Patent ID: 8652852
Filing Date: 2014-02-18
Classification: B01L,F04B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of pumping fluid through a channel of a microfluidic device, the channel having a first input port having a cross-sectional area and an output port having a cross-sectional area greater than the cross-sectional area of the first input port, comprising the steps of: filling the channel with fluid; and sequentially depositing pumping drops of fluid at the first input port of the channel to generate a pressure gradient between fluid at the input port and fluid at the output port, each of the pumping drops having an effective radius of curvature and the fluid at the first output port having an effective radius of curvature greater than the effective radius of curvature of each pumping drop; whereby the fluid in the channel flows toward the output port without use of an external device to facilitate the flow of fluid in the channel.