The invention relates to a channel comprising device, a system comprising a Coriolis-type flow measuring device comprising the channel comprising device, use of such system, a method for measuring a property of a fluid, and methods for providing a channel comprising device, and a flow measuring device.
Coriolis mass low sensors are known in the art. US2016363472, e.g, describes a Coriolis flow sensor comprising a housing and at least a Coriolis-tube with at least two ends being fixed in a tube fixation means. The flow sensor comprises excitation means for causing the tube to oscillate, as well as detection means for detecting at least a measure of displacements of parts of the tube during operation. According to the document, the Coriolis flow sensor comprises a reference mass, as well as further excitation means arranged for causing the reference mass to oscillate during operation, as well as further detection means for detecting at least a measure of displacements of the reference mass during operation. Additionally, control means are provided for controlling the excitation means and/or further excitation means based on vibrations measured by the detection means and/or further detection means. This way a Coriolis flow sensor with active vibration isolation is obtained.
Microfluidic Lab on a Chip (LOC), integrated microfluidic systems and micro total analysis systems (μ-TAS) have gained an immense interest in the last years for many applications in different fields including (bio)chemistry, medicine and biology. Some of the goals are low cost, fast response, biocompatibility and a reduced use of reagents. Having a strong control over the fluids that are used during the experiments is essential: flow sensors are one of the key components for these types of devices.
Up to now, most known micro flow sensors have been based on a thermal measurement principle. These sensors can measure flows down to a few nl/min, however they are highly dependent on temperature and fluid properties, like density and specific heat. As a result, the fluid has to be known, and the sensor either needs to be calibrated for each fluid or the user needs to use conversion parameters to obtain the flow rate. Flow sensors using the Coriolis flow measuring principle directly measure the mass flow, independent of these parameters and thus need no recalibration or conversions and are capable of measuring flows of unknown or un-calibrated (mixtures of) fluids.
Commercially available (macro) Coriolis mass flow sensors in the relevant range are available, but suffer from large internal volume and are very expensive. Recently, silicon-based micro Coriolis mass flow sensors with internal volumes in the order of 10-20 nl and a small footprint have been developed successfully for different flow ranges. When designed for low flow applications, one of these sensors is capable of measuring up to 20 μl/min with an accuracy of 20 nl/min, while dedicated versions for higher flow ranges demonstrated to measure up to 300 82 l/min with an accuracy of 0.4 μl/min. The high sensitivity reported is due to the excellent mechanical properties of silicon and silicon nitride and the extremely thin channel wall that can be realized, resulting in a high performance flow sensor. However, the fabrication process intrinsically involves silicon micromachining which makes the sensor expensive to produce and not suitable for applications where the device is going to be used only a few times, or where it is meant to be disposable (lab-on-a-chip, diagnostics, biomedical systems, etc.).
Hence, it is an aspect of the invention to provide a channel comprising device, which preferably further at least partly obviates one or more of above-described drawbacks. Further, it is an objective of the invention to provide a system comprising a Coriolis-type flow measuring device comprising the channel comprising device and also preferably at least partly obviates one or more of above-described drawbacks. Yet, it is also an aspect of the invention to provide a method for measuring a property of a fluid, specially using the system comprising the Coriolis-type flow measuring device. Yet, in further aspects the invention provides methods for providing the flow channel comprising device and for providing the flow measuring system that at least partly obviate one or more of the above described drawbacks.
Herein, we present a micro Coriolis mass flow sensor fully fabricated in SU-8. Although SU-8 is certainly not an obvious choice for a resonant sensor because of the high damping due to intrinsic material losses, we have shown that it is still possible to use it for a micro Coriolis flow sensor. Trying to find a compromise between costs and accuracy, the micro SU-8 Coriolis mass flow sensor according to the invention benefits from the advantages of Coriolis type mass flow sensors (insensitivity to fluid parameters, flow profile, etc.), while reducing the fabrication costs. Moreover, SU-8 offers other interesting features such as transparency and biocompatibility. All these attractive properties make that the inventive low-cost biocompatible mass flow sensor may have a great potential in biomedical diagnostics and research.
