Various aspects of the present invention relate to the control and manipulation of fluidic species, for example, in microfluidic systems. In one aspect, the invention relates to systems and methods for making droplets of fluid surrounded by a liquid, using, for example, electric fields, mechanical alterations, the addition of an intervening fluid, etc. In some cases, the droplets may each have a substantially uniform number of entities therein. For example, 95% or more of the droplets may each contain the same number of entities of a particular species. In another aspect, the invention relates to systems and methods for dividing a fluidic droplet into two droplets, for example, through charge and/or dipole interactions with an electric field. The invention also relates to systems and methods for fusing droplets according to another aspect of the invention, for example, through charge and/or dipole interactions. In some cases, the fusion of the droplets may initiate or determine a reaction. In a related aspect of the invention, systems and methods for allowing fluid mixing within droplets to occur are also provided. In still another aspect, the invention relates to systems and methods for sorting droplets, e.g., by causing droplets to move to certain regions within a fluidic system. Examples include using electrical interactions (e.g., charges, dipoles, etc.) or mechanical systems (e.g., fluid displacement) to sort the droplets. In some cases, the fluidic droplets can be sorted at relatively high rates, e.g., at about 10 droplets per second or more. Another aspect of the invention provides the ability to determine droplets, or a component thereof, for example, using fluorescence and/or other optical techniques (e.g., microscopy), or electric sensing techniques such as dielectric sensing.

The application relates to microfluidic apparatus and methods of use thereof. Provided in one example is a microfluidic device comprising: a first fluidic input and a second fluidic input; and a fluidic intersection channel to receive fluid from the first fluidic input and the second fluidic input, wherein the fluidic intersection channel opens into a first mixing chamber on an upper region of a first side of the first mixing chamber, wherein the first mixing chamber has a length, a width, and a depth, wherein the depth is greater than about 1.5 times a depth of the fluidic intersection channel; an outlet channel on an upper region of a second side of the first mixing chamber, wherein the outlet channel has a depth that is less than the depth of the first mixing chamber, and wherein an opening of the outlet channel is offset along a width of the second side of the first mixing chamber relative to the fluidic intersection.

A device for dissolving a gas in a liquid is provided, the device comprising a device body, the device body comprising a liquid inlet; a liquid outlet; a plurality of substantially conical dissolving chambers located between the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet. The device may comprise a plurality of chamber connectors of or connected with the dissolving chambers. Each of the plurality of conical dissolving chambers may comprise a wider end towards the liquid outlet, the wider end comprising a chamber outlet for flow of liquid out of the dissolving chamber; and a narrower end towards the liquid inlet, the narrower end comprising a chamber inlet for flow of liquid into the dissolving chamber. The plurality of chamber connectors may define a substantially longitudinally straight passage extending through the plurality of dissolving chambers. Also provided is a related method of dissolving a gas in a liquid.

Various aspects of the present invention relate to the control and manipulation of fluidic species, for example, in microfluidic systems. In one aspect, the invention relates to systems and methods for making droplets of fluid surrounded by a liquid, using, for example, electric fields, mechanical alterations, the addition of an intervening fluid, etc. In some cases, the droplets may each have a substantially uniform number of entities therein. For example, 95% or more of the droplets may each contain the same number of entities of a particular species. In another aspect, the invention relates to systems and methods for dividing a fluidic droplet into two droplets, for example, through charge and/or dipole interactions with an electric field. The invention also relates to systems and methods for fusing droplets according to another aspect of the invention, for example, through charge and/or dipole interactions. In some cases, the fusion of the droplets may initiate or determine a reaction. In a related aspect of the invention, systems and methods for allowing fluid mixing within droplets to occur are also provided. In still another aspect, the invention relates to systems and methods for sorting droplets, e.g., by causing droplets to move to certain regions within a fluidic system. Examples include using electrical interactions (e.g., charges, dipoles, etc.) or mechanical systems (e.g., fluid displacement) to sort the droplets. In some cases, the fluidic droplets can be sorted at relatively high rates, e.g., at about 10 droplets per second or more. Another aspect of the invention provides the ability to determine droplets, or a component thereof, for example, using fluorescence and/or other optical techniques (e.g., microscopy), or electric sensing techniques such as dielectric sensing.

The invention describes features that can be used to control flow to an array of microchannels. The invention also describes methods in which a process stream is distributed to plural microchannels.

A microfluidic device includes a substrate, first and second capillary inlets, a microfluidic channel unit, an outlet disposed downstream of the microfluidic channel unit, and a suction member disposed downstream of the outlet. A first liquid is drawn into a first sub-channel and a main channel of the microfluidic channel unit through the first capillary inlet. A second liquid is drawn into a second sub-channel of the microfluidic channel unit through the second capillary inlet. The suction member provides a predetermined suction force to permit the second liquid to penetrate into the first liquid and to break up into droplets in the first liquid, thereby generating monodisperse emulsions.

A machine and process for providing a gas liquid mixture are described. The process can include providing a pressurized fluid stream; and subjecting the fluid stream to a series of alternating flow regions that include a plurality of laminar flow regions and turbulent flow regions. The machine can include a flow path from a pressure vessel to an ejection point, where the flow path includes a plurality of alternating flow characteristic regions.

The invention describes a method for the identification of compounds which bind to a target component of a biochemical system or modulate the activity of the target, comprising the steps of: a) compartmentalising the compounds into microcapsules together with the target, such that only a subset of the repertoire is represented in multiple copies in any one microcapsule; and b) identifying the compound which binds to or modulates the activity of the target; wherein at least one step is performed under microfluidic control. The invention enables the screening of large repertoires of molecules which can serve as leads for drug development.

A machine and process for providing a gas liquid mixture are described. The process can include providing a pressurized fluid stream that includes a mixture of a gas and a liquid; and subjecting the fluid stream to a series of alternating flow regions that include a plurality of laminar flow regions and turbulent flow regions. The machine can include a pressure vessel that includes, above a mid-line, a gas nozzle adapted for the addition of a gas to an interior volume of the pressure vessel and a liquid atomizer adapted for the addition of a liquid to the interior volume of the pressure vessel; below the mid-line, a fluid outlet positioned above a bottom of the pressure vessel and a clean-out port positioned at or adjacent to the bottom of the pressure vessel; and a means for determining a fluid level within the interior volume of the pressure vessel; and a flow path fluidly connected to the fluid outlet, the flow path including a plurality of alternating flow characteristic regions. Further described is the production and storage of the gas liquid mixture.

The invention provides methods and compositions for carbonation of cement mixes using pressurized carbon dioxide delivered to the mix.