The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Mar. 16, 2021

Filed:

Mar. 18, 2016
Applicant:

North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC (US);

Inventors:

Brian M. Cummins, Raleigh, NC (US);

Frances Smith Ligler, Fuquay Varina, NC (US);

Glenn Walker, Cary, NC (US);

Assignee:
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B01L 3/00 (2006.01); F04B 37/04 (2006.01); F04B 37/02 (2006.01); F04B 19/16 (2006.01); F04B 19/00 (2006.01); F04F 99/00 (2009.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
B01L 3/50273 (2013.01); B01L 3/5023 (2013.01); B01L 3/502746 (2013.01); F04B 19/006 (2013.01); F04B 19/16 (2013.01); F04B 37/02 (2013.01); F04B 37/04 (2013.01); F04F 99/00 (2013.01); B01L 2200/027 (2013.01); B01L 2200/06 (2013.01); B01L 2200/12 (2013.01); B01L 2300/069 (2013.01); B01L 2300/087 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0816 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0883 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0887 (2013.01); B01L 2300/12 (2013.01); B01L 2300/126 (2013.01); B01L 2400/0406 (2013.01); B01L 2400/0457 (2013.01); B01L 2400/084 (2013.01); F05B 2280/50 (2013.01);
Abstract

Provided herein are passive microfluidic pumps. The pumps can comprise a fluid inlet, an absorbent region, a resistive region fluidly connecting the fluid inlet and the absorbent region, and an evaporation barrier enclosing the resistive region, the absorbent region, or a combination thereof. The resistive region can comprise a first porous medium, and a fluidly non-conducting boundary defining a path for fluid flow through the first porous medium from the fluid inlet to the absorbent region. The absorbent region can comprise a fluidly non-conducting boundary defining a volume of a second porous medium sized to absorb a predetermined volume of fluid imbibed from the resistive region. The resistive region and the absorbent region can be configured to establish a capillary-driven fluid front advancing from the fluid inlet through the resistive region to the absorbent region when the fluid inlet is contacted with fluid.


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