Patent Description:
Surface properties can drastically affect an item's use and durability. In the related art, passive surface treatments and layers are used to provide hydro-phobic layers, limit biofouling, and/or protect and internal structure of a material. For example, antibiofouling paint (e.g., biocide paint) is used to prevent attachment to hulls of ships. However, such passive coatings can leach into a surrounding environment, which can create, for example, a toxic dead-zone. Alternative passive coatings (e.g., micro/nanostructures, and/or lubricating liquid locked by nanotextured substrates, can resist biofouling. However, these passive coating can neither fully stop biofouling from occurring or reverse biofouling. Meanwhile, related art active macroscale approaches, such as UV exposure and mechanical scraping, are reactive antifouling solutions that require a large amount of power and/or manual labor. Therefore, the related art active antifouling techniques are not practical for large and/or nonplanar surfaces.

Accordingly, there is needed improved options for treating surfaces that is adaptable, can reverse biofouling or otherwise clean a surface, and prevents contamination of an environment. Aspects of the present disclosure are related to these and other features.

<CIT> relates to a device for transporting and supporting sheet-shaped articles, such as glass <CIT> does not disclose a plurality of outlets comprising a plurality of substantially trapezoidal outlet trenches disposed on the surface and a plurality of inlets comprising a plurality of substantially trapezoidal inlet trenches disposed on the surface wherein the inlet trenches and the outlet trenches are disposed in an alternating pattern.

<CIT> relates to an exposure apparatus and device manufacturing method.

Briefly described, and according to the disclosure, a system includes: a plurality of outlets disposed on a surface; a plurality of inlets dispersed among the plurality of outlets and disposed on the surface; and at least one pump in fluid communication with the plurality of outlets and the plurality of inlets, the at least one pump configured to simultaneously pump an operating fluid out of the plurality of outlets and pull the operating fluid back through the plurality of inlets to create a hydrodynamic barrier on the surface.

The device may further include at least one reservoir configured to store at least a portion of the operating fluid.

The device may further include a controller configured to control the pump to operate in a plurality of operating modes.

The plurality of operating modes may include at least one of: an antifouling mode configured to maintain substantial equivalence between a flow rate of the operating fluid through the plurality of outlets and a flow rate the operating fluid through of the plurality of inlets; an injection mode configured to maintain the flow rate of the operating fluid through the plurality of outlets as greater than the flow rate of the operating fluid through the plurality of inlets such that a portion of the operating fluid is released into a surrounding environment; a sampling mode configured to maintain the flow rate of the operating fluid through the plurality of outlets as lesser than the flow rate of the operating fluid through the plurality of inlets such that a portion of environmental fluid is withdrawn from the surrounding environment into the plurality of inlets; and a switching mode configured to modify at least one of the flow rate of the operating fluid through the plurality of outlets and the flow rate of the operating fluid through the plurality of inlets over time.

The switching mode may be configured to switch between the injection mode and the sampling mode.

The operating fluid may include at least one of an emissible fluid, hydrophobic fluid, micro-beads, metallic filings, magnetic material, sterile solutions, solvents, and cleaning solutions.

The plurality of outlets may include an outlet hole array disposed on the surface, and the plurality of inlets may include an inlet hole array disposed on the surface and offset from the outlet hole array.

The plurality of outlets may include a plurality of substantially rectangular outlet trenches disposed on the surface, and the plurality of inlets may include a plurality of substantially rectangular inlet trenches disposed on the surface, the inlet trenches and the outlet trenches being disposed in an alternating pattern.

The plurality of outlets may include a plurality of substantially trapezoidal outlet trenches disposed on the surface, and the plurality of inlets may include a plurality of substantially trapezoidal inlet trenches disposed on the surface, the inlet trenches and the outlet trenches being disposed in an alternating pattern.

The device may further include a plurality of microneedles disposed on the surface, wherein the plurality of outlets and the plurality of inlets are formed in the plurality of microneedles.

Each of the plurality of microneedles may be substantially conical.

The plurality of microneedles may each include a plurality of the plurality of outlets and a plurality of the plurality of inlets.

The at least one pump may include a peristaltic pump.

The operating fluid may be acquired from an environment surrounding the surface.

The plurality of outlets, the plurality of inlets, or both the plurality of outlets and the plurality of inlets may comprise pores in a porous material disposed on the surface.

The porous material may include a hydrogel.

Each of the plurality of outlets may be surrounded by a plurality of the plurality of inlets.

According to the disclosure, there is provided a method including: outputting, through a plurality of outlets disposed on a surface, on operating fluid; and simultaneously with the outputting, withdrawing, through a plurality of inlets disposed on the surface, the operating fluid, thereby creating a hydrodynamic barrier on the surface with the movement of the operating fluid.

The method may further include: selecting an operating fluid from a plurality of operating fluids, the plurality of operating fluids comprising one or more of an emissible fluid, hydrophobic fluid, micro-beads, metallic filings, magnetic material, sterile solutions, solvents, and cleaning solutions; and outputting the selected operating fluid.

The method may further include: selecting an operating mode from among the plurality of operating modes; and maintaining relative flow rates between the plurality of outlets and the plurality of inlets based on the selected operating mode.

The plurality of operating modes may include at least one of: an antifouling mode comprising maintaining substantial equivalence between a flow rate of the operating fluid through the plurality of outlets and a flow rate of the operating fluid through the plurality of inlets; an injection mode comprising maintaining the flow rate of the operating fluid through the plurality of outlets as greater than the flow rate of the operating fluid through the plurality of inlets such that apportion of the operating fluid is released into a surrounding environment; a sampling mode comprising maintaining the flow rate of the operating fluid through the plurality of outlets as lesser than the flow rate of the operating fluid through the plurality of inlets such that a portion of environmental fluid is withdrawn from the surrounding environment; and a switching mode configured to modify at least one of the flow rate of the operating fluid through the plurality of outlets and the than the flow rate of the operating fluid through the plurality of inlets over time.

The method may further include cleaning the surface by altering at least one of an operating fluid, a flow rate of the plurality of outlets, and a flow rate of the plurality of inlets.

The plurality of outlets may include a plurality of outlet trenches disposed on the surface, the plurality of inlets may include a plurality of inlet trenches disposed on the surface, the inlet trenches and the outlet trenches being disposed in an alternating pattern, and the plurality of outlet trenches and the plurality of inlet trenches are substantially rectangular or substantial trapezoidal.

The plurality of outlets and the plurality of inlets may be formed in a plurality of microneedles disposed on the surface.

According to the disclosure, there is provided a barrier device including: at least one outlet disposed on a surface; at least one inlet disposed on the surface; and at least one pump in fluid communication with the at least one outlet and the at least one inlet, the at least one pump configured to simultaneously pump an operating fluid out of the plurality of outlets and pull the operating fluid back through the plurality of inlets to create a hydrodynamic barrier on the surface.

