Pump-free evaporation-driven droplet routing chip
This technology uses two hydrophobic (water-repelling) plates angled toward each other like a wedge to move liquid droplets automatically without any pumps, valves, or external power. When a droplet sits between the two angled surfaces, the physics of evaporation and surface geometry cause it to migrate on its own toward the narrow end of the wedge. The effect is entirely passive — no electronics, no moving parts, no energy input required. This gives researchers and engineers a simple, miniaturized way to direct tiny fluid samples exactly where they need to go on a chip or plate.
What you could build
A passive microfluidic cartridge or sample-preparation chip for diagnostics and analytical instruments that routes droplets to detection zones without active pumping; most likely buyers are IVD (in-vitro diagnostic) device makers and lab-automation companies building low-cost or point-of-care platforms.
Who in Virginia should care
Virginia-based biomedical device and defense biodetection companies (e.g., those near the Northern Virginia/DC corridor or Charlottesville life-sciences cluster) developing compact, fieldable diagnostic tools.
Readiness: Concept
Concept — described but not yet demonstrated. Lab validated — supported by experimental results in the patent. Prototype likely — the text describes a built, working embodiment.
Readiness is inferred from the patent text, not from a lab visit.
The record
- Inventors
- Jiangtao CHENG, Xukun HE
- Filed
- Patent pending — filed September 11, 2023
- Status
- Application
- Publication number
- US20240149264A1
Ready to talk?
Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties handles licensing for this technology.
Prosim summaries are generated from public patent text and are not legal advice.