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.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 26, 2006
Filed:
Apr. 12, 2005
John Oakey, Boulder, CO (US);
David W. M. Marr, Golden, CO (US);
John Oakey, Boulder, CO (US);
David W. M. Marr, Golden, CO (US);
Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO (US);
Abstract
The present invention provides microfluidic optical waveguides and waveguide switches providing capability for multiple outlet paths for the fluid waveguides and optical signals contained therein. A microfluidic structure comprises a core inlet channel, one or more cladding fluid inlet channels intersecting with the core inlet channel downstream of a core inlet, and at least two outlet channels coupled to the core inlet channel and downstream of the cladding fluid channel. An optical source providing an optical signal is aligned with the core inlet channel. A waveguiding fluid is supplied to the core inlet channel and a cladding fluid supplied to each of the cladding channels. The waveguiding fluid and cladding fluid form an optical waveguide operable to transmit the optical signal. The flow rate of the cladding fluid is selectable to switch the optical waveguide between at least the first and second outlet channels.