Patent ID: 7947235
Filing Date: 2011-05-24
Classification: B01L,F16K,G01N

Abstract:
1. A microfluidic device-comprising a hydrophilic microchannel structure in which there is a functional unit that comprises a microconduit I in which there is an inlet end, an outlet end, and a capillary stop function in the form of a local non-wettable surface area, wherein a) the capillary stop function defines a segment of microconduit I, b) microconduit I in a part of this segment is divided into two or more microchannels, with at least two of them being functionally equal, and c) an inner wall of each of said microchannels is associated with a part of said non-wettable surface area, and d) the sum As of the open cross-sectional areas of the microchannels is equal to or larger than the open cross-sectional area immediately before (Ab) and/or after (Aa) the segment, such that the ratio As/Ab or As/Aa is greater than or equal to 1.