System and Method for Charging Fluids

Abstract

Devices, systems, and methods for charging fluids are disclosed. The charging of fluids improves the mixing of fluids in microfluidic systems. The charging is performed by producing an ion field ( 50 ) between an ionizing electrode ( 20 ) and an opposed ground electrode ( 30 ). A fluid-containing vessel ( 40 ) is positioned between the opposed electrodes and the ion field charges the fluid ( 41 ) in the vessel.

1 . A fluid charging system comprising:
 an ionizing electrode positioned adjacent to a fluid vessel; and   a ground electrode positioned adjacent to the fluid vessel, the fluid vessel positioned between the ionizing electrode and the ground electrode;   wherein the ionizing electrode and the ground electrode are configured to produce an ion field that charges fluid contained in the fluid vessel.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid charging system of  claim 1 , further comprising an electrical power source connected to the ionizing electrode. 
     
     
         3 . The fluid charging system of  claim 2 , wherein the electrical power source comprises a static generator. 
     
     
         4 . The fluid charging system of  claim 1 , further comprising a resistor unit connected to the ionizing electrode. 
     
     
         5 . The fluid charging system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an electrical power source connected to the ionizing electrode; and   a resistor unit connected in series between the electrical power source and the ionizing electrode.   
     
     
         6 . The fluid charging system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a static generator connected to the ionizing electrode; and   a resistor unit connected in series between the static generator and the ionizing electrode.   
     
     
         7 . The fluid charging system of  claim 1 , wherein the ionizing electrode comprises:
 an emitter plate; and   a plurality of emitter pins connected to the emitter plate.   
     
     
         8 . The fluid charging system of claim of  claim 1 , wherein the ionizing electrode comprises:
 a stainless steel emitter plate; and   a plurality of emitter pins connected to the emitter plate, the emitter pins comprising tungsten.   
     
     
         9 . The fluid charging system of claim of  claim 1 , wherein the ionizing electrode comprises:
 a stainless steel emitter plate; and   a plurality of tungsten carbide or tungsten alloy emitter pins connected to the emitter plate.   
     
     
         10 . The fluid charging system of claim of  claim 1 , wherein the ground electrode comprises an aluminum or aluminum alloy ground plate. 
     
     
         11 . The fluid charging system of claim of  claim 1 , wherein the ionizing electrode comprises:
 an emitter plate having a cross-shape comprising a first member and an intersecting second member; and   at least five emitter pins connected to the emitter plate at opposed ends of the first member, at opposed ends of the second member, and at an intersection of the first member and the second member.   
     
     
         12 . The fluid charging system of claim of  claim 1 , further comprising a fluid sampling device configured to withdraw fluid from the fluid vessel. 
     
     
         13 . The fluid charging system of claim of  claim 1 , further comprising a fluid sampling device configured to withdraw fluid from the fluid vessel, the fluid sampling device comprising a plurality of tubes in fluid communication with the fluid vessel. 
     
     
         14 . The fluid charging system of claim of  claim 13 , wherein the ionizing electrode comprises:
 an emitter plate having a cross-shape comprising a first member and an intersecting second member; and   a plurality of emitter pins connected to the emitter plate;   wherein at least one tube is positioned through an open quadrant region of the emitter plate.   
     
     
         15 . The fluid charging system of claim of  claim 1 , further comprising a fluid sampling device configured to withdraw fluid from the fluid vessel, the fluid sampling device comprising a plurality of sheaths, wherein each sheath surrounds a plurality of tubes. 
     
     
         16 . The fluid charging system of claim of  claim 15 , wherein the ionizing electrode comprises:
 an emitter plate having a cross-shape comprising a first member and an intersecting second member; and   a plurality of emitter pins connected to the emitter plate;   wherein at least one sheath is positioned through an open quadrant region of the emitter plate.   
     
     
         17 . The fluid charging system of claim of  claim 12 , further comprising a liquid bridge in fluid communication with the fluid sampling device. 
     
     
         18 . The fluid charging system of claim of  claim 17 , wherein the liquid bridge is configured to segment a charged fluid withdrawn from the fluid vessel, the liquid bridge comprising:
 a first inlet port in fluid communication with the fluid sampling device;   a second inlet port in fluid communication with a source of immiscible fluid;   an outlet port; and   a chamber, wherein the inlet ports and the outlet port open into the chamber and are structured and positioned so that a periodic fluid instability in a fluid droplet formed between the first inlet port and the outlet port segments the fluid withdrawn from the fluid vessel into fluid droplets separated by the immiscible fluid that are withdrawn from the chamber through the outlet port.   
     
     
         19 . The fluid charging system of claim of  claim 17 , wherein the liquid bridge is configured to mix fluid withdrawn from the fluid vessel with one or more additional fluids that are miscible with the fluid withdrawn from the fluid vessel, the liquid bridge comprising:
 a first inlet port in fluid communication with the fluid sampling device;   at least one additional inlet port in fluid communication with a source of one or more additional fluids;   an outlet port; and   a chamber, wherein the inlet ports and the outlet port open into the chamber and are structured and positioned so that first fluid droplets formed at the first inlet port contact and mix with one or more additional fluid droplets formed at the at least one additional inlet port, thereby forming unstable funicular bridges that rupture, thereby forming mixed fluid droplets separated by immiscible carrier fluid that are withdrawn from the chamber through the outlet port.   
     
     
         20 . The fluid charging system of claim of  claim 17 , wherein the liquid bridge is configured to mix fluid withdrawn from the fluid vessel with one or more additional fluids that are miscible with the fluid withdrawn from the fluid vessel, the liquid bridge comprising:
 a chamber;   an inlet port opening into the chamber, the inlet port in fluid communication with the fluid sampling device and one or more sources of the one or more additional fluids, the inlet port serially providing fluid droplets of the fluid withdrawn from the fluid vessel and the one or more additional fluids separated by an immiscible carrier fluid;   an first outlet port opening into the chamber, the first outlet port configured to withdraw a portion of the immiscible carrier fluid entering the chamber; and   a second outlet port;   wherein the inlet port and the outlet ports are structured and positioned so that trailing fluid droplets transporting through the inlet port contact and mix with leading droplets formed at the inlet port, thereby forming mixed fluid droplets that are withdrawn from the chamber through the second outlet port as mixed fluid droplets separated by immiscible carrier fluid.   
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The fluid charging system of claim of  claim 17 , wherein the liquid bridge is in fluid communication with a thermal cycler for performing amplification reactions. 
     
     
         23 . The fluid charging system of claim of  claim 22 , wherein the fluid vessel contains a master mixture that is charged to improve mixing of the master mixture with reaction-specific reactants. 
     
     
         24 - 45 . (canceled)