Abstract: This invention provides a digital microfluidic manipulation device and a manipulation method thereof. This device comprises a PDMS membrane having a surface comprising a plurality of hydrophobic microstructures; a plurality of air chambers arranged in an array and placed under the PDMS membrane; and a plurality of air channels, each of which connects to a corresponding one of the plurality of air chambers. When a suction force is transmitted via one of the plurality of air channels to the corresponding air chamber, a portion of the PDMS membrane above the air chamber deforms toward the air chamber, so that the surface morphology and the contact angle of the liquid/solid interface of the surface comprising the plurality of hydrophobic microstructures are altered and thereby to drive droplets.

Abstract: This invention provides a digital microfluidic manipulation device and a manipulation method thereof. This device comprises a PDMS membrane having a surface comprising a plurality of hydrophobic microstructures; a plurality of air chambers arranged in an array and placed under the PDMS membrane; and a plurality of air channels, each of which connects to a corresponding one of the plurality of air chambers. When a suction force is transmitted via one of the plurality of air channels to the corresponding air chamber, a portion of the PDMS membrane above the air chamber deforms toward the air chamber, so that the surface morphology and the contact angle of the liquid/solid interface of the surface comprising the plurality of hydrophobic microstructures are altered and thereby to drive droplets.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a vortex-modulation based micromixer for enforced mass exchange. The micromixer of the present invention comprises a mixing chamber with grooves on one wall thereof and a special-shape barrier on another wall. As different fluids are injected into the mixing chamber respectively from two inlets of the micromixer, the grooves and barriers of the micromixer of the present invention create the constructive interferences to form the active-like agitation of the fluid. For every groove, the flux passed by can be increased via its high pressure gradient. Understandably, the mixing efficiency of the fluids can be greatly improved within a very short distance. At last, the outlet of the micromixer is located in the downstream of the mixing chamber and further is able to connect with other elements. The present invention is entirely a passive micromixer and no additional energy is required.

Abstract: A micro-fluidic oscillator comprises a main body and a cover body for covering the main body. An oscillation chamber is disposed on the main body to provide an oscillation space for fluid. A sudden-expansion micro-nozzle is connected with one end of the oscillation chamber, and an outlet passage is connected with the other end of the oscillation chamber. Two fluid-separating bodies are located at the connection positions of the outlet passage and the oscillation chamber, respectively. Two feedback channels are located outside two attachment walls. The sudden-expansion micro-nozzle is used to break the viscous shear stress between fluid and the walls and to generate unstable flow and oscillation. Moreover, the two feedback channels have different lengths, inside diameters and alternate outlet positions to further enhance the oscillation of fluid.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a vortex-modulation based micromixer for enforced mass exchange. The micromixer of the present invention comprises a mixing chamber with grooves on one wall thereof and a special-shape barrier on another wall. As different fluids are injected into the mixing chamber respectively from two inlets of the micromixer, the grooves and barriers of the micromixer of the present invention create the constructive interferences to form the active-like agitation of the fluid. For every groove, the flux passed by can be increased via its high pressure gradient. Understandably, the mixing efficiency of the fluids can be greatly improved within a very short distance. At last, the outlet of the micromixer is located in the downstream of the mixing chamber and further is able to connect with other elements. The present invention is entirely a passive micromixer and no additional energy is required.

Abstract: A detecting device for biochemical detections is provided. The detecting device includes a first substrate, a magnetic layer located on the first substrate, an isolation layer located on the magnetic layer, at least a first electrode located on the isolation layer, a first dielectric layer located on the first electrode, a first hydrophobic layer located on the first dielectric layer, a second substrate, at least a second electrode located on the second substrate and having a cathode and an anode, a second dielectric layer located on the second electrode' and a second hydrophobic layer located on the second dielectric layer. The first electrode is zigzag-shaped, and the cathode and the anode of the second electrode are comb-shaped and interlaced with each other.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a microfluidic separating and transporting device, which utilizes free-energy gradient surfaces having micro/nano physical and chemical properties to drive and separate microfluids automatically. The device of the present invention comprises a platform having microchannels. The surfaces of the microchannels have surface energy gradient-inducing rare-to-dense microstructures. The rare-to-dense microstructures are formed in two regions; one is formed in the primary microchannel and used to transport microfluids, and the other is formed in the microfluid bifurcation region. When different microfluids flow through the microfluid bifurcation region, the microfluids will separate automatically to their own secondary microchannels according to the surface energy gradient. Thereby, droplets of different microfluids can be separated apart or split into diffluences.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a fluidic mixer of serpentine channel incorporated with staggered sudden-expansion and convergent cross sections, which comprises a flat cover and a channel body. The channel body further comprises two L-type mixer inlets, a mixing channel, and two L-type mixer outlets. The configuration of the mixing channel is a single serpentine channel incorporated with staggered sudden-expansion and convergent cross sections, wherein the serpentine structure and the sudden-expansion cross sections induces split flows, which further enable the fluid to stretch and fold so that the contact area within the fluid can be increased. The convergence after sudden expansion in cross section is to prepare the next action of sudden expansion, and such an iterative structure can obviously enhance the mixing effect.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composite plate device for a thermal transpiration micropump apparatus. The provided composite plate device includes a substrate having a plurality of flow channels and a plurality of templates with closed sidewalls, wherein the plurality of flow channels allow fluid to flow therethrough and have a feature length larger than or equal to the mean free path length of the fluid. The provided composite plate device further includes a porous material that is filled in the plurality of templates of the substrate, wherein the porous material allows the fluid to flow therethrough and has an equivalent pore diameter smaller than or equal to the mean free path length of the fluid.