Coriolis mass flow sensors may comprise a channel that is arranged in plane of the sensor. Especially, the channel is a continuous channel configured for a fluid flow entering the channel at channel inlet and exiting the channel at a channel outlet. The channel may for instance comprise a curved configuration or a loop configuration in between the channel inlet and the channel outlet. The channel inlet and the channel outlet may be arranged at a same side of the flow sensor. Yet in other embodiments, the channel inlet and the channel outlet may be arranged at opposite sides of the flow sensor.
Especially, the channel is configured to vibrate when a fluid flows through the channel. Especially, at least of a part of the channel may vibrate (relative to the remainder of the flow sensor). A vibration of the channel may be related to a mass flow of a fluid flowing through the channel (from the channel inlet to the channel outlet). A vibration may provide an angular velocity of at least a part of the channel. Especially, said part of the channel may also be referred herein as “tube”.
A mass flow (Φm) through the channel will induce a Coriolis force (Fc) which is proportional to the mass flow through the channel and the angular velocity (ωam) of the tube (see
Hence, in a first aspect, the invention provides a channel comprising device comprising a channel with a channel wall, a channel inlet and a channel outlet, wherein the channel wall comprises a polymer.
In embodiments, the polymer comprises a polymer obtainable by a process using a photoresist, especially wherein the polymer comprises an epoxy based polymer, even more especially wherein the polymer comprises SU-8.
In further embodiments, at least part of the channel is configured flexible relative to a remainder of the channel comprising device.
In embodiments, the channel wall comprises a wall thickness, wherein the channel comprises a cross-sectional area, and the cross-sectional area is selected in the range of 100 μm2-10 mm2, especially the cross-sectional area is selected in the range 100 μm2-1 mm2, and even more especially the cross-sectional area is selected in the range 100 μm2-0.1 mm2, especially wherein the cross sectional area is selected from the group consisting of a round cross sectional area, a rectangular cross-sectional area and a square cross-sectional area, especially wherein the cross-sectional area comprises a substantial rectangular cross-sectional area, even more especially a square cross-sectional area.
In embodiments, the wall thickness is selected in the range of 1-500 μm, especially in the range of 1-100 μm, such as 1-50 μm, especially 1-10 μm. In further embodiments the wall thickness is selected in the range of 100-500 μm.
Especially, in embodiments the channel comprising device comprises a biocompatible (channel comprising) device.
The channel of the invention may especially be applied in a Coriolis-type flow measuring device, even more especially is a disposable flow measuring device.
In a further aspect, the invention provides a system comprising a Coriolis-type flow measuring device comprising the channel comprising device described herein, and an actuation system configured to let at least part of the channel vibrate (especially relative to the remainder of the Coriolis-type flow measuring device), thereby especially causing temporary displacements (relative to a basic configuration of the at least part of the channel).
In embodiments, especially of the system, the channel wall comprises an electrical track configured to allow an alternating current to flow at the channel, wherein the flow measuring device further comprises a magnetic element configured to provide a magnetic field parallel to a plane comprising a channel axis, and wherein the actuation system comprises the electrical track and the magnetic element. Especially in such a system the channel may comprise a first channel part comprising the channel inlet, a second channel part, and a third channel part comprising the channel outlet, wherein the second channel part is in direct (fluidic) contact with the first channel part and (in direct—fluidic—contact) with the third channel part and especially at least part of the first channel part may be configured parallel to at least part of the third channel part, especially wherein at least part of the second channel part is configured perpendicular to said part of the first channel part and to said part of the third channel part. In embodiments, at least part of the first channel part and at least part of the third channel part are configured parallel, like schematically depicted in
In further embodiments, the second channel part comprises a first extreme, a second extreme and a channel center, and the actuation system is configured to let at least part of the second channel part vibrate, wherein (respectively) the first extreme and the second extreme displace temporarily around (about) the channel center along respectively a first displacement path and a second displacement path, especially wherein a circumference of a circular plane (comprising the first and the second extreme and a center of the circular plane) comprises the first displacement path and the second displacement path. Especially, in such embodiment a line, perpendicular to the circular plane and comprising the center of the circular plane, comprises the channel center. Said line may comprise a rotational axis of the channel comprising device, especially a line about which the channel comprising device may rotate, especially as a result of the actuation system.
