Abstract: The invention relates to a system (1) for supplying a microfluidic subsystem with liquids, comprising a first valve (14, 29, 46) and a first fluidic duct (10, 25, 28), for connecting said first valve (14, 29, 46) with said microfluidic subsystem and supplying a first liquid, and a second fluidic duct (11), for connecting with said microfluidic subsystem and supplying a second liquid characterized in that said first valve (14, 29, 46) is suitable for closing with time resolution not worse than 100 msec, and parameters of said first fluidic duct (10, 15, 28) are chosen such that the value of X1[Pa?1], defined as: X1[Pa?1]=(0.

Abstract: A microfluidic method and device for focusing and/or forming discontinuous sections of similar or dissimilar size in a fluid is provided. The device can be fabricated simply from readily-available, inexpensive material using simple techniques.

Abstract: A microfluidic method and device for focusing and/or forming discontinuous sections of similar or dissimilar size in a fluid is provided. The device can be fabricated simply from readily-available, inexpensive material using simple techniques.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and apparatuses for guiding and emitting electromagnetic radiation from a fluid waveguide. Various methods for changing optical properties (e.g., refractive index, absorption, and fluorescence) and/or physical properties (e.g., magnetic susceptibility, electrical conductivity, and temperature) of either the waveguide core or the cladding, or both, are provided herein. In one embodiment, electromagnetic radiation is guided and/or emitted at multiple distinct wavelengths, including emission in the form of an essentially continuous band, in some cases covering at least 150 nanometers. In another embodiment, methods for splitting a waveguide core and/or the joining of at least two waveguide cores in a waveguide are provided. In yet another embodiment, the invention includes the use of thermal gradients to generate a waveguide and/or to change the properties of waveguides. Embodiments of the waveguides may be used for optical detection or spectroscopic analysis.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to systems and methods of forming particles and, in certain aspects, to systems and methods of forming particles that are substantially monodisperse. Microfluidic systems and techniques for forming such particles are provided, for instance, particles may be formed using gellation, solidification, and/or chemical reactions such as cross-linking, polymerization, and/or interfacial polymerization reactions. In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a plurality of particles having an average dimension of less than about 500 micrometers and a distribution of dimensions such that no more than about 5% of the particles have a dimension greater than about 10% of the average dimension, which can be made via microfluidic systems. In one set of embodiments, at least some of the particles may comprise a metal, and in certain embodiments, at least some of the particles may comprise a magnetizable material.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to microfluidic systems and, more specifically, to apparatuses and methods associated with mixing in microfluidic systems. In some embodiments, a mixer is constructed and arranged to mix at least a portion of a first and a second fluid component. The mixer may include a channel having an inlet that separates into at least two branches, the branches then recombining into a single outlet. In some cases, plugs of fluid (e.g., a gas) are flowed into the branches, which causes changes in resistance, and thus the amount of fluid flow, in each of the branches. The motion of the plugs through the network of branched channels can create unsteady mixing flows. For instance, for two fluid components, e.g., two streams of fluid flowing laminarly in the channel, these changes in resistance can cause the crossing of laminar streamlines of the fluid, which can lead to exponential stretching and folding of the interface between the two unmixed streams.

Abstract: A method and system for entraining fluids is provided. The method and system may be used to create filaments. As one example, a filament may be produced by entraining a first fluid within a second fluid by flowing a third fluid, the flowing third fluid at least partly constraining the second fluid in at least one dimension. As another example, a filament may be produced by entraining a first fluid within a second fluid based on a model of a dynamic response of the first and second fluids as functions of densities of the first and second fluids, viscosities of the first and second fluids, Reynolds numbers of the first and second fluids, and Weber numbers of the first and second fluids.

Abstract: A microfluidic method and device for focusing and/or forming discontinuous sections of similar or dissimilar size in a fluid is provided. The device can be fabricated simply from readily-available, inexpensive material using simple techniques.