According to the disclosure, there is provided a barrier device including: at least one outlet disposed on a surface; at least one inlet disposed on the surface; and an energy harvesting device configured to draw energy from a relative movement the surface to a surrounding environment to circulate an operating fluid out of the at least one outlet and pull the operating fluid back through the at least one inlet.

According to the disclosure, there is provided a barrier device including: a plurality of pores disposed on a surface; and at least one pump in fluid communication with the plurality of pores, the at least one pump configured to rapidly switch between pumping an operating fluid out of the plurality of pores and pulling the operating fluid back through the plurality of pores to maintain a barrier of the operating fluid on the surface.

The operating fluid may include air, and the barrier may include air bubbles.

The accompanying drawings illustrate one or more embodiments and/or aspects of the disclosure and, together with the written description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like elements of an embodiment, and wherein:.

According to some implementations of the disclosed technology, there is provided a device configured to form a hydrodynamic barrier. The device may include a plurality of outlets (or discharging pores) and inlets (or collecting pores) interspersed with each other. The outflow rate of the outlet may be substantial equal to the inflow rate of the inlets, creating substantial stasis. The circulation of material between the outlets and the inlets may be in the form of a laminar flow that creates a hydrodynamic barrier between a surface of the device and the environment. One or more pumps (e.g., peristaltic pumps) may drive the inlets and outlets.

The material may be provided from one or more reservoirs. The material may include, as non-limiting examples, one or more of an emissible fluid (i.e., not capable of readily mixing with a surrounding environmental fluid), hydrophobic material (e.g., oil), micro-beads, metallic filings, magnetic material, sterile solutions, solvents, and/or cleaning solutions.

In some instances, relative flow of the outlets and inlets may be adjusted to provide for sampling (i.e., by increasing the inlet flow relative to the outlet flow) or to expel material (e.g., by increasing the outlet flow relative to the inlet flow). The sampling may be combined with inline sensors configured to analyze the samples.

Additionally, as will be understood by one of ordinary skill, the presently described techniques are not mutually exclusive with related art approaches. For example, chemical coatings and solutions, UV decontaminations, and filtering may be combined with the presently described barriers.

The inventors faced a number of technical challenges to derive the presently disclosed technology. For example, the effects of ambient current on the hydrodynamic field needed to be mitigated. Inventors discovered running the recirculating buffer under a higher pressure gradient, which minimized the relative effect of the external currents. Additionally, in some cases, the inlets and outlets may be placed in a recessed level with barriers to break the ambient current from disrupting the barrier. If the flow speed forming the barrier is relatively faster than the flow external currents, the barrier can generally be maintained. When an instantaneous strong current is greater than the barrier flow (or within a threshold of the barrier flow), the barrier may collapse, but should generally reestablish itself once the current is lessened. As another issue, surface energy and/or density of the operating fluid may affect the formation of the barrier. For example, when a protective bubble layer is formed on the surface, should remain adherent to the surface rather than floating away. The inventors found that quickly switching between net out (e.g., injection mode) and net in (e.g., sampling mode) helped maintain the surface bubble layer.

Aspects of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to one or more figures. One of ordinary skill will recognize that these descriptions are for illustrative purposes only.

<FIG> is a block diagram of a barrier device <NUM> in accordance with an example embodiment. Referring to <FIG>, barrier device <NUM> includes a plurality of outlets <NUM>, a plurality of inlets <NUM>, pump <NUM>, reservoir <NUM>, and controller <NUM>. Although a plurality of outlets <NUM> and inlets <NUM> are illustrated, this is merely an example. As shown in <FIG>, in some cases, a single outlet <NUM> and/or a single inlet <NUM> may be used on a small device to create a hydrodynamic barrier. Micro channels <NUM> may connect outlets <NUM> (e.g., discharging pores) and inlets <NUM> (e.g., collecting pores) to reservoir <NUM> through pump <NUM>. Outlets <NUM> and inlets <NUM> may be formed, as non-limiting examples, as hole arrays, trenches, microneedles, and/or naturally porous materials (e.g., hydrogels). Outlets <NUM> and inlets <NUM> will be described below in greater detail with reference to <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>.

Reservoir <NUM> may hold fluid that is delivered from outlets <NUM> and suctioned into inlet <NUM>. As non-limiting examples, the fluid may include one or more of hydrophobic material (e.g., oil), micro-beads, metallic filings, magnetic material, sterile solutions, solvents, and/or cleaning solutions. In some cases, barrier device <NUM> may include a plurality of reservoirs <NUM>, each of which may store a different fluid. One or more switches and/or pumps <NUM> (e.g., acting under control of controller <NUM>) may select one or more of the reservoirs to output fluid having desired properties. In some instances, reservoir <NUM> may include a cleaning mechanism to clean fluid from inlets <NUM>. As non-limiting examples, UV radiation, antibacterial material, filtration, and/or heating may be used to clean fluid.

Reservoir <NUM> may store one or more immiscible fluids as an operating fluid. When operating in a hydrophilic environment, employment of immiscible fluid as an operating fluid further reduces loss of operating fluid caused by, for example, diffusion, tiny defect of device, or spontaneous mismatch of inlet/outlet flow rate. Surficial flowing of immiscible fluid can protect the surface from accumulation of biomolecules.

In some cases, a surrounding environmental fluid such as one or more gases (e.g., air) or liquids (e.g., water) may be used as an operating fluid. In some cases, the environmental fluid may eb filtered and/or cleaned prior to being used as an operating fluid or while be used as an operating fluid. In utilizing an environmental fluid as an operating fluid, the rapid flow of the environmental fluid may provide, for example, biofouling prevention and/or changes to relative friction experienced by the surface in the environment.

In some cases, air or another fluid may be controlled to be gathered on a surface, for example, as a layer of bubbles. Manipulation of bubble formation prevents biomolecules from approaching and adhering to a surface, thus highly completely isolating the surface from the ambient liquid.

Because hydrodynamic barriers may prevent serious leaching into an environment, various chemicals and may be used as an operating fluid that may not be feasible in the related art. For example, if applied to a drug delivery system, therapeutic drugs may be used as an operating fluid. The drugs can locally be loaded in the tissue that has a disease without negatively affecting the surrounding tissue. Similarly, cleaning solutions, detergents, and/or antibiotics may be used as an operating fluid to thoroughly clean a surface.

In some cases, reservoir <NUM> may include micro/nanoparticles mixed with a fluid to clean the surface. The motion of the small particles may impact the surface and scrub the surface. This can scrape fouling biomaterials. Furthermore, operating fluid throughput (e.g., speed and/or quantity) and direction may be adjusted to move the small particles in particularized directions.