In further embodiments, the system comprises a support comprising the Coriolis-type flow measuring device, and a fluidic connection configured to connect a fluid flow channel to the channel inlet. The support especially may comprise a printed circuit board (“PCB”). Alternatively or additionally, the support may comprise a plastic support.
In further embodiments, the system further comprises electrical connections, the magnetic element may especially comprise a permanent magnet, and the electrical connections may be configured to connect the electrical track to an electric source especially providing an alternating current.
The system described herein may especially comprise a fluidic device, even more especially a micro fluidic device.
The Coriolis-type flow measuring device described herein may especially be configured for measuring a property of a fluid in the (micro) fluidic device, especially wherein the property of the fluid is at least one property selected form the group consisting of a mass flow rate of the fluid and a density of the fluid. A flow through the (actuated) channel may induce a Coriolis force.
Especially, the property of the fluid may be determined from a displacement of (at least part of) the channel, especially (a displacement of at least part of the channel) at a first position at the channel, and (a displacement of at least part of the channel) at a second position at the channel, especially wherein the first position (at the channel) comprises the channel center and the second position (at the channel) comprises an extreme (the (first or second) extreme). In further embodiments, the system further comprises a displacement analyzer configured to analyze a displacement of said at least part of the channel, especially wherein the displacement analyzer is configured to analyze a displacement of the channel center and at least one of the (first and the second) extreme(s). Additionally or alternatively, the displacement analyzer may be configured to analyze a displacement (of said part of the channel) at (at least) two positions (at the part of the channel), especially (each) at a different distance relative to the channel center.
In embodiments, the displacement analyzer comprises at least one analyzer selected from the group consisting of an optical and a capacitive sensor.
In yet a further aspect, the invention also provides a method for measuring a property of a fluid per se, especially using a flow measuring system as described herein. Hence, the invention (further) provides a method for measuring a property of a fluid, especially wherein the property of the fluid is a property selected form the group consisting of a mass flow rate of the fluid and a density of the fluid, the method (for measuring a property of a fluid) comprising: providing a flow measuring system (as described herein); providing a flow of the fluid to the channel inlet of the flow measuring system, to provide a Coriolis force induced displacement of at least part of the channel; applying the actuation system (comprised by the flow measuring system) to provide an actuated displacement of at least part of the channel; and analyzing a displacement, especially the Coriolis force induced displacement and/or the actuated displacement, more especially the Coriolis force induced displacement and the actuated displacement, of said part of the channel to provide the property of the fluid. Especially the displacement at a location comprising the rotational axis (see further below) may not be provided by the Corolius force. Hence at a location comprising the rotational axis (only) the actuated displacement may be analyzed. At any location especially not comprising the rotational axis the actuated displacement may be analyzed.
In embodiments, the method for measuring a property of a fluid (wherein the property of the fluid is a property selected form the group consisting of a mass flow rate of the fluid and a density of the fluid) comprises: (i) providing a flow measuring system as described herein, especially comprising a displacement analyzer; (ii) providing a flow of the fluid to the channel inlet of the flow measuring device and providing an alternating actuation current, comprising an alternating current frequency, to the electrical track of the flow measuring device, wherein the alternating current frequency especially is selected to provide a resonant frequency of the channel; (iii) applying the displacement analyzer, to determine a mid-point amplitude and an edge amplitude, wherein the mid-point amplitude being a maximum displacement of the second channel part at the first position at the channel, especially at the channel center, along a line parallel to the circular plane, and the edge amplitude being a maximum displacement of the second channel part at the second position of the channel, especially at an (the first or second) extreme, along a straight line parallel to the circular plane; and (iv) determining the property of the fluid on the basis of a ratio between the edge amplitude and the mid-point amplitude.
