Patent ID: 7763453
Filing Date: 2010-07-27
Classification: B01F,B01L,C12M,G01N

Abstract:
1. A microfluidic cartridge comprising: a) a first bellows pump with a pump cavity bisected in coronal plane by a first elastomeric diaphragm, said first diaphragm dividing said pump cavity of said first bellows pump into a first half-chamber and a second half-chamber; b) a second bellows pump with a pump cavity bisected in coronal plane by a second elastomeric diaphragm, said second diaphragm dividing said pump cavity of said second bellows pump into a first half-chamber and a second half-chamber; c) a flow-restricting aperture fluidly interconnecting said first half-chamber of said first bellows pump with said first half-chamber of said second bellows pump, said flow-restricting aperture having a depth, width and length such that fluid flow within the flow-restricting aperture is laminar; d) an inlet fluidly connected to said first half chamber of said first bellows pump, wherein said inlet is comprised of a microfluidic channel with valve; e) a pneumatic member pneumatically connected to said second half chamber of said first bellows pump, wherein said pneumatic element is selected from the group consisting of a microchannel and a vent; and f) a pneumatic member pneumatically connected to said second half chamber of said second bellows pump, wherein said pneumatic element is selected from the group consisting of a microchannel and a vent, wherein said cartridge is configured to receive pneumatic pulses from a pneumatic pulse generator programmed to actuate the first diaphragm with pneumatic pulses such that fluid flow within the flow-restricting aperture is laminar, but transitions to turbulent flow upon exiting said flow-restricting aperture and into said first half-chambers of said first and second bellows pumps.