DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING FLUID MOTION INTO MICRO/NANOCHANNELS BY MEANS OF SURFACE ACOUSTIC WAVES

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Abstract

Herein described is a device for controlling fluid motion in a micro/nanofluidic structure of channels, comprising: - a structured volume of material (30), bearing a predetermined configuration of micro/nanofluidic channels (C) for holding and transferring amounts of fluids, adapted to define at least one fluid inlet (IN) and at least one fluid outlet (OUT); and - a substrate (31) made of material with piezoelectric properties, coupled to the abovementioned configuration of micro/nanofluidic channels, bearing means for active control of the motion of an amount of fluid, including transducer means (T1-T6) which comprise at least one pair of interdigitated electrodes applied on the substrate (31), which are arranged to selectively generate a surface acoustic wave adapted to propagate on the substrate (31) and interact with the amount of fluid. The transducer devices (T1-T6) are arranged in proximity to a fluid outlet (OUT) of the configuration of channels in such a manner to generate a surface acoustic wave propagating from the fluid outlet (OUT) to a fluid inlet (IN) of the abovementioned configuration and is adapted to determine a pressure gradient along at least one section of the channel (C) in which an amount of fluid is localised, whereby the motion of the amount of fluid is induced towards the direction opposite to the surface acoustic wave propagation direction.

Classe Tecnologica

F - Mechanical engineering, lighting, heating, weapons, blasting

Patent Office

United States Patent and Trademark Office

Numero Deposito

US2010200092

Anno Deposito

2007

Anno Concessione

2010

Inventori Pugliesi

Tutti gli inventori

  • Fabio Beltram
  • Roberto Cingolani
  • Marco Cecchini
  • Salvatore Girardo
  • Dario Pisignano

Titolari pugliesi

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Tutti i titolari

  • Fondazione Istituto Italiano Di Tecnologia