Hence, in embodiments, wherein the displacement analyzer is configured to analyze a displacement of at least part of the channel at a first position at the channel and a displacement of at least part of the channel at a second position a of the channel, the method comprises: (a) providing the flow of the fluid to the channel inlet of the flow measuring device and providing an alternating actuation current, comprising an alternating current frequency, to the electrical track of a the flow measuring device, wherein the alternating current frequency is selected to provide a resonant frequency of the channel; and (b) applying the displacement analyzer, to determine a mid-point amplitude and an edge amplitude, wherein the mid-point amplitude being a maximum displacement of the second channel part at the first position at the channel along a line parallel to the circular plane, and the edge amplitude being a maximum displacement of second channel part at the second position of the channel along a straight line parallel to the circular plane; and (c) determining the property of the fluid on the basis of a ratio between the edge amplitude and the mid-point amplitude.
Especially, (embodiments of) the flow measuring system according to the invention may be used for measuring a mass flow rate and/or a density of a fluid flowing through the channel, especially in biomedical diagnostics and/or intravenous therapy.
In yet a further aspect, the invention provides a method for providing a channel comprising device, especially the channel comprising device described herein, comprising a polymer flow channel. Especially, the method (for providing a channel comprising device) comprises providing the polymer flow channel by lithography. Especially, in such method the channel comprising device may comprises an epoxy based polymer and the method may especially comprise SU-8 based technology.
In a further aspect, the invention also provides a method for providing a flow measuring device, especially the flow measuring device described herein, especially (the method) comprising providing the polymer flow channel by lithography, especially wherein the channel comprising device comprises an epoxy based polymer and especially (wherein) the method comprising SU-8 based technology.
In embodiments, the method for providing a flow measuring device comprises (i) providing a first layer comprising (at least) a (first) polymer on a first substrate; (ii) providing a pattern in the first layer by one or more photolithography steps; (iii) providing a second layer comprising at least a (second) polymer on a second substrate; (iv) providing a pattern in the second layer by photolithography; (v) aligning the patterned first layer and patterned second layer to provide a channel; (vi) bonding the aligned layers to each other; (vii) removing the first substrate and the second substrate from the bonded and aligned layers to provide a micro-device; and (viii) depositing metal on the micro-device, wherein an electrical track is provided at the channel. Especially in embodiments the first polymer and the second polymer may comprise the same polymer.
In embodiments, the method for providing a flow measuring device comprises providing a first layer comprising a (first) polymer; depositing a (continuous) patterned metal layer onto the first layer, providing a layer structure comprising a patterned conductive layer; and providing a third layer comprising a (second) polymer at the layer structure, wherein a channel is configured in the third layer, especially wherein the first polymer and the second polymer are the same polymer. Especially, in embodiments depositing the metal layer onto the first layer comprises one or more techniques selected from the group consisting of an evaporation deposition, a sputter deposition and a chemical vapor deposition, and especially a pattern of the patterned metal layer may be provided by (i) applying a mask during depositing the metal layer or (ii) by applying lithography or etching after depositing the metal layer.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings in which corresponding reference symbols indicate corresponding parts, and in which:
The schematic drawings are not necessarily to scale.
The channel 10 comprises a first channel part 110 in direct (fluidic) contact with a second channel part 120, and a third channel part 130 also in direct (fluidic) contact with the second channel part 120. In embodiments, at least part of the first channel part 110 and at least part of the third channel part 130 are flexible. Especially, the first channel part 110 and the third channel part 130 comprise the channel inlet 11 and respectively the channel outlet 12. The channel 10 is especially configured to allow movement of the second channel part 120 relative to the channel inlet 11 and the channel outlet 12.
