Microfluidic devices, particularly filtration devices comprising polymeric membranes, and method for their manufacture and use

Abstract

The present disclosure describes devices useful for microscale fluid purification, separation, and synthesis. Such devices generally comprise a fluid membrane that separates two or more fluids flowing through plural microchannels operatively associated with the membrane. Often, the membrane is a semipermeable membrane, such as might be used with a filtration device, such as a dialyzer. Devices of the present invention can be combined with other microscale devices to make systems. For example, the devices may be coupled with one or more microchemical microfactories, one or more micromixers, one or more microheaters, etc. Examples of devices made according to the present invention included an oxygenator, a dialyzer, microheat exchangers, etc.

1 . A fluid purification device, comprising:
 a microchannel fluidic device comprising plural microchannels;   a semipermeable fluid membrane operatively associated with the plural microchannels; and   plural posts positioned to impinge at least a first fluid flowing to the microchannels.