Microfluidic droplet generator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9327303-B2
Application number	US-201113980273-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 20, 2011
Priority date	Jan 17, 2011
Publication date	May 3, 2016
Grant date	May 3, 2016

Abstract

A microfluidic droplet generator device, a kit of parts for assembling a microfluidic droplet generator device, and a method of generating microfluidic droplets. The generator device comprises a substrate; a microfluidic channel formed in the substrate; a fluid outlet in fluid communication with the microfluidic channel; and a mechanical element configured such that vibration of the mechanical element causes droplet dispensing from the fluid outlet.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A microfluidic droplet generator device comprising:
a substrate;
a microfluidic channel formed in the substrate;
a fluid outlet in fluid communication with the microfluidic channel;
a mechanical element configured such that vibration of the mechanical element causes droplet dispensing from the fluid outlet; and
a medium member disposed to isolate the mechanical element from direct contact with a dispensing fluid,
wherein the medium member comprises a fluid medium;
a vibrational element coupled to the mechanical element for vibrating the mechanical element; and
wherein the mechanical element is associated with the microfluidic channel.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the mechanical element comprises a piston element coupled to the microfluidic channel.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a signal generator coupled to the vibrational element for controlling the vibrational element.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a conduit element disposed on the substrate and in fluid communication with the microfluidic channel.

5. The device as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the conduit element is configured for receiving the mechanical element.

6. The device as claimed in claim 5 , further comprising a positioning structure for receiving the mechanical element into the conduit member.

7. The device as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the conduit element comprises a tube separate from the substrate or a capillary channel formed in the substrate.

8. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the fluid medium comprises air, an inert gas, or a liquid immiscible with the dispensing fluid.

9. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the fluid outlet comprises an outlet member coupled to the microfluidic channel.

10. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the fluid outlet is formed integral with the substrate.

11. The device as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the fluid outlet is in the form of an opening hole on a surface of the substrate.

12. The device as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the fluid outlet is formed on a protruding part of the substrate.

13. The device as claimed in claim 12 , wherein a wall thickness of the fluid outlet has a controlled thickness for reduction of a fluid wetting area.

14. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the fluid outlet at an exit for the fluid has a smaller cross-section than any cross-section of the microfluidic channel.

15. A kit of parts for assembling a microfluidic droplet generator device, the kit of parts comprising:
a substrate;
a microfluidic channel formed in the substrate;
a fluid outlet in fluid communication with the microfluidic channel;
a mechanical element configured such that vibration of the mechanical element causes droplet dispensing from the fluid outlet; and
a medium member disposed to isolate the mechanical element from direct contact with a dispensing fluid,
wherein the medium member is configured to comprise a fluid medium;
a vibrational element configured to be coupled to the mechanical element for vibrating the mechanical element; and
wherein the mechanical element is configured to communicate with the microfluidic channel.

16. The kit of parts as claimed in claim 15 , further comprising a signal generator coupled to the vibrational element for controlling the vibrational element.

17. A method of generating microfluidic droplets comprising
providing a microfluidic droplet generator device of claim 1 ;
vibrating the mechanical element to cause droplet dispensing from a fluid outlet in fluid communication with the microfluidic channel,
wherein a medium member is disposed to isolate the mechanical element from direct contact with a dispensing fluid, and
wherein the medium member is configured to comprise a fluid medium.

Assignees

• Wang Wei
• Wang Zhiping
• Agency Science Tech & Res

Inventors

• Wang Wei
• Wang Zhiping

Classifications

• B01L3/0268 Primary

  using pulse dispensing or spraying, eg. inkjet type, piezo actuated ejection of droplets from capillaries · CPC title

• B01L2300/123

  Flexible; Elastomeric · CPC title

• B01L2400/0478

  pistons · CPC title

• A61M11/005

  using ultrasonics (spraying or atomising liquids using ultrasonic vibrations in general B05B17/06) · CPC title

• B05B17/0615 Primary

  spray being produced at the free surface of the liquid or other fluent material in a container and subjected to the vibrations · CPC title