Pump <NUM> powers the flow of fluid from outlets <NUM> into inlets <NUM>. Pump <NUM> may be, for example, a peristaltic pump <NUM>, a syringe pump1 <NUM>, or a pneumatic pump <NUM>. In some cases, barrier device <NUM> may include a plurality of pumps <NUM> that may selectively control respective outlets <NUM> and/or inlets <NUM>, and/or control the flow of fluid from/to respective reservoirs <NUM>. In some cases, pump <NUM> may selectively control one or more outlets <NUM> and/or one or more inlets <NUM>. In certain implementations, pump <NUM> may be reversible such that a direction of the operating fluid may be reversed (e.g., inlets <NUM> may output the operating fluid and/or outlets <NUM> may receive the operating or environmental fluid).

Controller <NUM> may control pump <NUM>, and various other components of barrier device <NUM>. An example computer architecture that may be used to implement controller <NUM> is described below with reference to <FIG>. Controller <NUM> may control a throughput of fluid from outlet <NUM> and into inlet <NUM>. For example, by maintaining substantially equal throughput of outlets <NUM> and inlets <NUM>, a stable hydrodynamic barrier may be retained around barrier device <NUM>. In some cases, controller <NUM> may relatively increase the throughput of inlets <NUM> (e.g., by controlling pump <NUM>) to take an environmental sample. In some instances, controller <NUM> may control only inlets <NUM> to have an input at a given time. In other cases, the sampling may occur over time. The sample may be tested and/or monitored with sensors, and the controller <NUM> may adjust operation of the barrier device <NUM> (e.g., selection of operating fluid or throughput of outlets <NUM>/inlets <NUM>) accordingly. In some circumstances, controller <NUM> may relatively increase the throughput of outlets <NUM> in order to emit a portion of the operating fluid.

In certain implementations, controller <NUM> may selectively alter outlet/inlet <NUM>/<NUM> throughput and/or fluid selection (e.g., reservoir <NUM> selection) to meet certain requirements. For example, controller <NUM> may control the throughput and fluid selection to clean a surface of barrier device <NUM>. In some cases, controller <NUM> may be configured to adaptively clean barrier device <NUM>. For instances, controller <NUM> may vary fluid selection and throughput based on machine-learning algorithms to effectively clean barrier device <NUM>. Controller <NUM> may analyze fluid from inlets <NUM> fluid and/or samples from inlets <NUM> to determine an effectiveness of various fluid selections and/or throughputs.

As non-limiting examples, controller <NUM> may operate device <NUM> in one or more of an antifouling mode, an injection mode, a sampling mode, a stationary mode, and a switching mode. Although these five modes are described, one of ordinary skill will recognize that additional or alternative modes may be created while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure. Moreover, in some implementations, barrier device <NUM> may not be able to operate in all five modes and/or may only be able to operate in a single mode.

In antifouling mode, the flow rate passing each of outlets <NUM> is substantially similar to the flow rate passing each of inlets <NUM>; thus the operating fluid discharged by outlets <NUM> is substantially collected by inlets <NUM> and the hydrodynamic barrier is formed on the surface. Although a state wherein the flow rate of an operating fluid from the outlets is substantially equivalent to a flow rate of the operating fluid into the inlets is described as an antifouling mode, one of ordinary skill will recognize that, in some cases, injection mode, sampling mode, and/or switching mode may provide some antifouling effects.

In injection mode, the output from the outlets <NUM> is greater than the flow rate of the inlets <NUM>, thereby discharging fluid outside of the device. In some cases, inlets <NUM> may be substantially turned off. The injection mode can be used for locally injecting therapeutic substance such as medicine, antibiotic into skin, tissue or blood for medical approaches. In some instances, injection mode may continue to provide a hydrodynamic barrier protecting the surface.

In sampling mode, the flow rate of the inlets <NUM> is greater than the flow rate of the outlets. In some cases, outlets <NUM> may be substantially turned off. The sampling mode can be used for collecting sample from any surrounding environment such as blood, tissue fluids, and ocean for continuous, regular, and/or on demand monitoring. In some cases, sampling mode may continue to provide a hydrodynamic barrier protecting the surface.

Furthermore, in a case where material has accumulated on the surface (e.g., biofouling), sampling of the buildup can also occur in any mode (so long as the inlets are activated). For example, operation of the pumps may shear the material from the surface, which can mix in the circulating fluid. In some cases, the sheared material can be used to identify the material to be removed. This sampling process can happen when the inlet and outlet flows are the same or different.

Stationary mode may be a case where the operating fluid is not readily absorbable by the surrounding environment. For example, if the operating fluid is air, after formation of the bubble covering the surface of interest, the external pump substantially stops operation and outlet <NUM> and inlet <NUM> flow. The stationary bubble makes air-liquid boundary around the surface and prevents biomolecules in ambient liquid from approaching the surface.

Switching mode rapidly switches relative flow rates of the outlets <NUM> and inlets <NUM>. For example, switching mode may include rapidly transitioning between injection mode and sampling mode. As an example, by rapidly switching the relative flow rates (e.g., between antifouling and sampling modes), an environmental condition may be monitored digitally and serially. As another example, the rapid transitioning may be used to provide a feedback loop to the device (i.e., to tailor the device operation to a particular environment). In some cases, switching between the modes (e.g., antifouling mode and standby mode) may be used to conserve power. In some cases, switching mode can be used to form or maintain a bubble layer (e.g., of operating fluid such as gas or non-emissive liquid) on the surface. For example, by quickly switching between an injection mode and a sampling mode, air bubbles may be "held" on the surface at an unstable state by preventing them from coalescing and leaving the surface.

One of ordinary skill will recognize that these are merely examples of device operation, and various changes or alternatives will be understood to fall within the scope of the present disclosure.

<FIG> illustrate a hole array configuration <NUM> of outlets <NUM> and inlets <NUM>. A surface <NUM> of the device <NUM> includes regularly spaced outlets <NUM> and inlets <NUM>. As a non-limiting example, outlets <NUM> and inlets <NUM> may be configured in substantially rectangular lines next to each other. Outlets <NUM> are disposed on microchannels <NUM> and inlets <NUM> are disposed on microchannels <NUM>. Connections <NUM> of the microchannels <NUM> from the outlets <NUM> to pump <NUM> may be disposed on one side of the surface <NUM>, and connections <NUM> of the microchannels <NUM> from the inlets <NUM> to pump <NUM> may be disposed on another side of the surface <NUM>. However, this is merely an example.

<FIG> shows a top view geometry of hole array configuration <NUM>. The holes may be substantially equally distanced from each other. Four inlets <NUM> surround all non-edge outlets <NUM>, and four outlets <NUM> surround all non-edge inlets <NUM>. By providing substantially equal pressure to the surrounding outlets <NUM> and inlets <NUM>, all (or substantially all) fluid ejected from the outlets <NUM> will be divided between by the surrounding inlets <NUM>.

