Patent ID: 7745207

Claim:
A method of mixing solutions comprising: a) providing a microfluidic device comprising: (i) a first microfluidic channel comprising a first pump and a first solution; (ii) a second microfluidic channel comprising a second, opposing pump and a second solution; and (iii) a third microfluidic channel, wherein each pump comprises an inlet valve, a pump valve and an outlet valve, and the first, second and third channels intersect at a common junction that is not a valve; and b) performing a pumping cycle comprising: (i) opening the inlet valves and closing the outlet valves; (ii) opening the pump valves, wherein the first and second solutions are pumped into the pump valves; (iii) closing the inlet valves and opening the outlet valves; and (iv) closing the pump valves, wherein the solutions in the pump valves are pumped into the third channel in laminar flow and wherein opening the outlet valves and closing the pump valves results in back and forth movement of the solutions, wherein the solutions are mixed.