In the depicted embodiment, a part of the first channel part 110 is configured parallel to (at least) a part of the third channel part 130, and (at least part of) the second channel part 120, especially comprising a straight channel 125, is configured perpendicular to said parts of the first channel part 110 and the third channel part 130. The figure further depicts a first extreme 121, a second extreme 122, and the channel center 18 of the second channel part 120. In addition, a rotational axis 20 comprising the channel center 18 is depicted.
The channel wall 15 comprises a polymer 150. The polymer 150 (especially, the channel 10) is in embodiments obtainable by a process using a photoresist. The polymer 150 may comprise an epoxy based polymer, especially SU-8. The channel wall comprises a wall thickness 16, especially selected in the range of 1-500 μm. In embodiments, the channel 10 comprises a cross-sectional area 17 selected in the range of 100 μm2-10 mm2, especially 100 μm2-1 mm2. Such cross sectional area 17, may e.g. comprises a substantial circular cross-sectional area 17, or rectangular, such as square, cross-sectional area 17, see e.g.
The channel comprising device 1 may comprise a biocompatible device. The channel comprising device 1 may advantageously be used in a Coriolis-type flow measuring device 50. The invention also provides a system 1000 comprising such Coriolis-type flow measuring device 50, and further comprising an actuation system 450 (such as a Lorentz actuator) configured to let at least part of the channel 10 vibrate, especially thereby causing temporary displacements of parts of the channel 10. A displacement (such as by the Coriolus force, and especially by the actuation system 450) may be provided to at least a part of the second channel part 120. In
In
In further embodiments see
By providing the alternating current (ia) 456 to the electrical track 451 in a magnetic field (B) 410, the channel 10 may vibrate, providing the displacement, especially an actuated displacement, to part of the second channel part 120, especially the straight channel 125. As a result of a Coriolus force 490 (FC) (see also
The system 1000 of the invention may comprises a micro fluidic device. In
The Coriolis-type flow measuring device 50 may be configured for measuring a property of a fluid in the micro fluidic device, such as a mass flow rate of the fluid or a density of the fluid.
The system 1000 may be applied in the method of the invention for measuring a property of a fluid, such as a mass flow rate 25 of the fluid or a density of the fluid. In the method providing a flow of the fluid is provided to the channel inlet 11 of the flow measuring system 1000 to provide a Coriolis force induced displacement of at least part of the channel 10. Additionally, the actuation system 450 is applied to provide an actuated displacement of at least part of the channel 10 and the displacement, especially the Coriolis force induced displacement and/or the actuated displacement, the part of the channel 10 is analyzed, especially by the displacement analyzer 450, to provide the property of the fluid.
In embodiments, the method comprises providing an alternating actuation current, comprising an alternating current frequency, to the electrical track 451 of the flow measuring device 50. Especially the alternating current frequency is selected to provide a resonant frequency of the channel 10. The method, further comprises applying the displacement analyzer 460, to determine the displacements, especially a mid-point amplitude 470 and an edge amplitude 480, wherein the mid-point amplitude 470 is a maximum displacement of the second channel part 120 at the first position 471 at the channel 10 along a line parallel to the circular plane 300, and the edge amplitude 480 is a maximum displacement of second channel part 120 at the second position 481 of the channel 10 along a straight line parallel to the circular plane 300. The property of the fluid may then be determined on the basis of the ratio between the edge amplitude 470 and the mid-point amplitude 480.
The methods described herein for providing the flow measuring device 50, and especially (also) the channel comprising device 1 comprising a polymer (especially an epoxy based polymer) flow channel 10, may comprise providing the polymer flow channel 10 by lithography. In embodiments said methods comprise SU-8 based technology, see e.g.
Especially, the method for providing a flow measuring device 50, may comprise the next (consecutive) stages: providing a first layer comprising at least a polymer 150 on a first substrate (see, e.g.
