Microfluidic Mixing

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Microfluidic Mixing

• David Ross, Physicist
• NIST
• Gaithersburg, MD

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Technology Summary

• No turbulence in microfluidics, so little or no
  mixing
• A new method for mixing in microfluidic systems
• Highly efficient mixing, even at very high flow
  rates.

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Microfluidic Mixing
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Microfluidic Mixing
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Microfluidic Mixing
Slanted wells redirect flow and cause fluids to
fold over each other like kneading bread.
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Rapid microfluidic mixing
440 µm
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Rapid microfluidic mixing
440 µm
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Rapid microfluidic mixing
440 µm
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Rapid microfluidic mixing
440 µm
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Current Status

• Intellectual property
• One issued patent on method (U.S. 6,907,895)
• One non-provisional application on device
  (20050207274)
• Ready for licensing
• Competitors / substitutes
• Many different microfluidic mixers described
• Complex branch-recombine structures
• Long, slow serpentine
• Complex multilayer geometries
• Most only effective at low flow rates

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Contact

• For more information
• David Ross
• National Institute of Standards and Technology
• 301-975-2525
• david.ross_at_nist.gov
• Laurie Locascio
• National Institute of Standards and Technology
• 301-975-3130
• laurie.locascio_at_nist.gov