Abstract: The micromixer with overlapping-crisscross entrance incorporated with the grooved microchannel, is used effectively for mixing two or more fluid streams. The X-shape overlapping-crisscross inlet ports wherein two microfluidic channels contact over a small area, allow the fluid streams flow through and create the tumbling inside the micromixer. Then merging with some patterned grooves on the walls also induces swirling motion. As a result, the folding and stretching effects of the flow are augmented to amplify the fluid mixing of two or more streams of the inlet fluids within a relative short distance in the micromixer. All of the flow streams are actuated with either pressure driven by a syringe pump or capillary electrophoresis. The present invention is applicable for micro total analysis systems and drug delivery systems.

Abstract: A detecting device for biochemical detections is provided. The detecting device includes a first substrate, a magnetic layer located on the first substrate, an isolation layer located on the magnetic layer, at least a first electrode located on the isolation layer, a first dielectric layer located on the first electrode, a first hydrophobic layer located on the first dielectric layer, a second substrate, at least a second electrode located on the second substrate and having a cathode and an anode, a second dielectric layer located on the second electrode and a second hydrophobic layer located on the second dielectric layer. The first electrode is zigzag-shaped, and the cathode and the anode of the second electrode are comb-shaped and interlaced with each other.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a novel micro valve device, comprising a micro fluidic channel, which is formed by combining two hydrophobic plates, and the micro/nano structure on the wall surfaces of the channel are used to manipulate the mobility of the fluid in the channel. The function of the micro/nano structure mentioned above is to alter the micro or nano surface pattern on the wall surfaces of the channel. According to the relation between the surface pattern and the surface tension, the textured areas on the wall surfaces can change the mobility of the fluid in the channel. This effect is used as a switch in new types of micro valve devices for biomedical tests. Methods of making the micro valve device are described and include generating a micro/nano structure on the surfaces of the channel. The temporal control of different valve resistances can be achieved with different lengths, shapes, depths and materials of the micro/nano structures.

Abstract: A control device for controlling a liquid droplet is provided. The control device includes a substrate and a supporting structure made of at least a hydrophobic composite and located on the substrate. A surface energy difference is generated in response to a surface variation of the supporting structure, so as to control a behavior of the liquid droplet.

Abstract: A fluidic oscillator includes an oscillator body having two attachment walls defining an oscillating chamber therebetween, an inlet duct communicatively extended from the oscillating chamber for guiding a flow of fluid entering into the oscillating chamber, an outlet duct communicatively extended from the oscillating chamber for guiding the flow of fluid exiting from the oscillating chamber, a flow splitter provided at the outlet duct to communicate with the oscillating chamber, and two feedback channels communicating with the oscillating chamber. Each of the attachment walls has an upstream portion and a downstream portion integrally extended therefrom as a step shouldering manner to form a modulating shoulder for modulating an oscillation of the flow within the oscillation chamber so as to stabilize the flow of the fluid to pass through the oscillator body.

Abstract: A biochemical detecting device for separating a reagent, a plurality of magnetic beads and a target from a mixture, and detecting the target is provided. The biochemical detecting device includes a first substrate, at least two first electrode sets located on the first substrate, a second electrode set located on the first substrate and between the two first electrode sets, and a second substrate covering the first substrate, each of the first electrode sets and the second electrode set. Accordingly, the movement of the mixture is digitally controlled by the provided biological detecting device.

Abstract: A sudden expansion combustion chamber comprising a combustion chamber, an inlet port, a backward-facing step layer provided in the combustion chamber having a predetermined thickness so as define the inlet port, and an after-mixing chamber. The sudden expansion combustion chamber is characterized in that it contains at least a slot provided in the backward-facing step layer so as to increase the recirculating flow rate and turbulence of the incoming air, and thus reduce ignition delay.