Description:
Droplet generators are excellent tools for generating highly reproducible micro sized droplets with much higher precision and repeatability compared to conventional methods. This technology has been well developed and utilized as a quantitative biomedical research tool. The disclosed technology is a syringe-pump free portable droplet generator designed to generate droplets by on-chip micro-pump array and programmable for different sized droplet generation.
Conventional droplet generators require bulky syringe pumps and tubing which results in them being heavy and large in dimension (about 100lb and 2x2x2 feet in dimensions). As a result of the heavy weight and large dimension, conventional droplet generators are limited to specific on-site point of care diagnostics. On the other hand, the disclosed technology can fit in a 6x6x10 inch box and weighs about 5 lb. This reduction in weight and size makes it a better fit to be used in high-throughput, portable chemical and biological analysis that require on-site application.
Reference Number: D-1188
Market Applications:
- Drug test application in biomedical research
- Biological and chemical analysis
- Protein crystallization
Primary customer: Pharmaceutical, Micro fluidic device based companies, Universities, Government Agencies (FDA)
End user: General Public (Consumers)
Features, Benefits, & Advantages:
Intellectual Property:
A U.S. Provisional patent application was filed 03/09/16.
Development Stage:
This technology has been reduced to practice
Researchers:
Jungkyu Kim, Whitacre College of Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Keywords: Dynamic droplet generator without continuous flow, Integrated droplet generator, Portable droplet generator, Droplet generator using rectified micro fluidic pump