Patent ID: 6877892

Claim:
A microfluidic device for mixing a plurality of fluid streams, the mixing device comprising: a plurality of device layers including a second device layer disposed between a first device layer and a third device layer; a plurality of microfluidic inlet channels that merge into a microfluidic junction channel, the junction channel being defined in the first device layer and having a characteristic cross-sectional area; a first contraction/expansion region in fluid communication with the junction channel, the first contraction/expansion region including a first aperture defined in the second device layer and including a first microfluidic expansion channel defined in the third device layer, wherein the first aperture has a characteristic cress-sectional area that is substantially smaller than the area of the junction channel, and the first microfluidic expansion channel has a characteristic cross-sectional area that is substantially larger than the area of the first aperture; and a second contraction/expansion region disposed in series with and in fluid communication with the first contraction/expansion region, the second contraction/expansion region including a second aperture defined in the second device layer and including a second microfluidic expansion channel defined in the first device layer, wherein the second aperture has a characteristic cross-sectional area that is substantially smaller than the area of the first expansion channel, and the second microfluidic expansion channel has a characteristic cross-sectional area that is substantially larger than the area of the second aperture.