Abstract: The present invention relates to a detachable pump and a negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) system using the same. The detachable pump comprises: a top module, including a motor set and a top elastic member; and a bottom module, arranged beneath the top module in a manner that it is connected to the top module by a detachable connection mechanism and comprised of: a base configured with an inlet and an outlet; at least an one-way suction valve; at least an one-way drain valve; a diaphragm element; and a bottom elastic member. With the aforesaid system, spent liquid can be prevented from flowing back to a wound section or the base by the cooperation of the suction valve and the drain valve as the top elastic member is configured to be pushed by the motor set for enabling the resulting resilience of the top elastic member to counter with the resilience of the bottom elastic member in a manner that the diaphragm element is propelled for enabling the detachable pump to generate a vacuuming force.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an autonomous microfluidic apparatus. The autonomous microfluidic apparatus is substantially a substrate having a microchannel structure arranged thereon. As a microfluid is being filled in a loading well situated upstream of the microchannel structure, the microfluid is affected by interactions between gravity, adhesive force and surface tension and thus driven to flow downstream in the microchannel structure while filling a plurality of manifolds formed in a area situated downstream of the microchannel structure, so that accurate and autonomous quantification and separation of the microfluid using the plural manifolds, each having a specific length, can be achieved and provided for biomedical inspection and analysis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a gravity-driven fraction separator and method thereof. The gravity-driven fraction separator is substantially a substrate having a microchannel structure arranged thereon, in which the microchannel structure is extending longitudinally on the substrate while sloping with respect to the level of the substrate by a specific angle. As a micro fluidics is being filled in a loading well situated upstream of the microchannel structure, the micro fluidics is driven by gravity to flow downstream in the microchannel structure while filling a plurality of manifolds formed in a area situated downstream of the microchannel structure, so that accurate quantification and separation of the micro fluidics using the plural manifolds, each having a specific length, can be achieved and provided for posterior inspection and analysis.

Abstract: A gravity-driven apparatus and method control the flow order of reactants in microfluidic devices which are employed in a microfluidic chip. The gravity-driven apparatus flow order control mainly comprises a plurality of reactant chambers arranged at different heights, a plurality of flow-control microchannels, and a reaction chamber having a winding collection microchannel. Each reactant chamber has an air-in vent. Each pair of neighboring flow-control microchannels has a U-shaped structure connecting the pair of neighboring flow-control microchannels. To activate the microfluidic device, the device is placed in an inclining or standing position and the air-in vents are unsealed. This apparatus enhances the reliability of flow order control for multiple reactants. It can be built in a microfluidic chip, and does not use any actuating power or element. Therefore, it is low in energy-consumption, low in manufacturing cost and free of pollution.

Abstract: The present invention provides a microflow coverage ratio control device, which comprises two reservoirs, at least one communication channel, a flow driver and two external tubes. The present invention utilizes liquid-level gravities of fluids in the two reservoirs to drive the fluids simultaneously flowing into a reaction chamber to form different fluid coverage ratios in the reaction chamber. The present invention employs the flow driver associated with the communication channel to change the liquid levels of the fluids in the two reservoirs, thereby changing the fluid coverage ratios in the reaction chamber. According to the potential energy conservation, the fluid pressure of the reaction chamber is kept constant during the change of the fluid coverage ratios. The interference of the reaction chamber is eliminated.

Abstract: A gravity-driven apparatus and method control the flow order of reactants in microfluidic devices which are employed in a microfluidic chip. The gravity-driven apparatus flow order control mainly comprises a plurality of reactant chambers arranged at different heights, a plurality of flow-control microchannels, and a reaction chamber having a winding collection microchannel. Each reactant chamber has an air-in vent. Each pair of neighboring flow-control microchannels has a U-shaped structure connecting the pair of neighboring flow-control microchannels. To activate the microfluidic device, the device is placed in an inclining or standing position and the air-in vents are unsealed. This method enhances the reliability of flow order control for multiple reactants. It can be built in a microfluidic chip, and does not use any actuating power or element. Therefore, it is low in energy-consumption, low in manufacturing cost and free of pollution.

Abstract: A gravity-driven apparatus and method for controlling the flow order of reactants in microfluidic devices are provided, which are employed in a microfluidic chip. The gravity-driven apparatus flow order control mainly comprises a plurality of reactant chambers arranged in a stepwise pattern, a plurality of separate microchannels, and a reaction chamber having a winding converged microchannel. Each said reactant chamber has an air vent channel. Each pair of neighboring separate microchannels has a U-shaped structure connecting the pair of neighboring separate microchannels. To activate the microfluidic chip, the microfluidic chip is placed in a declining or standing position and the air vents are unsealed. This invention enhances the reliability of flow order control for multiple reactants. It can be built in a microfluidic chip, and needs not use any activate power or element. Therefore, it is low in energy-consumption, low in manufacturing cost and free-of-pollution.

Abstract: A gravity-driven apparatus and method for controlling the flow order of reactants in microfluidic devices are provided, which are employed in a microfluidic chip. The gravity-driven apparatus flow order control mainly comprises a plurality of reactant chambers arranged in a stepwise pattern, a plurality of separate microchannels, and a reaction chamber having a winding converged microchannel. Each said reactant chamber has an air vent channel. Each pair of neighboring separate microchannels has a U-shaped structure connecting the pair of neighboring separate microchannels. To activate the microfluidic chip, the microfluidic chip is placed in a declining or standing position and the air vents are unsealed. This invention enhances the reliability of flow order control for multiple reactants. It can be built in a microfluidic chip, and needs not use any activate power or element. Therefore, it is low in energy-consumption, low in manufacturing cost and free-of-pollution.

