REMOVING BUBBLES IN MICROFLUIDIC SYSTEMS

摘要

A microfluidic system includes a microfluidic device connected to a bubble trap device whereby fluid flowing to the microfluidic device passes through the bubble trap device to remove gas bubbles prior to entering the microfluidic device. The bubble trap can include a separation chamber and an exhaust chamber separated by a hydrophobic porous membrane and gas bubbles in the fluid entering the separation chamber pass through the hydrophobic porous membrane into the exhaust chamber while the fluid remains in the separation chamber. The bubble trap can be formed by bonding a first body portion to a first side of the hydrophobic porous membrane and bonding a second body portion to a second side of the hydrophobic porous membrane. The exhaust chamber can be connected to an elongated exhaust channel that limits the evaporation losses of the fluid through the hydrophobic porous membrane.

主权项

1. A microfluidic system comprising:
a microfluidic device comprising
a body having a central microchannel and membrane mounting regions adjacent to the central microchannel, the central microchannel having an inlet for introducing fluid to the central channel;a porous membrane extending generally along a plane across the central microchannel and separating the central microchannel into a first microchannel and a second microchannel, the porous membrane being coupled to the body at the membrane-mounting regions, the porous membrane including a first side facing toward the first microchannel and a second side facing toward the second microchannel, the first side having cells of a first type adhered thereto; a bubble trap comprising a separation chamber and an exhaust chamber separated by a hydrophobic porous membrane, the separation chamber being connected to a fluid channel and the fluid channel being connected to the inlet of the microfluidic device, wherein fluid and gas bubbles can enter the separation chamber and fluid from the separation chamber flows through the fluid channel to the inlet of the microfluidic device and gas bubbles pass through the hydrophobic porous membrane into the exhaust chamber.