CPC title

• B01J2219/00815

  Electric connections · CPC title

• B01J2219/00945

  Infrared light · CPC title

• B01J2219/00813

  Fluidic connections · CPC title

• B01J2219/00907

  using membranes · CPC title