Abstract: A microfluidic chip with a built-in gravity-driven micropump is provided. The gravity-driven micropump comprises a winding channel, an inert fluidic material placed inside the winding channel, and a suction channel that links the winding channel to the microfluidic chip. The winding channel is for the inert fluidic material to flow in. A fixed volume of high density, inert fluidic material is placed in the winding channel to act as a micropump in the bio chip. When the microfluidic chip is placed in a declining or standing position, the inert fluidic material flows along the winding channel due to the gravity. The invention provides a simple, convenient, and robust microfluid pumping source. With the built-in micropump, this invention is free-of-pollution and saves the manufacturing cost for the pipe link between the bio chip and peripheral devices.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for collecting fluid fractions. The present apparatus includes an inlet, a channel, a plurality of collectors, and an outlet. The inlet communicates with the collectors and the outlet through the channel. The collectors are disposed between the inlet and the outlet. The method for collecting the fluid fractions comprises two steps. First step, injecting the fluid in to the inlet for guiding the fluid to the outlet along the channel, wherein the fluid fills the collectors one by one due to the capillary attraction when passing through the collectors, and flows to the outlet after the collectors having been filled. Second step, injecting pressurized gas into the channel to drain the fluid fractions from fill the collectors respectively to a plurality of corresponding containers.

Abstract: This specification disclosed a partially closed microfluidic system and a fluid driving method. The microfluidic system is comprised of a substrate with microfluidic elements and a thin film. A feature of this structure is that the thin film is elastic and deformable. It has a single opening corresponding to a vent hole on the substrate, thus forming a partially closed microfluidic system. The substrate is designed to have several positions for micro fluid elements and deformable chambers and uses micro channels to form a complete network. Since the thin film is elastic and deformable, one is able to impose a pressure on the thin film above the deformable chambers in this partially closed microfluidic system to drive the fluid into motion. Once the pressure is released, the fluid flows back to its original configuration.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for collecting fluid fractions are provided. The present apparatus includes an inlet, a channel, a plurality of collectors, and an outlet. The inlet communicates with the collectors and the outlet through the channel. The collectors are disposed between the inlet and the outlet. The method for collecting the fluid fractions comprises two steps. First step, injecting the fluid in to the inlet for guiding the fluid to the outlet along the channel, wherein the fluid fills the collectors one by one due to the capillary attraction when passing through the collectors, and flows to the outlet after the collectors having been filled. Second step, injecting pressurized gas into the channel to drain the fluid fractions from fill the collectors respectively to a plurality of corresponding containers.

Abstract: Disclosed is a micro flowguide device comprising: a micro channel comprising at least one bubble trap to retard bubbles positioned in said bubble trap; an electrolytic bubble generating device to generate bubbles in said fluid by an electrolytic reaction; and a pressure source to supply a suited pressure to said fluid to pass through said micro channel; wherein said electrolytic bubble generating device causes bubbles to be generated at areas adjacent to said at least one bubble trap. Electrolytic bubbles are generated through a, localized electrolytic reaction enabled by the exposure of a set of DC-source-connected electrodes inside a conduit branch. Accumulated bubbles will be trapped and kept at several traps of the invented flowguide. When the backward pressure of trapped bubbles is rising to the level of forward pressure head, flow speed reduces to zero and channel branch is shut down.

Abstract: This specification disclosed a partially closed microfluidic system and a fluid driving method. The microfluidic system is comprised of a substrate with microfluidic elements and a thin film. A feature of this structure is that the thin film is elastic and deformable. It has a single opening corresponding to a vent hole on the substrate, thus forming a partially closed microfluidic system. The substrate is designed to have several positions for micro fluid elements and deformable chambers and uses micro channels to form a complete network. Since the thin film is elastic and deformable, one is able to impose a pressure on the thin film above the deformable chambers in this partially closed microfluidic system to drive the fluid into motion. Once the pressure is released, the fluid flows back to its original configuration.

Abstract: A method for thermal control of microfluid and a device using the thermal control method utilizes a chip provided with a microchannel and a pneumatic microflow driving element to drive a microfluid back and forth in the microchannel at a predetermined frequency. Heating devices are arranged along specific sections of the microchannel. By controlling the frequency of the back-and-forth movement of the microfluid, the temperature of the microfluid may be accurately controlled. Due to the rapid movement of the microfluid in the microchannel, uniform distribution of the temperature and ingredients in the microfluid may also be obtained.

Abstract: In the micro organism cultivation device of this invention, an implantable bio-artificial micro device, i.e., a cell apartment, is provided to cultivate cells or tissues. The cells or tissues to be cultivated include that secrete hormones such as islets of Langerhans. At both sides of the cell apartment, provided are microfluidic channels comprising dynamic micro-electric field array filters. The dynamic micro-electric field array filters comprise a plurality of electrodes distributed inside the microchannels. By periodically switching the polarity of the electrodes, microfluidic flows are generated in the microchannels. All inlet flows to the cell apartment are filtered by the immunoisolation of the micro-electric field array filters before entering into the cell apartment. The micro-electric field array filters provide a physical immune protection to the cells cultivated in the cell apartment against the immune system of the host.

Abstract: A pneumatic apparatus and method for driving a microflow is disclosed. The microflow driving apparatus of this invention comprises an external pneumatic driving device that generates an array of airflows; an air gallery to accept airflows of said pneumatic driving device and to generate a suction force and an exclusion force; and a fluid channel connected with said air gallery to allow a fluid to flow inside it. In the air gallery, a trapezoid block is provided to generate an air circle from at least one of said airflows. An open gap is provided in the fluid channel at the connection of the air gallery and the fluid channel. When different combinations of airflows are introduced into the air gallery, a suction force or an exclusion force is generated to drive the reaction fluid inside the fluid channel to proceed, retreat or pause. A method using the apparatus for driving a microflow is also disclosed.