Patent ID: 7628082
Filing Date: 2009-12-08
Classification: G01F

Abstract:
1. A microfluidic device for determining at least one property of a fluid, the device comprising: a substrate; a structure comprising a base supported by the substrate and a microtube supported by the base so as to be spaced apart from a surface of the substrate and capable of vibrating in a plane normal to the surface of the substrate, the microtube comprising a peripheral portion surrounding the base, arms supporting the peripheral portion from the base, and at least one continuous internal microchannel having at least first and second microchannel portions, each of the first and second microchannel portions defining a separate flow route, each of the flow routes originating at the base, continuing through a portion of the peripheral portion of the microtube, and returning to the base, the first microchannel portion being fluidically connected to an inlet port within the base and the second microchannel portion being fluidically connected to an outlet port within the base; driving means for vibrating the microtube; and sensing means for sensing deflections of the peripheral portion of the microtube when vibrated with the driving means, and adapted for producing outputs corresponding to the sensed deflections; wherein the microfluidic device determines the property of the fluid from the outputs of the sensing means as the fluid flows through the microchannel.