Industrial Technology Research Institute

Jhy-Wen Wu

Nan-Kuang Yao

Shaw-Hwa Parng

Yuan-Fong Kuo

Tim Kuei Shia

Luo-Hwa Miau

Hung-Jen Yang

Tim-Kuei Shia

Yuan-Fong Kao

Shaw-Hwa Pang

Jyh-Jain Chen

A microfluidic chip with a built-in gravity-driven micropump is provided. The gravity-driven micropump comprises a winding channel, an inert fluidic material placed inside the winding channel, and a suction channel that links the winding channel to the microfluidic chip. The winding channel is for the inert fluidic material to flow in. A fixed volume of high density, inert fluidic material is placed in the winding channel to act as a micropump in the bio chip. When the microfluidic chip is placed in a declining or standing position, the inert fluidic material flows along the winding channel due to the gravity. The invention provides a simple, convenient, and robust microfluid pumping source. With the built-in micropump, this invention is free-of-pollution and saves the manufacturing cost for the pipe link between the bio chip and peripheral devices.

Gravity-driven micropump

A wound treatment apparatus is disclosed, which comprises: a first portion, a second portion and a porous matrix. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the first portion, being an adhesive film, is formed with at least a first hole; and the second portion, being made of a flexible, water-resistant material, is formed with at least a second hole and at least a third hole in a manner that the at least one second hole and the at least one third hole are capable of communicating with each other and thus causes an accommodation space to be formed inside the second portion while the at least one second hole is arranged at a position corresponding to the at least one first hole as the second portion is connected to the first portion. Moreover, the porous matrix is received inside the accommodation space of the second portion.

Wound treatment apparatus

The present invention relates to a gravity-driven fraction separator and method thereof. The gravity-driven fraction separator is substantially a substrate having a microchannel structure arranged thereon, in which the microchannel structure is extending longitudinally on the substrate while sloping with respect to the level of the substrate by a specific angle. As a micro fluidics is being filled in a loading well situated upstream of the microchannel structure, the micro fluidics is driven by gravity to flow downstream in the microchannel structure while filling a plurality of manifolds formed in a area situated downstream of the microchannel structure, so that accurate quantification and separation of the micro fluidics using the plural manifolds, each having a specific length, can be achieved and provided for posterior inspection and analysis.

Gravity-driven fraction separator and method thereof

Disclosed is a fluid flow conducting module comprising two or more inlets, one or more outlets, and a chamber that has a first and second blocks therein. Further, the chamber has a gradually wider section in the middle, and two convergent ends. One convergent end is connected to the inlets, and the other convergent end is connected to the outlets. The first block has an acute angle in the front, and is placed close to the first convergent end and the inlets. The second block has a convex surface in the front, and is placed close to the second convergent end. The fluids are injected into the chamber through the inlets, flow through the chamber, and conducted towards one or more outlets for further collection and analysis. This fluid flow conducting module has a wide range of flow speed and a simple structure. It can be used in a wide range of applications, such as cell culture, cell reaction to medicine or bio-chemical detection.

Fluid flow conducting module

A gravity-driven apparatus and method control the flow order of reactants in microfluidic devices which are employed in a microfluidic chip. The gravity-driven apparatus flow order control mainly comprises a plurality of reactant chambers arranged at different heights, a plurality of flow-control microchannels, and a reaction chamber having a winding collection microchannel. Each reactant chamber has an air-in vent. Each pair of neighboring flow-control microchannels has a U-shaped structure connecting the pair of neighboring flow-control microchannels. To activate the microfluidic device, the device is placed in an inclining or standing position and the air-in vents are unsealed. This apparatus enhances the reliability of flow order control for multiple reactants. It can be built in a microfluidic chip, and does not use any actuating power or element. Therefore, it is low in energy-consumption, low in manufacturing cost and free of pollution.

gravity-driven apparatus and method for control of microfluidic devices

A gravity-driven apparatus and method control the flow order of reactants in microfluidic devices which are employed in a microfluidic chip. The gravity-driven apparatus flow order control mainly comprises a plurality of reactant chambers arranged at different heights, a plurality of flow-control microchannels, and a reaction chamber having a winding collection microchannel. Each reactant chamber has an air-in vent. Each pair of neighboring flow-control microchannels has a U-shaped structure connecting the pair of neighboring flow-control microchannels. To activate the microfluidic device, the device is placed in an inclining or standing position and the air-in vents are unsealed. This method enhances the reliability of flow order control for multiple reactants. It can be built in a microfluidic chip, and does not use any actuating power or element. Therefore, it is low in energy-consumption, low in manufacturing cost and free of pollution.

Gravity-driven apparatus and method for control of microfluidic devices

An apparatus and a method for collecting fluid fractions. The present apparatus includes an inlet, a channel, a plurality of collectors, and an outlet. The inlet communicates with the collectors and the outlet through the channel. The collectors are disposed between the inlet and the outlet. The method for collecting the fluid fractions comprises two steps. First step, injecting the fluid in to the inlet for guiding the fluid to the outlet along the channel, wherein the fluid fills the collectors one by one due to the capillary attraction when passing through the collectors, and flows to the outlet after the collectors having been filled. Second step, injecting pressurized gas into the channel to drain the fluid fractions from fill the collectors respectively to a plurality of corresponding containers.

Apparatus and method for collecting fluid fractions

This specification disclosed a partially closed microfluidic system and a fluid driving method. The microfluidic system is comprised of a substrate with microfluidic elements and a thin film. A feature of this structure is that the thin film is elastic and deformable. It has a single opening corresponding to a vent hole on the substrate, thus forming a partially closed microfluidic system. The substrate is designed to have several positions for micro fluid elements and deformable chambers and uses micro channels to form a complete network. Since the thin film is elastic and deformable, one is able to impose a pressure on the thin film above the deformable chambers in this partially closed microfluidic system to drive the fluid into motion. Once the pressure is released, the fluid flows back to its original configuration.

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Hsinchu, Taiwan

Jhy-Wen Wu