Patent ID: 7776272

Claim:
A liquid router that comprises an inlet microconduit that branches into a first exit microconduit and a second exit microconduit and is present in a microchannel structure of a microfluidic device which uses centrifugal force created by spinning the device around a spin axis for transporting a liquid, wherein said router comprises: a microcavity being positioned between said inlet microconduit and said first exit microconduit and said second exit microconduit, said microcavity further having a lower part comprising a first exit opening and a second exit opening, and an upper part comprising an inlet opening to which the inlet microconduit is connected; said first exit microconduit and said second exit microconduit being connected to said first exit opening and said second exit opening respectively, and said second exit microconduit comprises; a non-wettable patch whereby said second exit microconduit has reduced hydrophilicity compared to said first exit microconduit, wherein said reduced hydrophilicity of said second exit microconduit results from the non-wettable patch on the inner surface of the second exit microconduit and between the inlet opening and the second exit opening, wherein the patch is capable of hindering liquid transport on said surface from the inlet opening to the second exit opening.