Device for manipulation of packets in micro-containers, in particular in microchannels

摘要

The present invention concerns a microfluidic device (1) for performing physical, chemical or biological treatment to at least one packet without contamination.

主权项

1. A microfluidic device configured to deform at least one packet or to displace at least two packets towards each other, said device comprising:
a microchannel having a longitudinal axis, and at least one tubular portion defining an internal space of the microchannel, the tubular portion comprising an insulating material comprising a bulk non-fluorinated material coated with a permanent layer on an entire circumference of an internal surface of the tubular portion, wherein the permanent layer is composed of a material that is different from the bulk non-fluorinated material; a generator unit, and an electrode assembly coupled to the generator unit and configured for creating inside at least one portion of the microchannel an electric field which is substantially collinear to the longitudinal axis of the microchannel, wherein:
the generator unit is configured to generate the electric field with a Root Mean Squared (RMS) voltage between 1V and 30 kV and a frequency ranging from 0.01 Hz to 1 GHz, andthe electrode assembly comprises at least two electrodes, which are connected to different terminals of the generator unit, each of said two electrodes being electrically insulated from the entire inside surface of the tubular portion by the insulating material which has a thickness of at least 100 nm in such a manner so that a fluid, if present in the tubular portion, could not come in contact with any conductive surface of the electrodes.