Accurate and rapid micromixer for integrated microfluidic devices

摘要

The invention may provide a microfluidic mixer having a droplet generator and a droplet mixer in selective fluid connection with the droplet generator. The droplet generator comprises first and second fluid chambers that are structured to be filled with respective first and second fluids that can each be held in isolation for a selectable period of time. The first and second fluid chambers are further structured to be reconfigured into a single combined chamber to allow the first and second fluids in the first and second fluid chambers to come into fluid contact with each other in the combined chamber for a selectable period of time prior to being brought into the droplet mixer.

主权项

1. A microfluidic mixer, comprising:
a droplet generator comprising a main channel; and a droplet mixer in selective fluid connection with said droplet generator, wherein a portion of said main channel is structured to be reconfigured into first and second fluid chambers with one of a first and second valve at each opposing end of said first and second fluid chambers and a third valve separating said first and second fluid chambers, wherein said first fluid chamber has a first fluid input channel that is separable from said first fluid chamber by a first fluid input valve situated at the periphery of said first fluid chamber, wherein said second fluid chamber has a second fluid input channel that is separable from said second fluid chamber by a second fluid input valve situated at the periphery of said second fluid chamber, wherein said first and second fluid chambers are structured to be at least partially filled with respective first and second fluids that can each be held in isolation for a selectable period of time, wherein said first and second fluid chambers are further structured to be reconfigured into a single combined chamber to allow said first and second fluids in said first and second fluid chambers to come into fluid contact with each other in said combined chamber for a selectable period of time prior to being brought into said droplet mixer, and wherein said main channel is configured to contain said first and second fluids that have come into fluid contact with each other outside said first and second fluid chambers upon opening of said first and second valves.