Abstract: A powder injection method and a powder injection microchip, the powder injection microchip comprising: a gas supply inlet (6) for supplying gas; an outlet (8); a channel (4) in fluid connection with the gas supply inlet and the outlet; a powder inlet (12) in fluid connection with the channel, for receiving a first, open end of a powder reservoir (14), the powder reservoir having an opening (22) at or near to a second end of the powder reservoir to allow egress of gas from the powder reservoir at a point distal to the first end of the powder reservoir.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a powder injection microchip, and a method of injecting powder using said powder injection microchip, wherein the microchip comprises a vibratable member associated with a powder inlet to a powder flow channel, wherein the vibration of the vibratable member allows the interparticle forces within cohesive powders to be overcome, resulting in the fluidisation of the powder. A powder inlet orifice with a dimension restricted relative to a powder flow channel dimension, and at least one gas flow channel in fluid connection with a powder flow channel downstream of a powder inlet orifice, are also disclosed.

Abstract: A powder injection method and a powder injection microchip, the powder injection microchip comprising: a gas supply inlet (6) for supplying gas; an outlet (8); a channel (4) in fluid connection with the gas supply inlet and the outlet; a powder inlet (12) in fluid connection with the channel, for receiving a first, open end of a powder reservoir (14), the powder reservoir having an opening (22) at or near to a second end of the powder reservoir to allow egress of gas from the powder reservoir at a point distal to the first end of the powder reservoir.

Abstract: A powder mixing microchip for mixing powder components, a powder mixing system incorporating the same and a powder mixing method for mixing powder components, the powder mixing microchip comprising: a powder mixing unit (1) for mixing a plurality of powder components to provide a powder mixture, the powder mixing unit including a powder mixing (5) channel in which powder components are mixed on being transported there through, a powder outlet port (8) through which the powder mixture is delivered, and a plurality of mixing gas supply channels (7) fluidly connected to the powder mixing channel at spaced locations along a length thereof through which mixing gas flows are delivered to effect mixing of the powder components on being transported through the powder mixing channel.