Fluidic mixer in microfluidic system
(19)AUSTRALIAN PATENT OFFICE (54) Title Fluidic mixer in microfluidic system (51)6 International Patent Classification(s) B01F 013/00 BOIL 003/00 B81B 001/00 (21) Application No: 2001281076 (22) Application Date: 2001 .08.03 (87) WIPO No: WO02/11888 (30) Priority Data (31) Number (32) Date (33) Country 09/632,681 2000 .08.07 US (43) Publication Date : 2002.02.18 (43) Publication Journal Date : 2002 .05.16 (71) Applicant(s) Nanostream, Inc. (72) Inventor(s) Karp, Christoph; O'Connor, Stephen D. (-1-1) Application NoAU2001281076 A8(19)AUSTRALIAN PATENT OFFICE (54) Title Fluidic mixer in microfluidic system (51)6 International Patent Classification(s) B01F 013/00 BOIL 003/00 B81B 001/00 (21) Application No: 2001281076 (22) Application Date: 2001 .08.03 (87) WIPO No: WO02/11888 (30) Priority Data (31) Number (32) Date (33) Country 09/632,681 2000 .08.07 US (43) Publication Date : 2002.02.18 (43) Publication Journal Date : 2002 .05.16 (71) Applicant(s) Nanostream, Inc. (72) Inventor(s) Karp, Christoph; O'Connor, Stephen D. -1- Microfluidic devices capable of efficiently mixing one or more fluids are described. Two or more microfluidic channels within the device meet at an overlap region. The overlap region may be in fluid communication with an outlet channel. The inlet channels are disposed within different layers of a three dimension device. Microfluidic separators for separating multiphase fluids are also described. In this case, a multiphase fluid flows through an inlet channel into an overlap region from where the separated phases can be withdrawn through outlet channels. Also provided are methods for mixing and separating fluids in such devices. Claims 1. A microfluidic device comprising: a plurality of microfluidic inlet channels ; and an overlap region within which said inlet channels are in fluid communication with each other.
2. The microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein each of the inlet channels comprises a channel formed by removing from a substantially flat sheet of material a volume of siad material equal to the volume of the channel.
3. The microfluidic device of claim 2, wherein at least one inlet channel is formed in a first sheet of a first material and at least another inlet channel is formed in a second sheet of a second material.
4. The microfluidic device of claim 3, wherein the first material and the second material are substantially the same.
5. The microfluidic device of claim 3, wherein the first material and the second material are not the same.
6. The microfluidic device of claim 5, wherein the first material is hydrophobic and the second material is hydrophilic.
7. The microfluidic device of claim 1 wherein the volume of the inlet channels is between about I nanoliter to about 50 microliters per centimeter length of the inlet channel.
8. The microfluidic device of claim 1 wherein the inlet channels have a rectangular or a square cross section.
9. The microfluidic device of claim 8, wherein the length of each side is between about 1 and about 500 microns.
10. The microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein the inlet channels have a circular cross section.
11. The microfluidic device of claim 10, wherein the diameter of the inlet channels is between about 10 microns to about 1000 microns.
12. The microfluidic device of claim 2, wherein said material is paper, foil or a plastic.
13. The microfluidic device of claim 13, wherein said plastic is selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylenes, polycarbonates, polypropylenes, polyimide and polyesters.
14. A microfluidic device comprising: a first inlet channel formed by removing a volume of material equal to the volume of the first inlet channel from a substantially flat first sheet of said material such that the channel is substantially parallel to the top and the bottom surfaces of the first sheet; a second inlet channel formed by removing a volume of material equal to the volume of the second inlet channel from a substantially flat second sheet of the material such that the channel is substantially parallel to the top and the bottom surfaces of the second sheet ; and an overlap region within which said first and second inlet channels are in fluid communication with each other.
15. The microfluidic device of claim 14, further comprising an outlet channel in fluid communication with the inlet channels through the overlap region.
16. The microfluidic device of claim 15 wherein the volumes of the inlet channels and the outlet channel are between about I nanoliter to about 50 microliters per centimeter length of the inlet channel.
17. The microfluidic device of claim 15 wherein the inlet and outlet charmels have a rectangular or a square cross section.
18. The microfluidic device of claim 17, wherein the length of each side is between about 1 and about 500 microns.
19. The microfluidic device of claim 15, wherein the inlet and outlet channels have a circular cross section.
20. The microfluidic device of claim 19, wherein the diameter of the inlet channels is between about 10 microns to about 1000 microns.
21. The microfluidic device of claim 15, wherein said outlet channel is formed by removing a volume of material equal to the volume of the outlet channel from the first sheet or the second sheet.
22. The microfluidic device of claim 21, wherein the first sheet and the second sheet are joined together such that the plane of the joint is substantially parallel to the top and bottom surfaces of the sheets.
23. The microfluidic device of claim 15, wherein said outlet channel is formed by removing a volume of material equal to the volume of the outlet channel from a substantially flat third sheet of the material such that the outlet channel is in a plane that is substantially parallel to the top and bottom surfaces of the third sheet.
