Patent ID: 7833478

Claim:
A microfluidic device comprising a hydrophilic microchannel structure in which there is a functional unit that comprises: A) a separation microcavity I that comprises (i) a liquid inlet I, and (ii) a liquid outlet I that is at a lower level than said liquid inlet I, and at an intermediary level between the level of the bottom and level of the top of the separation microcavity thereby dividing the separation microcavity in a lower part and an upper part, and B) a liquid transport microconduit I that has an inlet end directly connected to liquid outlet I, and an outlet end that is at a lower level than the inlet end, said device is spinnable thereby creating centrifugal force that is capable of driving liquid transport downstream through liquid outlet I and through microconduit I, characterized in that a) a valve I, preferably a capillary valve I, is associated with microconduit I, and b) the flow direction through liquid outlet I is directed upwards, and/or c) the part of the microconduit next to liquid outlet I is directed upwards.