Integrated fluidic flow network for fluid management

Abstract

An apparatus and method is presented for the management of fluid flow utilizing different adjacent wettability regions to form a fluidic network structure on a substrate. The fluidic network structure may include liquid-absorptive fluidic channels, where the fluid can flow within these channels and be removed from the substrate. Fluid can be moved by gravitational force, compression force, capillary force and surface tension force.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for managing fluid, the apparatus comprising:
 a substrate having a first region with a first wettability and having a second region with a second wettability;   wherein the second region is adjacent to the first region;   wherein the second wettability is greater than the first wettability;   wherein the second region forms a fluidic channel having a fluid flow direction; and   wherein the fluidic channel is configured such that fluid moves along the fluidic channel by a force applied in the flow direction in response to fluid contacting the fluidic channel.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the force applied is one or more of gravitational force, compression force, capillary force or surface tension force. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a dripping point coupled to the fluidic channel;   wherein the dripping point is positioned near the lowest gravitational point of the fluidic channel;   wherein the substrate is configured such that fluid collects at the dripping point and drips off of the substrate; and   wherein the dripping point is configured to slow down or speed up a rate at which the fluid drips off of the substrate.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the fluidic channel is interrupted by a liquid-repellent gap configured for unidirectional fluid flow. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 :
 wherein the first wettability is liquid-repellent, creating a liquid-repellent region; and   wherein the second wettability is liquid-absorptive, creating a liquid-absorptive region.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the fluid contacting the fluidic channel is facilitated by a compression force generated by the liquid-repellent region being in close contact with a fluid producing surface. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the substrate comprises multiple contact angles within the liquid-absorptive region, creating a wettability gradient. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the substrate comprises multiple contact angles within the liquid-repellent region, creating a wettability gradient. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein a plurality of fluidic channels are configured to manage condensation. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a third region in the substrate having a third wettability;   wherein the third wettability is liquid-absorptive;   wherein the third region is positioned near the lowest gravitational point of the fluidic channel; and   wherein the third region is configured to collect fluid and prevent it from dripping off of the substrate.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the third region is configured to be removable. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate further comprises:
 a first surface layer and a second surface layer;   wherein the first surface layer comprises one or more fluidic channels; and   a thickness of the substrate in between the first and second surface layers;   wherein the fluidic channel penetrates the thickness of the substrate at one or more locations on the second surface layer; and   wherein the fluidic channel is configured such that fluid moves from the second surface layer to the first surface layer along the fluidic channel.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a dripping point coupled to the fluidic channel;   wherein the dripping point is positioned near the lowest gravitational point of the fluidic channel;   wherein the substrate is configured such that fluid collects at the dripping point and drips off of the substrate; and   wherein the dripping point is configured such that the dripping point is positioned only on the second surface layer, preventing fluid from contacting the first surface layer as it drips off of the substrate.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein a portion of the channel that penetrates the thickness of the substrate is smaller at the second surface layer and gets larger as it reaches the first surface layer. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein a layer of liquid-repellant material is positioned on top of the first surface layer such that the fluidic channels are invisible when wet or dry. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the fluidic channel extends past the second surface layer to form a support structure. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the fluidic channel is a component of a garment. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein a plurality of fluidic channels form a design on the garment. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein a plurality of fluidic channels are configured in the garment to manage perspiration on a human body. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 :
 wherein the garment is a shirt;   wherein a first plurality of fluidic channels forms a neck region in the shirt configured to transport perspiration away from a person's neck to the bottom of the shirt where the perspiration drips off of the shirt;   wherein a second plurality of fluidic channels forms one or more chest regions in the shirt configured to transport perspiration from a person's chest to one or more sides of the shirt where the perspiration drips off of the shirt; and   wherein a third plurality of fluidic channels forms one or more back regions in the shirt configured to transport perspiration from a person's chest to one or more sides of the shirt where the perspiration drips off of the shirt.   
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein a fourth plurality of fluidic channels forms one or more sleeve regions in the shirt configured to transport perspiration from a person's head and neck to the bottom of the sleeve where the perspiration drips off of the shirt. 
     
     
         22 . An apparatus for managing fluid, the apparatus comprising:
 a substrate having a first liquid-absorptive region with a first wettability and having a second liquid-absorptive region with a second wettability;   wherein the second liquid-absorptive region is adjacent to the first liquid-absorptive region;   wherein the second wettability is greater than the first wettability;   wherein the first and second liquid-absorptive regions form a wettability gradient for fluidic flow; and   wherein when fluid contacts the substrate, the fluid moves along the gradient from the first liquid-absorptive region to the second liquid-absorptive region.   
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the substrate comprises multiple contact angles within the second liquid-absorptive region, creating a wettability gradient. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the substrate comprises multiple contact angles within the first liquid-absorptive region, creating a wettability gradient. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the fluidic flow in the second liquid-absorptive region is affected by one or more of gravitational force, compression force, capillary force or surface tension force. 
     
     
         26 . An apparatus for managing fluid, the apparatus comprising:
 (a) a plurality of fluidic channels;   (b) each of the fluidic channels comprising:
 a substrate having a first region with a first wettability and having a second region with a second wettability; 
 (ii) wherein the second region is adjacent to the first region; 
 (iii) wherein the second wettability is greater than the first wettability; 
 (iv) wherein the second region forms the fluidic channel having a fluid flow direction; 
 (v) wherein the fluidic channel is configured such that fluid moves along the fluidic channel by a force applied in the flow direction in response to fluid contacting the fluidic channel; and 
   (c) wherein the plurality of fluidic channels is arranged in a fluidic network structure.   
     
     
         27 . A method for managing fluid, the method comprising:
 creating a first region with a first wettability in a substrate; and   creating a second region with a second wettability in the substrate;   wherein the second wettability is greater than the first wettability; and   wherein the second region forms a fluidic channel having a fluid flow direction; and   configuring the fluidic channel such that fluid moves along the fluidic channel by a force applied in the flow direction in response to fluid contacting the fluidic channel.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the force applied is one or more of gravitational force, compression force, capillary force or surface tension force. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the first region and the second region are created using a printing process. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the first region and the second region are created using a knitting process.