In other embodiments, the method for providing a flow measuring device 50 comprises the next (consecutive) stages: providing a first layer comprising a polymer 150; depositing a patterned metal layer onto the first layer, providing a layer structure comprising a patterned conductive layer, especially comprising an electrical track 451; and providing a third layer comprising a polymer 150 at the layer structure, wherein a channel 10 is configured in the third layer.
The metal layer may especially be deposited by an evaporation deposition and/or a sputter deposition, and/or a chemical vapor deposition. A pattern of the patterned metal layer may be provided by applying a mask during depositing the metal layer. Alternatively, said pattern may be provided by applying lithography or etching after depositing the metal layer.
A representation of a working chip comprising the channel comprising device 1 can be observed in
The invention described herein is not limited to a more or less rectangular shaped channels comprising device as depicted in most of the figures. The channel comprising device may also comprise another kind of configuration of Corolis type of mass flow meters known in the In
This work presents the modelling, design, fabrication and test of the first micro Coriolis mass flow sensor fully fabricated in SU-8 by photolithography processes. The sensor consists of a channel with rectangular cross-section with inner opening of 100 μm×100 μm and is actuated at resonance by Lorentz forces. Metal tracks for the actuation current are deposited on top of the chip. The chip has been tested over a flow range of 0-800 μl/min with both water and isopropyl alcohol (IPA) to confirm that the sensor measures true mass flow.
The basic sensor design has been adapted from the silicon-based micro Coriolis mass flow sensor presented in J. Haneveld et al, J. Micromech. Microeng., 2010, 20, 125001. Earlier, we presented a multi-axis flexible body mechanical model using the Matlab package SPACAR to model the mechanical behavior of the silicon micro Coriolis mass flow sensor (J. Groenesteijn et al., Thirteenth IEEE Sensors Conference, Nov. 3-5, 2014, pp. 954-957). This model has been adapted for the SU-8 sensor to include the possible channels shapes and the properties of SU-8 to predict the mechanical behavior of the polymer micro device. Taking into account the lower mechanical strength and rigidity of SU-8 and the reduced accuracy of the fabrication process with respect to silicon micromachining, the dimensions of the tube were adapted to compromise between sensor sensitivity and fabrication limitations. A final design of an embodiment wherein the first channel part and the third channel part are arranged parallel to each other is shown in
The final thickness of the device was sufficient to be rigid enough for its easy handling, even though there is no substrate.
Once the fully SU-8 micro device is finished, electrodes are added through a metal deposition at chip level. First of all, the device is exposes to ozone plasma to ensure good adhesion between the metal and the SU-8 surface. Then, the chips are sputtered with Cr (10 nm) and Au (200 nm) using a shadow mask to define the electrodes. A representation of a working chip can be observed in
When changing the density of the fluid passing through the sensor, a change in its resonance frequency is also expected, as it modifies the total mass of the moving structure.
Due to the thick channel wall, the stiffness and mass of the tube will be higher than that of the silicon sensor. Furthermore, the quality factor will be lower due to the much higher material losses in SU-8. As a result, the vibration amplitude will be much lower at equal actuation current. Using a magnetic field strength at the electrical track on the tube of 0.1T and an actuation current of 20 mA, the simulated vibration amplitude of the air-filled tube is 258 nm and measured to be 239 nm at the twist resonance frequency, compared to 54 μm with an actuation current of 5 mA for the silicon sensor. The modelled Coriolis displacement in the specified flow range will be lower by approximately 3 orders of magnitude, which is still well within the measurement accuracy of the used Polytec vibrometer.
