Patent ID: 7758814
Filing Date: 2010-07-20
Classification: B01D,B01F,B01J

Abstract:
1. A device comprising a microfluidic fluid distribution manifold for use as a microfluidic flow splitter to split a single fluid stream into multiple independent fluid streams or for use as a microfluidic flow combiner to combine multiple independent fluid streams into a single fluid stream, the microfluidic fluid distribution manifold comprising a common port for receiving or discharging a single fluid stream, four or more independent ports for discharging or receiving four or more respective independent fluid streams, and four or more fluidic channels, each of the four or more fluidic channels providing fluid communication between the common port and a respective one of the four or more independent ports, so that in operation as a flow splitter a single fluid stream is received at the common port and split into four or more independent fluid streams, each of which are discharged through a respective one of the four or more independent ports, or so that in operation as a flow combiner four or more independent fluid streams are received at the respective four or more independent ports and combined into a single fluid stream that is discharged through the common port, at least a portion of each of the four or more fluidic channels being spirally interleaved relative to the other fluidic channels, the spirally interleaved portion of each of the four or more fluidic channel's having a radius of curvature that increases with increasing distance from the common port, the microfluidic fluid distribution manifold being further characterized by one or more features selected from the group consisting of (i) each of the four or more fluidic channels comprising a spirally interleaved portion making more than one turn around the common port, (ii) each of the four or more of the fluidic channels having substantially the same overall resistance to flow, (iii) the microfluidic flow distribution manifold being adapted for operation with gaseous fluids, (iv) the microfluidic flow distribution manifold being adapted for operation with fluids at a temperature of more than about 100° C., (v) the microfluidic flow distribution manifold having an essential absence of active flow-control elements, (vi) the microfluidic flow distribution manifold further comprises one or more microfluidic filters adapted to filter non-fluidic contaminants from a fluid before the fluid is communicated through the four or more fluidic channels, and (vii) combinations thereof.