Edge outlets <NUM> and edge inlets <NUM> may be angled inwards towards a center of the surface, and/or size or shaped differently from remaining outlets <NUM> and inlets <NUM>, to limit fringing of the hydrodynamic barrier. The various changes (e.g., angling or sizing) may be determined based on, for example, varying surface geometry (e.g., radius of curvature or topography) and/or surface material. In some cases, a degree of desired protection may vary across surface <NUM>, and outlet <NUM>/inlet <NUM> configuration and density may be varying across surface <NUM> accordingly. In some cases, edge outlets <NUM> and edge inlets <NUM> may have relatively less inflow or outflow (e.g., pressure) than inner outlets <NUM> and inlets <NUM>. For example, corner outlet <NUM> and corner inlet <NUM> may have one-fourth the outflow and inflow as interior outlet <NUM> and interior inlet <NUM>, respectively. The remaining edge outlets <NUM> and edge inlets <NUM> may have approximately one-half the outflow and inflow as interior outlet <NUM> and interior inlet <NUM>, respectively. One of ordinary skill will understand that this is merely an example, and, in some cases, uneven pressure may be provided to various outlets and/or inlets to sample an environment, emit into the environment, or otherwise adjust the hydrodynamic barrier. In certain implementations, edge outlets <NUM> and inlets <NUM> may be relatively closer to neighboring inlets <NUM> and outlet <NUM>. By reducing the outlet-to-inlet distance on edges, fringing may be reduced. In an embodiment, inlets <NUM> may surround an entire edge of the surface. Accordingly, concerns about outlet fringing effects (e.g., leaching or diffusion) may be minimized, and only inlet fringing effects (e.g., oversampling) may be considered.

<FIG> illustrates a zoomed in configuration of one outlet <NUM> and four surrounding inlets <NUM>. Outlet <NUM> is spaced a distance <NUM> from each inlet <NUM>. Inlets <NUM> are spaced a distance <NUM> from each neighboring inlet <NUM>. As non-limiting examples, distance <NUM> may be approximately <NUM> and distance <NUM> may be approximately <NUM>√<NUM>. However, this is merely an example, in some cases, distance <NUM> may be approximately <NUM> and distance <NUM> may be approximately <NUM>√<NUM>. A diameter of outlets <NUM> may be <NUM>, and a diameter of inlets <NUM> may be <NUM>. Diameter <NUM> and diameter <NUM> may be substantially similar, but this is merely an example. In some cases, diameter <NUM> and/or diameter <NUM> may be approximately one-third of distance <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a perspective view of hole array configuration <NUM>. As can be seen, microchannels <NUM> each have a height of <NUM> and a width of <NUM>, and microchannels <NUM> each have a height <NUM> and a width of <NUM>. As non-limiting examples, height <NUM> and height <NUM> may be approximately <NUM> or <NUM>, width <NUM> and width <NUM> may be approximately <NUM>. One of ordinary skill will recognize that these are merely examples. In some cases, height <NUM> and height <NUM> may be increased. The increase in height may increase channel resistance and improve uniformity of the pressure of the outlets <NUM> and inlets <NUM>, and fluidic flux of barrier device <NUM>.

The microchannels <NUM> and <NUM> may be separated, for example, by about <NUM>. But this is merely an example. In some cases, microchannels <NUM> and <NUM> may be separated by greater distances (e.g., <NUM> or more). Such separation may make the device <NUM> easier to manufacture.

Outlets <NUM> may have a height of <NUM> and inlets <NUM> may have a height of <NUM>. As non-limiting example, height <NUM> and height <NUM> may be approximately <NUM> and/or <NUM>. However, this is merely an example. The inventors surprisingly found that increasing height <NUM> and height <NUM> led to greater uniformity of pressure across surface <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrate rectangular trench array configuration <NUM>. A surface <NUM> of the device <NUM> includes regularly spaced outlets <NUM> and inlets <NUM> formed as trenches. As a non-limiting example, outlets <NUM> and inlets <NUM> may be configured in substantially rectangular trenches next to each other. Outlets <NUM> are disposed on microchannels <NUM> and inlets <NUM> are disposed on microchannels <NUM>. Ends of microchannels <NUM> may be disposed on one side of the surface <NUM> and connect to pump <NUM>, and connections ends of the microchannels <NUM> may be disposed on another side of the surface <NUM> and connect to pump <NUM>. However, this is merely an example.

<FIG> shows a top view geometry of rectangular trench array configuration <NUM>. The trenches <NUM> and <NUM> may be substantially equally distanced from each other, with alternating outlet <NUM> trench and inlet trench <NUM>. By providing substantially equal pressure to the surrounding outlets <NUM> and inlets <NUM>, all (or substantially all) fluid ejected from the outlets <NUM> will be divided between by the neighboring inlets <NUM>.

Edge outlet <NUM> and edge inlet <NUM> may be angled inwards towards a center of the surface to limit fringing of the hydrodynamic barrier, and/or size or shaped differently. Moreover, edge outlet <NUM> and edge inlet <NUM> may have relatively less inflow or outflow (e.g., pressure) than inner outlets <NUM> and inlets <NUM>. For example, edge outlet <NUM> and edge inlet <NUM> may have approximately one-half the outflow and inflow as interior outlet <NUM> and interior inlet <NUM>, respectively. One of ordinary skill will understand that this is merely an example, and, in some cases, uneven pressure may be provided to various outlets and/or inlets to sample an environment, emit into the environment, or otherwise adjust the hydrodynamic barrier.

<FIG> illustrates a zoomed in configuration of one outlet <NUM> and one inlet <NUM>. Outlet <NUM> is spaced a distance <NUM> from each inlet <NUM>. As a non-limiting example, distance <NUM> may be approximately <NUM>. Outlet <NUM> has a length <NUM> and width <NUM>, and inlet <NUM> has a length <NUM> and width <NUM>. Length <NUM> and length <NUM> may be substantially similar, and width <NUM> and width <NUM> may be substantially similar, but this is merely an example. As an example, length <NUM> and/or length <NUM> may be approximately <NUM> and width <NUM> and/or width <NUM> may be approximately <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a perspective view of rectangular trench array configuration <NUM>. Microchannels <NUM> and microchannels <NUM> may be substantially similar to microchannels <NUM> and <NUM> described above with reference to <FIG>. Accordingly, a detailed description of the geometry and spacing is not repeated for compactness. Outlets <NUM> may have a height of <NUM> and inlets <NUM> may have a height of <NUM>. As non-limiting example, height <NUM> and height <NUM> may be approximately <NUM> and/or <NUM>. However, this is merely an example. The inventors surprisingly found that increasing height <NUM> and height <NUM> led to greater uniformity of pressure across surface <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrate trapezoidal trench array configuration <NUM>. A surface <NUM> of the device <NUM> includes regularly spaced outlets <NUM> and inlets <NUM> formed as trenches. As a non-limiting example, outlets <NUM> and inlets <NUM> may be configured in substantially trapezoidal trenches next to each other. Outlets <NUM> are disposed on microchannels <NUM> and inlets <NUM> are disposed on microchannels <NUM>. Ends of microchannels <NUM> may be disposed on one side of the surface <NUM> and connect to pump <NUM>, and connections ends of the microchannels <NUM> may be disposed on another side of the surface <NUM> and connect to pump <NUM>. However, this is merely an example.

