Fluidic Analytics Limited

Cambridge Enterprise Limited

Thomas Mueller

Tuomas Pertti Jonathan Knowles

Anthony Douglas

Tuomas Knowles

Liam Dower

Therese Herling

Andrew Lynn

Sean Devenish

Yingbo Zhang

Paolo Arosio

Quentin Peter

Raphael Philippe Bernard Jacquat

A microfluidic device () is provided for separation and analysis of microfluidic samples. The device comprises: a separation channel (); a first electrolyte channel () configured to provide a flow of high conductivity electrolyte solution, in use; and provided with a positive electrode () at a downstream outlet of the channel; a second electrolyte channel () configured to provide a flow of high conductivity electrolyte solution, in use, and provided with a negative electrode () at a downstream outlet of the channel; and wherein the flow of electrolyte through the first and second electrolyte channels removes electrophoresis products and gas bubbles from the device; and wherein the presence of the electrolyte provides a substantially homogenous electric field across the separation channel.

Separation and analysis of samples bymicrofluidic free-flow electrophoresis

A fluid flow controller for introducing fluids into a microfluidic device is provided. The fluid flow controller comprising, at least one high resistance fluid pathway provided between an inlet port and a connection port; at least one low resistance fluid pathway between the inlet and connection port; and at least one valve configured to enable fluid flow through the high resistance fluid pathway, the low resistance fluid pathway or both.

Fluid flow controller for microfluidic devices

A single-layer valve is provided. The valve comprises a microfluidic pathway at least partially defined by a flexible membrane which is configured to deform when subjected to an actuation torque, and a discontinuity bounded by a first surface. The length of the discontinuity is constant across the full width of the first surface. The valve is configured such that the actuation torque on the membrane is larger in a first direction than a second direction substantially opposite to the first direction.

Valves for microfluidic devices

A fluidic system is provided. The system comprises: a rigid housing (), a plurality of flexible reagent containers () contained within the housing (); wherein each reagent container () has a connection port () through which a reagent can flow, in use, on the application of pressure. The system further comprises a single pressure source () configured to apply pressure to the interior of the rigid housing (); a microfluidic device configured to analyse one or more fluids provided from the plurality of reagent containers; and a plurality of channels () configured to transfer fluid from the plurality of reagent containers () to the microfluidic device. The ratio of resistances provided by a combination of the connection ports and the plurality of channels dictates the ratio of flow rates of the reagents. The claimed system allows for an accurate control of the various reagent flow rates while minimizing fluctuations in the relative flow rates.

Reagent cartridge

A method is provided for measuring the viscosity of a fluid sample. The method comprising the steps of: (ii) providing a flow of the fluid sample; (iii) providing a component flow, wherein the component flow is a flow of the fluid sample further comprising a tracer component; (iv) generating a laminar flow of the flow (ii) with the flow (iii) in a diffusion channel, such as a microfluidic diffusion channel (); (iv) measuring the lateral diffusion of the tracer component across the flows; and (v) determining the viscosity of the fluid from the measured diffusion profile, wherein the size of the tracer component is known or is determined.

Viscosity measurements based on tracer diffusion

A method for analyzing a component is provided. The method includes the steps of: (iii) providing the electrophoretic or thermophoretic movement of the component into a second fluid flow; (iv) diverting a part of a first fluid flow, a part of the second fluid flow, or parts of the first fluid flow and the second fluid flow, wherein the diverted part is a third fluid flow which includes, the component; (v) contacting the third fluid flow with a fourth fluid flow, such as to form a laminar flow; (vi) providing the diffusion of the component into the fourth fluid flows.

Growing community of inventors

Oberengstringen, Switzerland

Thomas Mueller