Microfluidic device with diffusion between adjacent lumens
A microfluidic method is provided that comprises: delivering a first fluid to a first lumen of a microfluidic device and a second, different fluid to a second lumen of the microfluidic device, the first and second lumens sharing a common wall which allows for diffusion between the lumens over at least a portion of the length of the lumens; and having the first and second fluids diffuse between the first and second lumens.
1. A microfluidic method comprising:
delivering a first fluid to a first lumen of a microfluidic device and a second, different fluid to a second lumen of the microfluidic device, the first and second lumens sharing a common wall which allows for diffusion between the lumens over at least a portion of the length of the lumens; and
having the first and second fluids diffuse between the first and second lumens.
2. A microfluidic method according to claim 1 wherein a composition of at least one of the first and second fluids is varied so that the composition of at least one of the first and second fluids varies along a length of the lumen.
3. A microfluidic method according to claim 1 wherein the composition of at least one of the first and second fluids varies over time as it is delivered to the lumen so that the fluid forms a gradient with regard to a concentration of at least one component of the fluid that changes along a length of the lumen.
4. A microfluidic method according to claim 1 wherein the microfluidic device comprises a plurality of first and second lumens, the method comprising delivering first and second fluids to each of the plurality of first and second lumens.
5. A microfluidic method according to claim 1 wherein the same first and second fluids are delivered to each of the plurality of first and second lumens.
6. A microfluidic method according to claim 1 wherein different first and second fluids are delivered to the plurality of first and second lumens.
7. A microfluidic method according to claim 1 wherein each lumen has a cross sectional diameter of less than 2.5 mm.
8. A microfluidic method according to claim 1 wherein each lumen has a cross sectional diameter of less than 1 mm.
9. A microfluidic method according to claim 1 wherein each lumen has a cross sectional diameter of less than 500 microns.
10. A microfluidic method according to claim 1 wherein the first and second fluids combine to form different crystallization conditions for crystallizing a molecule.
11. A microfluidic method according to claim 1 wherein the first and second fluids combine to form different crystallization conditions for crystallizing a protein.
12. A microfluidic method according to claim 1 wherein the first and second fluids combine to form different crystallization conditions for crystallizing a macromolecule with a molecular weight of at least 500 daltons.
13. A microfluidic method according to claim 1 wherein the first and second fluids combine to form different crystallization conditions for crystallizing a member selected from the group consisting of viruses, proteins, peptides, nucleosides, nucleotides, ribonucleic acids, deoxyribonucleic acids.
14. A microfluidic method according to claim 1 wherein the first and second fluids have a same flow rate within the lumen.
15. A microfluidic method according to claim 1 wherein the first and second fluids have a different flow rate within the lumen.
16. A microfluidic method according to claim 1 wherein the method further comprises delivering a third fluid to a third lumen which shares a common wall with at least one of the first and second lumens, the common wall allowing for diffusion between the third lumen and the first or second lumen over at least a portion of the length of the lumens.
17. A microfluidic device comprising:
a substrate;
a first lumen at least partially defined by the substrate; and
a second lumen;
wherein the first and second lumens share a common wall with each other that allows for diffusion between the two lumens over at least a portion of the length of the two lumens.
18. A microfluidic device according to claim 17 wherein the common wall comprises a membrane, gel, frit, or matrix that allows for diffusion between the two lumens.
19. A microfluidic device according to claim 17 wherein each lumen has a cross sectional diameter of less than 2.5 mm.
20. A microfluidic device according to claim 17 wherein each lumen has a cross sectional diameter of less than 1 mm.
21. A microfluidic device according to claim 17 wherein each lumen has a cross sectional diameter of less than 500 microns.
22. A microfluidic device according to claim 17 wherein the device further comprises a third lumen, the third lumen sharing a common wall with at least one of the first and second lumens so as to allow for diffusion between the lumens over at least a portion of the length of the lumens.
23. A microfluidic device comprising:
a substrate;
a plurality of sets of lumens, each set comprising
a first lumen at least partially defined by the substrate, and
a second lumen,
wherein the first and second lumens share a common wall with each other that allows for diffusion between the two lumens over at least a portion of the length of the two lumens.
24. A microfluidic device according to claim 23 wherein the common wall comprises a membrane, gel, frit, or matrix that allows for diffusion between the two lumens.
25. A microfluidic device according to claim 23 wherein each lumen has a cross sectional diameter of less than 2.5 mm.
26. A microfluidic device according to claim 23 wherein each lumen has a cross sectional diameter of less than 1 mm.
27. A microfluidic device according to claim 23 wherein each lumen has a cross sectional diameter of less than 500 microns.
28. A microfluidic device according to claim 23 wherein the device further comprises a third lumen, the third lumen sharing a common wall with at least one of the first and second lumens so as to allow for diffusion between the lumens over at least a portion of the length of the lumens.
29. A microfluidic device according to claim 23 wherein the device comprises at least 4 sets of lumens.
30. A microfluidic device according to claim 23 wherein the device comprises at least 8 sets of lumens.
31. A microfluidic device according to claim 23 wherein the device comprises at least 12 sets of lumens.
32. A microfluidic device according to claim 23 wherein the device comprises at least 24 sets of lumens.
33. A microfluidic device according to claim 23 wherein the device comprises at least 96 sets of lumens.
34. A microfluidic device according to claim 23 wherein the device comprises at least 200 sets of lumens.