Microfluidic mixer
A microfluidic mixer, formed by two parts, a first part being a substrate having formations defining fluid channels on an outer surface that is directed towards a second part, which is a flexible layer. The flexile layer has formations defining a fluid channel which, when the flexible layer is positioned over the substrate so as to cover the fluid channels of the substrate provides a fluid communication path. A section of said communication path comprises at least first and second fluid channels for providing first and second fluids. The first and second fluid channels merge before an inlet of a mixing chamber. The mixing chamber comprises perturbation formations. An outlet of the mixing chamber is connected to an outlet fluid channel. The flexible layer comprises points for compression at the inlet and outlet of the mixing chamber for closing the merged fluid channel. The perturbation formations of the mixing chamber are vertically arranged vertically with respect to an inner surface.
1 . A microfluidic mixer, formed by two parts, a first part being a substrate having formations defining fluid channels on an outer surface that is directed towards a second part, the second part being a flexible layer, wherein the flexible layer has formations defining fluid channels which, when the flexible layer is positioned over the substrate, cover the fluid channels of the substrate to provide a fluid communication path, wherein a section of said fluid communication path comprises at least a first and a second fluid channel for providing a first and a second fluid, wherein the first and second fluid channels merge before an inlet of a mixing chamber into a merged fluid channel, wherein the mixing chamber comprises perturbation formations, and an outlet of the mixing chamber is connected to an outlet fluid channel, wherein the flexible layer comprises points for compression at the inlet and outlet of the mixing chamber for closing the merged fluid channel and the outlet fluid channel connected to the inlet and outlet of the mixing chamber such that application of pressure on the points for compression causes the mixing of at least two fluids, wherein the perturbation formations of the mixing chamber are vertically arranged walls, pillars, or tubes with respect to an inner surface of the mixing chamber.
2 . The microfluidic mixer of claim 1 , wherein the perturbation formations in the mixing chamber are arranged perpendicularly with respect to a flow direction of a fluid and the perturbation formations are connected to at least one inner surface of the mixing chamber.
3 . The microfluidic mixer of claim 1 , wherein a section comprising the mixing chamber has members on two sides for deforming the flexible layer.
4 . The microfluidic mixer of claim 1 , wherein further channels formed by the substrate and the flexible layer merge before the inlet of the mixing chamber into the merged fluid channel.
5 . The microfluidic mixer of claim 1 , wherein the outlet fluid channel diverges into a plurality of channels.
6 . The microfluidic mixer of claim 1 , wherein the substrate is made of a rigid material.
7 . A microfluidic device comprising at least one microfluidic mixer according to claim 1 .
8 . A system comprising the microfluidic device according to claim 7 and at least one mechanical actuator which is arranged above the points for compression of the mixing chamber at the inlet and outlet.
9 . A method for mixing a fluid in a microfluidic device, comprising the steps of:
introducing at least two different fluids for mixing in a first and a second fluid channel in a microfluidic mixer, formed by two parts, a first part being a substrate having formations defining fluid channels on an outer surface that is directed towards a second part, which is a flexible layer, wherein the flexible layer has formations defining the first and second fluid channels with the flexible layer positioned over the substrate so as to cover the fluid channels of the substrate to provide a fluid communication path, wherein in a section of said communication path the first and second fluid channels merge before an inlet of a mixing chamber into a merged fluid channel, wherein the mixing chamber comprises perturbation formations, characterized in that the perturbation formations of the mixing chamber are vertically arranged walls, pillars, or tubes with respect to an inner surface, and an outlet of the mixing chamber is connected to an outlet fluid channel,
applying at least once a mechanical pressure at points for compression at the inlet and outlet of the mixing chamber for closing the channels connected to the inlet and outlet of the mixing chamber and thereby mixing the at least two different fluids; and
releasing the mechanical pressure so that the mixed fluids can leave the mixing chamber through the outlet.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the mechanical pressure to the points for compression is applied in parallel to each point of compression at the inlet and outlet.
11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein a mechanical actuator is used for applying the mechanical pressure to the points for compression.
12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the points for compression are sidewise actuated after applying the mechanical pressure.