24. The microfluidic device of claim 23, wherein the first, second and third sheets are joined together such that the planes of the joints are substantially parallel to the top and bottom surfaces of the sheets.
25. The microfluidic device of claim 24, wherein the third sheet is joined to both the first sheet and the second sheet.
26. The microfluidic device of claim 14, wherein said overlap region comprises one or more sheets containing apertures in fluid communication with said first and second inlet channels.
27. The microfluidic device of claim 14, wherein said sheets are stencil sheets.
28. The microfluidic device of claim 14, further comprising an upper sheet, wherein said upper sheet provides the top surface of one inlet channel.
29. The microfluidic device of claim 14, further comprising a lower sheet, wherein said lower sheet provides the bottom surface of the other inlet channel.
30. The microfluidic device of claim 28, wherein said upper sheet is substantially rigid.
31. The microfluidic device of claim 29, wherein said lower sheet is substantially rigid.
32. The microfluidic device of claim 23, wherein the material of said sheets is paper, foil or plastic.
33. The microfluidic device of claim 32, wherein said sheets are adhesively bonded.
34. The microfluidic device of claim 32, wherein said sheets are self-adhesive having a carrier layer and an adhesive layer.
35. The microfluidic device of claim 34, wherein said carrier layers are selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylenes, polycarbonates, polypropylenes, polyimide and polyesters.
36. A microfluidic mixer comprising : a first sheet having a first channel through which a first fluid flows; a second sheet having a second channel through which a second fluid flows; and an overlap region formed by the first and second channels such that the first fluid and the second fluid enter the overlap region and mix therein.
37. The microfluidic device of claim 36, further comprising an outlet channel in fluid communication with the inlet channels through the overlap region.
38. The microfluidic device of claim 37 wherein the volumes of the inlet channels and the outlet channel are between about 1 nanoliter to about 50 microliters per centimeter length of the inlet channel.
39. The microfluidic device of claim 37 wherein the inlet and outlet channels have a rectangular or a square cross section.
40. The microfluidic device of claim 39, wherein the length of each side is between about 1 and about 500 microns.
41. The microfluidic, device of claim 37, wherein the inlet and outlet channels have a circular cross section.
42. The microfluidic device of claim 41, wherein the diameter of the inlet channels is between about 10 microns to about 1000 microns.
43. The microfluidic device of claim 37, wherein said outlet channel is formed by removing a volume of material equal to the volume of the outlet channel from the first sheet or the second sheet.
44. The microfluidic device of claim 43, wherein the first sheet and the second sheet are joined together such that the plane of the joint is substantially parallel to the top and bottom surfaces of the sheets.
45. The microfluidic device of claim 37, wherein said outlet channel is formed by removing a volume of material equal to the volume of the outlet channel from a substantially flat third sheet of the material such that the outlet charmel is in a plane that is substantially parallel to the top and bottom surfaces of the third sheet.
46. The microfluidic device of claim 45, wherein the first, second and third sheets are joined together such that the planes of the joints are substantially parallel to the top and bottom surfaces of the sheets.
47. The microfluidic device of claim 46, wherein the third sheet is joined to both the first sheet and the second sheet.
48. The microfluidic device of claim 36, wherein said overlap region comprises one or more sheets containing apertures in fluid communication with said first and second inlet channels.
49. The microfluidic device of claim 36, wherein said sheets are stencil sheets.
50. The microfluidic device of claim 36, further comprising an upper sheet, wherein said upper sheet provides the top surface of one inlet channel.
51. The microfluidic device of claim 36, further comprising a lower sheet, wherein said lower sheet provides the bottom surface of the other inlet channel.
52. The microfluidic device of claim 50, wherein said upper sheet is substantially rigid.
53. The microfluidic device of claim 51, wherein said lower sheet is substantially rigid.
54. The microfluidic device of claim 45, wherein the material of said sheets is paper, foil or plastic.
55. The microfluidic device of claim 54, wherein said sheets are adhesively bonded.
56. The microfluidic device of claim 54, wherein said sheets are self-adhesive having a carrier layer and an adhesive layer.
57. The microfluidic device of claim 56, wherein said carrier layers are selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylenes, polycarbonates, polypropylenes, polyimide and polyesters.
58. A microfluidic mixer comprising: a first channel through which a first fluid flows; a second channel through which a second fluid flows; and an overlap region formed by the first and second channels such that the first fluid and the second fluid enter the overlap region and mix therein to form a mixture of the first and second fluids.
59. The microfluidic mixer of claim 58, further comprising an outlet channel connected to the overlap region such that the mixture from the overlap region may flow through the outlet channel.
60. The microfluidic device of claim 59 wherein the volumes of the inlet channels and the outlet channel are between about I nanoliter to about 50 microliters per centimeter length of the inlet channel.
61. The microfluidic device of claim 59 wherein the inlet and outlet channels have a rectangular or a square cross section.
