Abstract:
The present invention generally relates to surfaces having microf luidics, displays, windows, sensors, light interaction, control, etc. One aspect of the invention is directed to a display (10) containing microf luidics (14). Another aspect of the invention is directed to systems and methods for controlling the absorbance and/or transparency of a substrate. The invention, in still another aspect, is directed to the emission of light. In yet another aspect, the invention is directed to a substrate having a controllable substantially transparent region. The invention, in still another aspect, includes the production of text and/or an image on a surface. Other aspects of the invention include surfaces able to produce energy, surfaces able to sense external stimuli, self -cleaning surfaces, and/or surfaces able to control the environment surrounding the surface. Another aspect of the invention includes embodiments having surfaces able to transfer and/or transform energy. Yet other aspects of the invention include arrays of such surfaces, kits involving such surfaces, methods for making and/or using such surfaces, methods of promoting such surfaces, or the like.
Abstract:
A surgical kit including a surgical guide system for drilling bones at a joint, a surgical implant for attachment to the bones at the joint, and a surgical implant for attachment to the bones at the joint.
Abstract:
A microfluidic method and device for focusing and/or forming discontinuous sections of similar or dissimilar size in a fluid is provided. The device can be fabricated simply from readily-available, inexpensive material using simple techniques.
Abstract:
The present invention generally relates to microfluidics and, in particular, to microfluidic systems useful for determining reactions. In one aspect, two or more fluids are introduced into a microfluidic channel, and are allowed to come into contact. At or near the interface between the fluids, reactants contained within the fluids may react. By determining the reaction rate between the reactants with respect to position within the microfluidic channel, information about the reaction between the reactants can be obtained. The reaction rate may be determined, for instance, by measuring the rate of reaction at two or more points within the channel. In some cases, e.g., if the reaction rate can be determined optically or visually, the channel may be imaged and the image analyzed to determine the reaction rate. As a non-limiting example of a reaction, the reactants may be an enzyme and a substrate, and by determining reaction rates within the channel, Michaelis-Menten kinetics (or other reaction kinetics) of the enzymatic reaction may be determined. It should be understood, however, that other reactions besides Michaelis-Menten kinetics and/or enzymatic reactions may also be determined, including other catalytic or chemical reactions, and the like. The reaction profiles may be linear or non-linear, e.g., second order, third order, etc.
Abstract:
The present invention generally relates to emulsions and, in particular, to systems and methods for forming multiple emulsions and emulsions produced therefrom. A multiple emulsion generally describes a larger droplet that contains one or more smaller droplets therein which, in some cases, can contain even smaller droplets therein, etc. Multiple emulsions can be formed in certain embodiments with generally precise repeatability, and can be tailored to include any number of inner droplets, in any desired nesting arrangement, within a single outer droplet. In some cases, one (or more) of the fluids can be a gas. In addition, in some embodiments, the size of the multiple emulsion can be varied.
Abstract:
The present invention includes a microfluidic filter and concentrator that can separate a filtrate from a fluid containing components, e.g. a suspension of particles, to be removed from the fluid at least to some extent. The filter may employ principals of tangential flow filtration, also known as cross-flow filtration. In one aspect, a microfluidic filter described herein includes at least a first, main channel and one or more secondary, filtering channels that connect to the main channel. Filtration occurs when a fluid portion of a sample that is flowed through the main channel enters one or more of the filtering channels and at least some of the components in the sample do not enter or do not flow through the secondary, filtering channels. The secondary channels may be dimensioned to inhibit flow of components through them, and/or a porous material such as a layer may be positioned to inhibit flow of components through the secondary channels.
Abstract:
The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for forming fluidic droplets comprising particles such as colloidal particles, which may be distributed on the surfaces of the fluidic droplets in some cases, thereby encapsulating the fluidic droplets. The particles at least partially surrounding the fluidic droplet may be colloidal particles in some cases, i.e., forming a "colloidal capsule." In one set of embodiments, the particles may be positioned on the surface of a fluidic droplet such that the fluidic droplet is able to maintain a shape that, when left undisturbed, is not achievable by an undisturbed fluidic droplet free of discrete particles, for example, elongated or prolate ellipsoid fluidic droplets. Such fluidic droplets may also exhibit unusual properties, for example, plasticity, isolation from electromagnetic fields, certain electrical and/or magnetic properties, and/or mechanical resistance. In certain embodiments, multiple fluidic droplets may be prevented from fusing or coalescing into one droplet when coming into physical contact, due to the presence of particles on the fluidic droplets. However, the fluidic droplets may be induced into fusing or coalescing by initially deforming one or more of the fluidic droplets, e.g., mechanically.
Abstract:
The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for bubble and/or foam inhibition. In one aspect, a first fluid can be poured into a second fluid, as a series of droplets, without creating bubbles or foam. For instance, no more than five bubbles may be formed per 100 droplets of first fluid that enter the second fluid. In one set of embodiments, droplets of a first fluid are directed at a second fluid such that the droplets contact the second fluid outside a critical radius of bubble formation and/or outside a critical time of bubble formation. Thus, under such conditions, bubble or foam production may be reduced or even eliminated. In some case, fairly high rates of fluid transfer can be achieved by contacting the droplets of first fluid at the second fluid under such conditions, for instance, by directing multiple droplets of the first fluid at the second fluid at different locations, e.g., outside of the critical radius of bubble formation. For instance, a nozzle able to produce droplets may be rotated such that the droplets contact different locations of a fluid. In some cases, the present invention is also directed to methods of control of bubble formation. For example, by controlling the droplets of first fluid entering the second fluid, a certain number of bubbles may be produced.
Abstract:
A surgical kit including a surgical guide system for drilling bones at a joint, a surgical implant for attachment to the bones at the joint, and a surgical implant for attachment to the bones at the joint.
Abstract:
A microfluidic method and device for focusing and/or forming discontinuous sections of similar or dissimilar size in a fluid is provided. The device can be fabricated simply from readily-available, inexpensive material using simple techniques.