Flow Control in A Microfluidic Device

摘要

This invention relates to a method of inducing fluid flow in a passive capillarity filled microfluidic device involving the use of a dual flow control reagent system, wherein the first flow control reagent is a surfactant which reduces surface tension of an aqueous fluid sample and the second flow control reagent is a viscosity enhancer.

主权项

1. A method of flowing a fluid sample through a micro fluidic channel in a passive micro fluidic device by capillarity, the method comprising:
providing a passive microfluidic device comprising an inlet reservoir, an outlet reservoir and a microfluidic channel having an inlet and an outlet and extending between the inlet reservoir and the outlet reservoir, wherein at least one portion of the channel is provided with a structural feature arranged to decrease or increase capillary flow rate of a fluid through the channel; introducing an aqueous fluid sample into the inlet reservoir and allowing the fluid sample to flow via the inlet through the channel by capillarity to the outlet, wherein the method comprises the step of adding first and second flow control reagents to the fluid within the inlet reservoir or prior to introduction of the fluid sample into the inlet reservoir, and wherein the first flow control reagent is a surfactant which reduces the surface tension of the fluid and the second flow control reagent is a viscosity enhancer.