62. The microfluidic device of claim 61, wherein the length of each side is between about I and about 500 microns.
63. The microfluidic device of claim 59, wherein the inlet and outlet channels have a circular cross section.
64. The microfluidic device of claim 63, wherein the diameter of the inlet channels is between about 10 microns to about 1000 microns.
65. The microfluidic mixer of claim 59, wherein each of the channels is formed by removing a volume of material equal to the volume of said channel from substantially flat sheets of the material.
66. The microfluidic mixer of claim 65, wherein the sheets are joined together such that the plane of the joint is substantially parallel to the top and bottom surfaces of the sheets.
67. The microfluidic mixer of claim 65, wherein said outlet channel is formed by removing a volume of material equal to the volume of the outlet channel from a sheet that contains one of the inlet channels.
68. The microfluidic mixer of claim 65, wherein each of the first and second inlet channels is formed by removing a volume of material equal to the volume of said channel from substantially flat first and second sheets of the material and said outlet channel is formed by removing a volume of material equal to the volume of the outlet channel from a third sheet of the material.
69. The microfluidic mixer of claim 68, wherein the third sheet is sandwiched between the first and second sheets.
70. The microfluidic mixer of claim 58, wherein said overlap region comprises one or more sheets containing apertures in fluid communication with said first and second inlet channels.
71. The microfluidic mixer of claim 65, wherein said sheets are stencil sheets.
72. The microfluidic mixer of claim 68, further comprising an upper sheet, wherein said upper sheet provides the top surface of one inlet channel.
73. The microfluidic, mixer of claim 68, further comprising a lower sheet, wherein said lower sheet provides the bottom surface of the other inlet channel.
74. The microfluidic, mixer of claim 72, wherein said upper sheet is substantially rigid.
75. The microfluidic, mixer of claim 73, wherein said lower sheet is substantially rigid.
76. The microfluidic, mixer of claim 65, wherein the material of said sheets is paper, foil or plastic.
77. The microfluidic mixer of claim 76, wherein said sheets are adhesively bonded.
78. The microfluidic mixer of claim 76, wherein said sheets are self-adhesive having a carrier layer and an adhesive layer.
79. The microfluidic mixer of claim 78, wherein said carrier layers are selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylenes, polycarbonates, polypropylenes, polyimide and polyesters.
80. The microfluidic mixer of claim 58 wherein the first and second fluids are substantially the same.
81. The microfluidic mixer of claim 58 wherein the first and second fluids have different viscosities.
82. The microfluidic, mixer of claim 58 wherein the first and second fluids have different compositions.
83. The microfluidic mixer of claim 58 wherein the first and second fluids have different temperatures.
84. The microfluidic mixer of claim 58 wherein the first and second fluids have different flow rates.
85. A microfluidic separator for separating phases of a multi-phase fluid mixture comprising: a first channel formed by removing a volume of material equal to the volume of the first channel from a substantially flat first sheet of the material such that the channel is substantially parallel to the top and the bottom surfaces of the first sheet; a second channel formed by removing a volume of material equal to the volume of the second channel from a substantially flat second sheet of the material such that the channel is substantially parallel to the top and the bottom surfaces of the second sheet ; a third channel formed by removing a volume of material equal to the volume of the third channel from a substantially flat third sheet of the material such that the channel is substantially parallel to the top and the bottom surfaces of the third sheet;STDC0125 and an overlap region within which said first, second and third inlet channels are in fluid communication with each other.
86. The microfluidic device of claim 85, wherein the first sheet is sandwiched between the second and third sheets whereby the second channel is in fluid communication with the top half of the overlap region and the third channel is in fluid communication with the bottom half of the overlap region.
87. The microfluidic device of claim 85, wherein the materials of the first, second and third sheets are substantially the same.
88. The microfluidic device of claim 85, wherein the materials of the second and third sheets are selected such that the separation of the phases is expedited.
89. The microfluidic device of claim 85, wherein the materials of the of the second and third sheets are selected such that the material of one of the sheets is hydrophobic and the material of another of the sheets is hydrophilic.
90. A method for separating phases of a multi-phase mixture using the separator of claim 85, the method comprising the steps of : feeding a fluid comprising a multi-phase mixture to the first channel under conditions sufficient to separate the phases such that the separated phases enter the overlap region; withdrawing one of the separated phases through the second channel; and withdrawing another of the separated phases through the third channel.
91. A method of manufacturing a microfluidic mixing device comprising: removing a volume of material equal to the volume of a first channel from a substantially flat sheet of the material such that the channel is substantially parallel to the top and bottom surfaces of the sheet; removing a volume of material equal to the volume of a second channel from a substantially flat sheet of the material such that the channel is substantially parallel to the top and bottom surfaces of the sheet; and forming an overlap region within which said first and second channels are in fluid communication with each other.
92. A method for mixing two or more fluids comprising transporting a first fluid at a first flow rate and a second fluid at a second flow rate through said first and second inlet channels of the microfluidic device of claim 14.
93. The method of claim 92, wherein said flow rates are substantially the same.
94. The method of claim 92, wherein said flow rates are controlled to change the composition in the overlap region.