Enhanced mixing in microfluidic devices

• Main Authors: LENIGK RALF, LIU ROBIN HUI, DAI XUNHU, SINGHAL PANKAJ, GRODZINSKI PIOTR, DRUYOR-SANCHEZ ROBERTA L
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 18.09.2003
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE; MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING, DISPERSING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL; TRANSPORTING

The present invention provides microfluidic devices and methods for enhancing mixing and hybridization kinetics in microfluidic assays. More particularly, the present invention is a device and method wherein changing the volume of a gas pocket within a microfluidic device enhances mixing and reaction kinetics therein. In an embodiment sonic frequency is applied to the gas pocket resulting in microstreaming phenomena, thereby resulting in enhanced mixing and reaction kinetics. In another embodiment, the gas pocket is fluidly connected to a microfluidic channel and the volume of the pocket is changed (e.g., by heating and cooling of the gas therein), which cause oscillating flow within the microfluidic channel, thereby resulting in enhanced mixing and reaction kinetics therein.