<FIG> shows a top view geometry of trapezoidal trench array configuration <NUM>. The trenches <NUM> and <NUM> may be substantially equally distanced from each other, with alternating outlet <NUM> trench and inlet trench <NUM>. By providing substantially equal pressure to the surrounding outlets <NUM> and inlets <NUM>, all (or substantially all) fluid ejected from the outlets <NUM> will be divided between by the neighboring inlets <NUM>. Edge outlet <NUM> and edge inlet <NUM> may be angled inwards towards a center of the surface to limit fringing of the hydrodynamic barrier, and/or size or shaped differently. Moreover, edge outlet <NUM> and edge inlet <NUM> may have relatively less inflow or outflow (e.g., pressure) than inner outlets <NUM> and inlets <NUM>. For example, edge outlet <NUM> and edge inlet <NUM> may have approximately one-half the outflow and inflow as interior outlet <NUM> and interior inlet <NUM>, respectively. One of ordinary skill will understand that this is merely an example, and, in some cases, uneven pressure may be provided to various outlets and/or inlets to sample an environment, emit into the environment, or otherwise adjust the hydrodynamic barrier.

<FIG> illustrates a zoomed in configuration of one outlet <NUM> and one inlet <NUM>. Outlet <NUM> is spaced a distance <NUM> from each inlet <NUM>. As a non-limiting example, distance <NUM> may be approximately <NUM>. Outlet <NUM> has a length <NUM>, a first width 112a, and second width 112b, and inlet <NUM> has a length <NUM>, a first width 122a, and second width 122b. Length <NUM> and length <NUM> may be substantially similar, width 112a and width 122a may be substantially similar, and width 112b and 122b may be substantially similar, but this is merely an example. As an example, length <NUM> and/or length <NUM> may be approximately <NUM>. Width 112a and/or width 122a may be approximately <NUM>. Width 112b and/or width 122b may be between <NUM> and <NUM>, for example, approximately <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or <NUM>. Width 112b and/or width 122b of around <NUM> may be particularly useful. In other implementations, widths 112a and 122a may be approximately <NUM>, width 112b and 122b may be approximately <NUM>, and length <NUM> and length <NUM> may be approximately <NUM>-<NUM>, e.g., <NUM>, <NUM>, and or <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a perspective view of trapezoid trench array configuration <NUM>. Microchannels <NUM> and microchannels <NUM> may be substantially similar to microchannels <NUM> and <NUM> described above with reference to <FIG>. Accordingly, a detailed description of the geometry and spacing is not repeated for compactness. Outlets <NUM> may have a height of <NUM> and inlets <NUM> may have a height of <NUM>. As non-limiting example, height <NUM> and height <NUM> may be approximately <NUM> and/or <NUM>. However, this is merely an example. The inventors surprising found that increasing height <NUM> and height <NUM> led to greater uniformity of pressure across surface <NUM>. The inventors also surprisingly found that the use of trapezoidal trenches provided improved fluid-flow uniformity over rectangular trench and hole array designs.

<FIG> illustrate a microneedle <NUM> disposed on a surface <NUM>. Microneedle <NUM> incorporates outlets <NUM> and inlets <NUM> into a single form. Each microneedle <NUM> may be connected, for example to both an inlet microchannel and an outlet microchannel. Referring to <FIG>, microneedle has a substantially conical structure. Outlets <NUM> and inlets <NUM> are stacked on a front and back side of microneedle <NUM>. Microneedle <NUM> may have a height <NUM>, for example <NUM>. However, this is merely an example. Furthermore, a plurality of microneedles <NUM> may be applied each with different heights and/or arrangements and number of outlets <NUM> and inlets <NUM>.

One of ordinary skill will recognize that, this is merely an example, and the microneedle may have various shapes and geometries and outlet <NUM> and inlet <NUM> positions. As non-limiting examples, a microneedle may be substantially tetrahedronic, pyramidal. Or various other polygonal shapes.

<FIG> illustrates a cross section of microneedle <NUM>. A single outlet channel <NUM> is connected to all outlets <NUM>, and a single inlet channel <NUM> is connected to all inlets <NUM>, but this is merely an example. <FIG> illustrate a simulation of hydrodynamic barrier <NUM> generated by pump <NUM> operating microneedle <NUM>. The hydrodynamic barrier separates the microneedle from the outside water.

<FIG> illustrates operation of a microneedle <NUM> according to an example implementation. In <FIG>, microneedle <NUM> is submerged in blood and fibrinogen (a clotting agent). In 550e-<NUM>/550f-<NUM>, microneedle <NUM> is operating. Very little fibrinogen affixes to the surface of microneedle <NUM>. In 550e-<NUM>/550f-<NUM>, microneedle <NUM> stops operating. Fibrinogen <NUM> adheres to microneedle <NUM> once the hydrodynamic barrier ceases. In 550e-<NUM>/550f-<NUM>, microneedle <NUM> re-operates, and the flow of fluid cleaning microneedle <NUM>.

The novel microneedle <NUM> design can, in some cases, prevent virtually all fluid (e.g., detergent or other cleaning agent) from escaping into a surrounding environment.

As will be understood by one of ordinary skill, the outlet/inlet <NUM>/<NUM> geometries and positionings discussed herein are merely examples. It will be understood that can tune the outlet/inlet <NUM>/<NUM> geometries may be adjusted beyond those explicitly described to ensure desired (e.g., balanced) influx and outflux across the surface.