Mass flow measurements
To facilitate mass flow readout using a SU-8 Coriolis sensor, a dedicated printed circuit board (PCB) with 3D printed fluidic connections was designed and fabricated. It allows straightforward fluidic and electrical connection, as well as an easy integration of permanent magnets as can be seen in
To measure the mechanical displacement of the sensor induced by the Coriolis force, a Polytec MSA-400 laser Doppler vibrometer was used as shown schematically in
Flow measurements have been performed using two liquids with different density: water and IPA. Results are shown in
The current measurement setup uses a Polytec MSA-400 laser Doppler vibrometer both for actuation and read-out. The sensors resonance frequency is found by applying a frequency sweep and measuring the edge displacement when there is no flow and then actuating the sensor at the frequency with the highest response. For each flow measurement, the edge displacement and midpoint displacement are measured separately and then divided to get the ratio between actuation and Coriolis mode amplitude. These measurements are based on three assumptions: the resonance frequency does not change during measurements; the amplitude of each point remains constant while the other point is measured and the rotational axis does not change during the measurements.
We have successfully modelled, fabricated and tested a micro Coriolis mass flow sensor fully fabricated in SU-8. The sensor consists of a rectangular loop channel of 4mm×2.5 mm with a square cross section of 300 μm×300 μm and a channel wall thickness of 100 μm. The sensor design was based on the results of a multi-axis flexible body model in Matlab and the measured resonance frequency of the actuation mode was within 2.5% of the modelled value for two different fluids. The sensor was actuated in a resonance mode by Lorentz force actuation and read out using a laser Doppler vibrometer. The sensor showed a linear response up to 800 μl/min. Measurements with two liquids with different densities and viscosities resulted in the same mass-flow sensitivities, showing the true mass-flow sensing principle of a flow sensor of the Coriolis type.
Although the material properties of SU-8 may seem far less favourable for resonant sensors than e.g. silicon or silicon nitride, we have shown that it is possible to use it for fabrication of a micro Coriolis mass flow sensor, resulting in a low-cost, biocompatible sensor. Future work may focus on reducing the wall thickness to channel diameter ratio, which is currently limited by the SU-8 fabrication technology. Furthermore, optical or capacitive readout structures may be integrated on-chip, to eliminate the need for a separate vibrometer setup.
The term “substantially” herein, such as in “substantially consists”, will be understood by the person skilled in the art. The term “substantially” may also include embodiments with “entirely”, “completely”, “all”, etc. Hence, in embodiments the adjective substantially may also be removed. Where applicable, the term “substantially” may also relate to 90% or higher, such as 95% or higher, especially 99% or higher, even more especially 99.5% or higher, including 100%. The term “comprise” includes also embodiments wherein the term “comprises” means “consists of”. The term “and/or” especially relates to one or more of the items mentioned before and after “and/or”. For instance, a phrase “item 1 and/or item 2” and similar phrases may relate to one or more of item 1 and item 2. The term “comprising” may in embodiments refer to “consisting of” but may in another embodiment also refer to “containing at least the defined species and optionally one or more other species”.
Furthermore, the terms first, second, third and the like in the description and in the claims, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a sequential or chronological order. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that the embodiments of the invention described herein are capable of operation in other sequences than described or illustrated herein.
The devices herein are amongst others described during operation. As will be clear to the person skilled in the art, the invention is not limited to methods of operation or devices in operation.
It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art will be able to design many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. Use of the verb “to comprise” and its conjugations does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those stated in a claim. The article “a” or “an” preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. The invention may be implemented by means of hardware comprising several distinct elements, and by means of a suitably programmed computer. In the device claim enumerating several means, several of these means may be embodied by one and the same item of hardware. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.
The invention further applies to a device comprising one or more of the characterizing features described in the description and/or shown in the attached drawings. The invention further pertains to a method or process comprising one or more of the characterizing features described in the description and/or shown in the attached drawings.
The various aspects discussed in this patent can be combined in order to provide additional advantages. Further, the person skilled in the art will understand that embodiments can be combined, and that also more than two embodiments can be combined. Furthermore, some of the features can form the basis for one or more divisional applications.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2016265 | Feb 2016 | NL | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/NL2017/050090 | 2/15/2017 | WO | 00 |