US 12,070,749 B2
Microfluidic devices and systems, and methods for operating microfluidic devices and systems
Ali Abedini, Edmonton (CA); Adam Pettigrew, Edmonton (CA); Bo Bao, Shanghai (CN); Thomas De Haas, Edmonton (CA); Stuart Kinnear, Calgary (CA); and Scott Pierobon, Edmonton (CA)
Assigned to INTERFACE FLUIDICS LTD., Calgary (CA)
Filed by INTERFACE FLUIDICS LTD., Calgary (CA)
Filed on Feb. 15, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/671,667.
Application 17/671,667 is a division of application No. 16/554,804, filed on Aug. 29, 2019, granted, now 11,285,476.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/789,553, filed on Jan. 8, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0168736 A1, Jun. 2, 2022
Int. Cl. G01N 15/08 (2006.01); B01L 3/00 (2006.01)
CPC B01L 3/502715 (2013.01) [G01N 15/0806 (2013.01); G01N 15/0826 (2013.01); B01L 2300/08 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0861 (2013.01); B01L 2400/0475 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A microfluidic system comprising:
a. a microfluidic device comprising a substrate having at least a first fluid inlet/outlet system, at least a second fluid inlet/outlet system, and a fluidic network between the first fluid inlet/outlet system and the second fluid inlet/outlet system and in fluid communication with the first fluid inlet/outlet system and the second fluid inlet/outlet system;
b. a fluid injection system comprising: i) at least a first injector connected to the first fluid inlet/outlet system for forcing fluid through the microfluidic device in a forward direction, from the first injector to the first fluid inlet/outlet system and through the microfluidic device from the first fluid inlet/outlet system to the second fluid inlet/outlet system via the fluidic network, and ii) at least a second injector connected to the second fluid inlet/outlet system for forcing fluid through the microfluidic device in a reverse direction, from the second injector to the second fluid inlet/outlet system and through the microfluidic device from the second fluid inlet/outlet system to the first fluid inlet/outlet system via the fluidic network;
c. a back-pressure regulator connected to the first fluid inlet/outlet system and the second fluid inlet/outlet system, wherein the back-pressure regulator is configured to apply back-pressure to the fluidic network to facilitate operation of the microfluidic system at high pressure; and
d. an optical investigation system for viewing at least a portion of the fluidic network.