MICROFLUIDIC DEVICE WITH FLOW-CHANNEL STRUCTURE FOR CAPILLARY-DRIVEN FLUIDIC PROPULSION WITHOUT TRAPPED AIR BUBBLES

摘要

A microfluidic device for processing a fluid sample, the microfluidic device having a first channel configured to fill with the sample by capillary action, a second channel configured to fill with the sample by capillary action, a plurality of fluid connections between the first channel and the second channel, each of the fluid connections being configured to pin a meniscus of the sample that arrests capillary flow between the first channel and the second channel, a bypass channel between the first channel and the second channel, the bypass channel joining the second channel upstream of the plurality of fluid connections and is configured for uninterrupted capillary driven flow from the first channel to the second channel, wherein during use, flow from the bypass channel reaches the meniscus pinned at each of the fluid connections after the meniscus has formed such that the flow sequentially removes each of the menisci and sample flow from the first channel to the second channel is via the plurality of fluid connections as well as the bypass channel.