Although various devices have been described with discussion to inlet/out arrangements and/or microneedles, one of ordinary skill in light of the present disclosure will recognize that inlets and/or outlets may be formed in various geometries, shapes, and objects. In some cases, an objects surface may have embedded outlets <NUM> and inlets <NUM> such that a hydrodynamic barrier can be provided on any geometry, and demonstrated by the microneedle <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrate operation of a barrier device <NUM> according to an embodiment. As will be understood, barrier device <NUM> may include one or more of the configurations discussed above with reference to <FIG>, and/or alternative configurations as will be understood by one of ordinary skill in light of the present disclosure. <FIG> illustrates barrier device <NUM> establishing a hydrodynamic barrier. In 600a-<NUM>, barrier device 100is turned on after being off for an extended period of time such that no hydrodynamic barrier exists, and particles <NUM> and generally dispersed around barrier device <NUM>. In 600a-<NUM>, the hydrodynamic barrier is being established and particles <NUM> being moving from the surface of barrier device <NUM>. In 600a-<NUM>, the hydrodynamic barrier is established, separating barrier device <NUM> from particles <NUM> in a surrounding fluid. <FIG> illustrates a hydrodynamic barrier preventing impact by a current. At 600b-<NUM> a current is released. Over 600b-<NUM>, 600b-<NUM>, and 600b-<NUM>, the current proceeds over device <NUM>. However, the hydrodynamic barrier prevents the current from impacting the surface. <FIG> illustrates velocity fields of the current and the hydrodynamic barrier according to an example embodiment.

In some embodiments, magnetic and/or electrostatic fields may be used as a driving force (e.g., instead of pump <NUM>). The magnetic/electric fields may generate similarly patterned field lines as a fluid creating a hydrodynamic layer. In terms of magnetic/electric field, this may be called surface-confined magnetic/electrostatic fields. In some cases, magnetic and/or metallic particles may be applied and made to circular on or near the surface. For example, magnetic beads (micro-/nanoparticle) can be made to circulate near the surface by surface-confined magnetic field. This circulating motion of the beads can physically scrape and lyse any fouling biomaterials on the surface, while the constant motion minimizes attachment in the first place. The field may be induced either with alternating permanent magnets (NSNSNS. ) or with electromagnetic (e.g., AC) fields. In some instances, electromagnets may be used to "steer" magnetic particles across the surface (for example, by rapidly changing and/or moving a magnetic source.

In some embodiments, hydrodynamic barriers may be used to locally change surface characteristics of a surface. For example, barrier device <NUM> may create a hydrodynamic air/fluid barrier to modify apparent surface friction of the underlying surface. For instance, an air barrier may more easily move through water than a typical hull surface. By creating a fluid barrier (e.g., hydrodynamic or bubble), apparent surface roughness to a surrounding environment can be reduced. Accordingly, in some cases, energy requirement of moving an object through an environment (e.g., fuel consumption) can be reduced. Such a system could have application in any types of moving surface, such as automobiles, planes, ships, space craft, tires, and/or propellers. As an example, this process can be thought of as similar to creating a barrier between an air hockey puck and a surface of an air hockey table.

<FIG> is a flowchart <NUM> of a method of operating a barrier device <NUM> according to an example embodiment. Barrier device <NUM> may be operated in accordance with flowchart <NUM> Referring to <FIG>, barrier device <NUM> outputs <NUM> an operating fluid from a plurality of outlets (e.g., outlets <NUM>). For example, pump <NUM> may pump (e.g., under control of controller <NUM>) an operating fluid from reservoir <NUM> through microchannels <NUM>/<NUM>/<NUM> to outlets <NUM>. In some cases, controller <NUM> may further select a reservoir <NUM> from a plurality of reservoirs, a specific fluid and/or a fluid mix to be the operating fluid, and control pump <NUM> to pump the corresponding fluid.

Barrier device <NUM> may further create <NUM> an inflow at a plurality of inlets (e.g., inlets <NUM>). For example, pump <NUM> (e.g., under control of controller <NUM>) may drive fluid from microchannels <NUM>/<NUM>/<NUM> to inlets <NUM>. In some cases, pump <NUM> may simultaneously drive operating fluid to outlets <NUM> and create inflow at inlets <NUM>.

Barrier device <NUM> manages <NUM> the relative flow rates of outlets <NUM> and inlets <NUM> according to an operating mode. In an antifouling mode or cleaning mode (<NUM>), the flow rate passing each of outlets <NUM> is substantially similar to the flow rate passing each of inlets <NUM>; thus, the operating fluid discharged by outlets <NUM> is substantially collected by inlets <NUM> and the hydrodynamic barrier is formed on the surface. In injection mode (<NUM>), the output from the outlets <NUM> is greater than the flow rate of the inlets <NUM>, thereby discharging fluid outside of the device. In sampling mode (<NUM>), the flow rate of the inlets <NUM> is greater than the flow rate of the outlets, thereby collecting fluid from a surrounding environment. In stationary mode (<NUM>), after formation of a bubble covering the surface of interest, the external pump substantially stops operation and outlet <NUM> and inlet <NUM> flow.

Barrier device <NUM> detects <NUM> a change of operating mode, and barrier device <NUM> managers <NUM> the relative flow rates of outlets <NUM> and inlets <NUM> according to the changed operating mode. If no change of mode is detected, barrier device <NUM> may eventually determine <NUM> operation is to cease, and stop managing flow rates.

<FIG> illustrate manufacturing a microchannel and trench cast <NUM> of a barrier device <NUM> according to an embodiment. One of ordinary skill will recognize that <FIG> represent an example, non-limiting manufacturing technique using photolithography. In some cases, microchannels <NUM>/<NUM> and outlets/inlets <NUM>/<NUM> may be fabricated in a number of ways, such as 3D lithography, 3D printing, and UV curable material.

<FIG> illustrate top and cross-cut views of a microchannel mold <NUM>. Mold <NUM> may be fabricated, for example, using soft lithography on a silicon wafer. <FIG> illustrates a microchannel cast <NUM> that may be formed from microchannel mold <NUM>, for example, by coating the mold <NUM> with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) (e.g., spin coating) and allowing the PDMS to cure.

<FIG> illustrates top and cross-cut views of outlet/inlet mold <NUM>. Mold <NUM> may be fabricated, for example, using soft lithography on a silicon wafer. Although mold <NUM> as illustrated is for a trench array, this is merely an example. <FIG> illustrates an outlet/inlet cast <NUM> being formed from outlet/inlet mold <NUM>, for example, by coating the mold <NUM> with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) (e.g., spin coating) and allowing the PDMS to cure. Microchannel cast <NUM> is aligned and bonded to outlet/inlet cast <NUM> (e.g., by treating microchannel cast <NUM> and/or outlet/inlet mold <NUM> with corona plasma and a few drops of ethanol to prevent irreversible bonding during alignment). The combined microchannel and trench cast <NUM> is formed (<FIG>) and a microchannel and trench can be generated for barrier device <NUM>.

<FIG> is a block diagram of a barrier device <NUM> according to an embodiment. Referring to <FIG>, barrier device <NUM> includes an outlet <NUM>, an inlet <NUM>, pump <NUM>, reservoir <NUM>, and controller <NUM>. As can be seen, barrier device <NUM> of <FIG> is substantially similar to barrier device <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>, except for barrier device <NUM> of <FIG> only includes a single outlet <NUM> and a single inlet <NUM>. Outlet <NUM>, inlet <NUM>, pump <NUM>, reservoir <NUM>, and controller <NUM> may function substantially similar to similar elements described above with reference to <FIG>. Accordingly, a detailed description is not repeated.

