Activation and pressure balancing mechanism
In general, the disclosure relates to a fluid conduit device, such as microfluidic technique, with minimal operation. More specifically, the present invention relates to an activation and pressure balancing mechanism suitable for robust activation of fluid conduit devices.
1 . A fluid conduit device comprising:
a capillary pump, comprising a solid sorbent enclosed in an enclosure and having an inlet and an outlet;
a fluid conduit filled with a working liquid and comprising an actuator zone and a liquid channel, wherein
(i) the liquid channel is operationally connected between the actuator zone and the inlet of the capillary pump,
(ii) the fluid conduit is connected to an upstream microfluidic network, and,
(iii) the fluid conduit is separated from said upstream microfluidic network by a liquiphobic barrier which is permeable to air but retains liquids;
a pressure release channel, wherein one end of the pressure release channel is operationally connected to the fluid conduit at a proximity of the inlet of the capillary pump and the other end of the pressure release channel is operationally connected to the capillary pump via a liquiphilic porous blocking vent;
wherein the pressure release channel is configured to prevent a build-up of pressure within the liquid channel during actuation of the actuator zone as excess of displacement of the working liquid is directed in the pressure release channel.
2 . The fluid conduit device according to claim 1 , wherein the working liquid is an aqueous liquid and the liquiphobic barrier is a hydrophobic barrier which is permeable to air but retains aqueous liquids.
3 . The fluid conduit device according to claim 1 , wherein the working liquid is an oily liquid and the liquiphobic barrier is an oleophobic barrier which is permeable to air but retains oily liquids.
4 . The fluid conduit device according to claim 1 , further comprising a pressure compensation channel, wherein one end of the pressure compensation channel is operationally connected to the capillary pump via a liquiphilic porous blocking vent and the other end of the pressure compensation channel is operationally connected to the actuator zone via a liquiphobic barrier, wherein the distance of the liquiphilic porous blocking vent of the pressure release channel and the liquiphilic porous blocking vent of the pressure compensation channel from the inlet of the capillary pump are chosen such that the working liquid reaches the liquiphilic porous blocking vent of the pressure release channel prior to reaching the liquiphilic porous blocking vent of the pressure compensation channel.
5 . The fluid conduit device according to claim 4 , wherein the device is a microfluidic device,
the liquiphilic porous blocking vent of the pressure release channel is located less than 2 mm from the inlet of the capillary pump,
the liquiphilic porous blocking vent of the pressure compensation channel is located between 2 and 4 mm from the inlet of the capillary pump.
6 . The fluid conduit device according to claim 4 , wherein the working liquid is an aqueous liquid and the liquiphobic barrier is a hydrophobic barrier which is permeable to air but retains aqueous liquids.
7 . The fluid conduit device according to claim 4 , wherein the working liquid is an oily liquid and the barrier is a oleophobic barrier which is permeable to air but retains oily liquids.
8 . The fluid conduit device according to claim 1 , further comprising a permanent pressure source suitable for actuation.
9 . The fluid conduit device according to claim 8 , wherein a liquid storage container functions as the permanent pressure source.
10 . A method for activation of a fluid conduit using the device according to claim 1 , the method comprising providing a pressure on the actuator zone, thereby allowing activation of the capillary pump by diverting excess working liquid temporarily into the pressure release channel until the liquiphilic porous blocking vent is saturated.
11 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein a pressure compensation channel allows compensating for pressure imbalance introduced after removal of a pressure source exerted on the actuator zone by allowing inflow of air after removing the pressure source from the actuator zone.