Abstract: In the method for mixing-free transport of homogeneous liquids in microchannels a heterogeneous liquid flow (14) is autonomously divided into portions, transported over a distance and then autonomously recombined. When the flow is divided into portions, individual volumes of a second liquid (16), which may be but must not be homogeneous, are introduced between volume fractions lying one behind the other of the heterogeneous liquid flow (14). While the volume fractions of the heterogeneous liquid (14) that lye close to one another would mix with each other without this measure being taken, separation of the individual volume fractions allows these volume fractions, and thus the heterogeneous liquid (14), to be transported over large distances without any mixing occurring.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 26, 2003
Date of Patent:
January 1, 2008
Assignee:
ProtoLife Srl.
Inventors:
Patrick Wagler, John Simpson McCaskill, Tobias Foster