<FIG> is a block diagram of a barrier device <NUM> according to an embodiment. Referring to <FIG>, barrier device <NUM> includes a plurality of outlets <NUM>, a plurality of inlets <NUM>, passive driver <NUM> (e.g., an energy harvester), and reservoir <NUM>. Outlets <NUM>, inlets <NUM>, and reservoir <NUM>, may function substantially similar to similar elements described above with reference to <FIG>. Accordingly, a detailed description of these elements is not repeated herein. Barrier device <NUM> includes passive driver <NUM>. Passive driver <NUM> may be configured to harvest energy from an ambient environment to control the flow of an operating fluid from outlets <NUM> and into inlets <NUM>. As a non-limiting example, passive driver <NUM> may be configured to harvest mechanical energy from the relative motion of barrier device to a surrounding environment (e.g., of a moving ship) to drive the inlets and outlets to circulate the operating fluid. In some cases, passive driver <NUM> may driver the outlets <NUM> and inlets <NUM> to generate a hydrodynamic barrier with an environmental fluid from a surrounding environment.

<FIG> is a block diagram of a barrier device <NUM> according to an embodiment. Referring to <FIG>, barrier device <NUM> includes a porous material <NUM> (e.g., naturally porous material, such as a hydrogel), pump <NUM>, reservoir <NUM>, and controller <NUM>. Pump <NUM>, reservoir <NUM>, and controller <NUM> may function substantially similar to similar elements described above with reference to <FIG>. Accordingly, a detailed description of these elements is not repeated herein. Barrier device <NUM> includes porous material <NUM>. Porous material <NUM> may function as outlets <NUM>, inlets <NUM>, and/or both. As a non-limiting example, porous material <NUM> may be disposed on a surface, and fluidly connected to pump <NUM>. Pump <NUM> may pump an operating fluid out of porous material <NUM>, and/or draw environmental fluid into porous material <NUM>. In some cases, pump <NUM> may maintain a layer of the operating fluid (e.g., a bubble layer) on a surface of porous material <NUM>. For example, pump <NUM> may rapidly switch from pumping out to pumping in to generate and maintain a protective layer of the operating fluid on the surface.

<FIG> is a block diagram of a barrier device <NUM> according to an embodiment. Referring to <FIG>, barrier device <NUM> includes a porous material <NUM>, secondary holes <NUM>, pump <NUM>, reservoir <NUM>, and controller <NUM>. Pump <NUM>, reservoir <NUM>, and controller <NUM> may function substantially similar to similar elements described above with reference to <FIG>. Accordingly, a detailed description of these elements is not repeated herein. Barrier device <NUM> includes porous material <NUM>, which may be substantially simlar to the porous material <NUM> described with reference to <FIG>, and may function as outlets <NUM>, inlets <NUM>, and/or both. Barrier device <NUM> further includes secondary holes <NUM> which may also function as outlets <NUM>, inlets <NUM>, and/or both. For example, secondary holes <NUM> may operate as outlets <NUM>, and porous material <NUM> may operate as inlets <NUM> such that a hydrodynamic barrier is maintained on the surface.

Although the present disclosure regularly refers to barrier device <NUM>, one of ordinary skill will recognize in light of the present disclosure that similar features, discussions, and examples may be applied to barrier devices <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> unless explicitly disclaimed or inherently incompatible.

Aspects of the disclosed technology may be implemented using at least some of the components illustrated in the computing device architecture <NUM> of <FIG>. For example, controller <NUM>, may be implemented with one or more of the components depicted in <FIG>. As shown, the computing device architecture <NUM> includes a central processing unit (CPU) <NUM>, where computer instructions are processed; a display interface <NUM> that acts as a communication interface and provides functions for rendering video, graphics, images, and texts on the display. In certain example implementations of the disclosed technology, the display interface <NUM> may be directly connected to a local display, such as a touch-screen display associated with a mobile computing device. In another example implementation, the display interface <NUM> may be configured for providing data, images, and other information for an external/remote display that is not necessarily physically connected to the mobile computing device. For example, a desktop monitor may be utilized for mirroring graphics and other information that is presented on a mobile computing device. In certain example implementations, the display interface <NUM> may wirelessly communicate, for example, via a Wi-Fi channel or other available network connection interface <NUM> to the external/remote display.

In an example implementation, the network connection interface <NUM> may be configured as a communication interface and may provide functions for rendering video, graphics, images, text, other information, or any combination thereof on the display. In one example, a communication interface may include a serial port, a parallel port, a general purpose input and output (GPIO) port, a game port, a universal serial bus (USB), a micro-USB port, a high definition multimedia (HDMI) port, a video port, an audio port, a Bluetooth port, a near field communication (NFC) port, another like communication interface, or any combination thereof. In one example, the display interface <NUM> may be operatively coupled to a local display, such as a touch-screen display associated with a mobile device. In another example, the display interface <NUM> may be configured to provide video, graphics, images, text, other information, or any combination thereof for an external/remote display that is not necessarily connected to the mobile computing device. In one example, a desktop monitor may be utilized for mirroring or extending graphical information that may be presented on a mobile device. In another example, the display interface <NUM> may wirelessly communicate, for example, via the network connection interface <NUM> such as a Wi-Fi transceiver to the external/remote display.

The computing device architecture <NUM> may include a keyboard interface <NUM> that provides a communication interface to a keyboard. In one example implementation, the computing device architecture <NUM> may include a presence-sensitive display interface <NUM> for connecting to a presence-sensitive display <NUM>. According to certain example implementations of the disclosed technology, the presence-sensitive display interface <NUM> may provide a communication interface to various devices such as a pointing device, a touch screen, a depth camera, etc. which may or may not be associated with a display.

The computing device architecture <NUM> may be configured to use an input device via one or more of input/output interfaces (for example, the keyboard interface <NUM>, the display interface <NUM>, the presence sensitive display interface <NUM>, network connection interface <NUM>, camera interface <NUM>, sound interface <NUM>, etc.,) to allow a user to capture information into the computing device architecture <NUM>. The input device may include a mouse, a trackball, a directional pad, a track pad, a touch-verified track pad, a presence-sensitive track pad, a presence-sensitive display, a scroll wheel, a digital camera, a digital video camera, a web camera, a microphone, a sensor, a smartcard, and the like. Additionally, the input device may be integrated with the computing device architecture <NUM> or may be a separate device.

