Patent ID: 8534319

Claim:
A centripetal microfluidic device comprising: a rotatable disk defining a platform having a circumference and a central hole for receiving an actuator for being rotated thereby; and a microfluidic network formed in said platform comprising: a longitudinal curved upstream dispensing chamber near said circumference; a longitudinal curved downstream receiving chamber being radially outward relative to said upstream chamber; and a serial siphon valve conduit interposed therebetween and comprising an inlet aperture in fluid communication with said dispensing chamber and an outlet aperture in fluid communication with said receiving chamber, said serial siphon valve conduit comprising a sinuous configuration between said inlet and outlet apertures defining a series of co-radial siphon valves separated by capillary valve structures, said series of co-radial siphon valves defining radially inward bends and radially outward bends, said capillary valve structures being respectively positioned at and contiguous with respective said bends thereby enlarging the spatial structure of said bends, wherein when applying a centripetal force to said microfluidic network, a fluid within said network flows in the downstream direction, each said capillary valve structure configured for blocking fluid movement when the capillary force of said capillary valve structure overcomes the centripetal force.