Example implementations of the computing device architecture <NUM> may include an antenna interface <NUM> that provides a communication interface to an antenna; a network connection interface <NUM> that provides a communication interface to a network. As mentioned above, the display interface <NUM> may be in communication with the network connection interface <NUM>, for example, to provide information for display on a remote display that is not directly connected or attached to the system. In certain implementations, a camera interface <NUM> is provided that acts as a communication interface and provides functions for capturing digital images from a camera. In certain implementations, a sound interface <NUM> is provided as a communication interface for converting sound into electrical signals using a microphone and for converting electrical signals into sound using a speaker. According to example implementations, a random-access memory (RAM) <NUM> is provided, where computer instructions and data may be stored in a volatile memory device for processing by the CPU <NUM>.

According to an example implementation, the computing device architecture <NUM> includes a read-only memory (ROM) <NUM> where invariant low-level system code or data for basic system functions such as basic input and output (I/O), startup, or reception of keystrokes from a keyboard are stored in a non-volatile memory device. According to an example implementation, the computing device architecture <NUM> includes a storage medium <NUM> or other suitable type of memory (e.g. such as RAM, ROM, programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), magnetic disks, optical disks, floppy disks, hard disks, removable cartridges, flash drives), where the files include an operating system <NUM>, application programs <NUM> (including, for example, a web browser application, a widget or gadget engine, and or other applications, as necessary) and data files <NUM> are stored. According to an example implementation, the computing device architecture <NUM> includes a power source <NUM> that provides an appropriate alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC) to power components.

According to an example implementation, the computing device architecture <NUM> includes and a telephony subsystem <NUM> that allows the device <NUM> to transmit and receive sound over a telephone network. The constituent devices and the CPU <NUM> communicate with each other over a bus <NUM>.

According to an example implementation, the CPU <NUM> has appropriate structure to be a computer processor. In one arrangement, the CPU <NUM> may include more than one processing unit. The RAM <NUM> interfaces with the computer bus <NUM> to provide quick RAM storage to the CPU <NUM> during the execution of software programs such as the operating system application programs, and device drivers. More specifically, the CPU <NUM> loads computer-executable process steps from the storage medium <NUM> or other media into a field of the RAM <NUM> in order to execute software programs. Data may be stored in the RAM <NUM>, where the data may be accessed by the computer CPU <NUM> during execution. In one example configuration, the device architecture <NUM> includes at least <NUM> MB of RAM, and <NUM> MB of flash memory.

The storage medium <NUM> itself may include a number of physical drive units, such as a redundant array of independent disks (RAID), a floppy disk drive, a flash memory, a USB flash drive, an external hard disk drive, thumb drive, pen drive, key drive, a High-Density Digital Versatile Disc (HD-DVD) optical disc drive, an internal hard disk drive, a Blu-Ray optical disc drive, or a Holographic Digital Data Storage (HDDS) optical disc drive, an external mini-dual inline memory module (DIMM) synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), or an external micro-DIMM SDRAM. Such computer readable storage media allow a computing device to access computer-executable process steps, application programs and the like, stored on removable and non-removable memory media, to off-load data from the device or to upload data onto the device. A computer program product, such as one utilizing a communication system may be tangibly embodied in storage medium <NUM>, which may include a machine-readable storage medium.

According to one example implementation, the term computing device, as used herein, may be a CPU, or conceptualized as a CPU (for example, the CPU <NUM> of <FIG>). In this example implementation, the computing device (CPU) may be coupled, connected, and/or in communication with one or more peripheral devices, such as display. In another example implementation, the term computing device, as used herein, may refer to a mobile computing device such as a smartphone, tablet computer, or smart watch. In this example embodiment, the computing device may output content to its local display and/or speaker(s). In another example implementation, the computing device may output content to an external display device (e.g., over Wi-Fi) such as a TV or an external computing system.

In example implementations of the disclosed technology, a computing device may include any number of hardware and/or software applications that are executed to facilitate any of the operations. In example implementations, one or more I/O interfaces may facilitate communication between the computing device and one or more input/output devices. For example, a universal serial bus port, a serial port, a disk drive, a CD-ROM drive, and/or one or more user interface devices, such as a display, keyboard, keypad, mouse, control panel, touch screen display, microphone, etc., may facilitate user interaction with the computing device. The one or more I/O interfaces may be utilized to receive or collect data and/or user instructions from a wide variety of input devices. Received data may be processed by one or more computer processors as desired in various implementations of the disclosed technology and/or stored in one or more memory devices.

One or more network interfaces may facilitate connection of the computing device inputs and outputs to one or more suitable networks and/or connections; for example, the connections that facilitate communication with any number of sensors associated with the system. The one or more network interfaces may further facilitate connection to one or more suitable networks; for example, a local area network, a wide area network, the Internet, a cellular network, a radio frequency network, a Bluetooth enabled network, a Wi-Fi enabled network, a satellite-based network any wired network, any wireless network, etc., for communication with external devices and/or systems.

While certain implementations of the disclosed technology have been described throughout the present description and the figures in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and various implementations, it is to be understood that the disclosed technology is not to be limited to the disclosed implementations, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the scope of the appended claims.

In the foregoing description, numerous specific details are set forth. It is to be understood, however, that implementations of the disclosed technology may be practiced without these specific details. References to "one implementation," "an implementation," "example implementation," "various implementation," etc., indicate that the implementation(s) of the disclosed technology so described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but not every implementation necessarily includes the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Further, repeated use of the phrase "in one implementation" does not necessarily refer to the same implementation, although it may.

Throughout the specification and the claims, the following terms should be construed to take at least the meanings explicitly associated herein, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The term "connected" means that one function, feature, structure, or characteristic is directly joined to or in communication with another function, feature, structure, or characteristic. The term "coupled" means that one function, feature, structure, or characteristic is directly or indirectly joined to or in communication with another function, feature, structure, or characteristic. The term "or" is intended to mean an inclusive "or. " Further, the terms "a," "an," and "the" are intended to mean one or more unless specified otherwise or clear from the context to be directed to a singular form.

As used herein, unless otherwise specified the use of the ordinal adjectives "first," "second," "third," etc., to describe a common object, merely indicate that different instances of like objects are being referred to, and are not intended to imply that the objects so described must be in a -given sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking, or in any other manner.

Claim 1:
A method of creating a hydrodynamic barrier of an operating fluid on a surface (<NUM>), the method comprising:
outputting, through a plurality of outlets (<NUM>) disposed on the surface (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), the operating fluid; and
simultaneously with the outputting, withdrawing, through a plurality of inlets (<NUM>) disposed on the surface (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), the operating fluid, thereby creating a hydrodynamic barrier on the surface with movement of the operating fluid,
wherein the plurality of outlets (<NUM>) comprise a plurality of substantially trapezoidal outlet trenches disposed on the surface (<NUM>), and
wherein the plurality of inlets (<NUM>) comprise a plurality of substantially trapezoidal inlet trenches disposed on the surface (<NUM>), the inlet trenches and the outlet trenches being disposed in an alternating pattern.