JP-2022535936-A5 -

Dates

Publication Date

20230512

Application Date

20200715

Description

Therefore, it would be beneficial to provide a microfluidic cartridge that does not contain any substances that may react with the fluid composition containing the fragrance mixture. The present invention relates to a microfluidic cartridge. The microfluidic cartridge is configured to be detachably connected to the housing of a microfluidic delivery device. The microfluidic cartridge may include an internal and external component. The internal component of the microfluidic cartridge may include a reservoir for containing a liquid composition. The reservoir may include a fluid channel extending from the reservoir and terminating at a fluid opening that is in fluid communication with a microfluidic die disposed on the outside of the microfluidic cartridge. The microfluidic cartridge may include an electrical circuit that electrically connects the microfluidic die to a power source and a controller. The electrical circuit may be bonded to the outside of the microfluidic cartridge using a silicone pressure-sensitive adhesive. It has been found that, unlike other common adhesives, the silicone pressure-sensitive adhesive does not contain any substances that may chemically react with the fluid composition, including a fragrance mixture, while also providing sufficient adhesive strength to bond the electrical circuit to the outside of the microfluidic cartridge. Referring to Figures 3, 6, and 7, the electrical circuit 52 may be bonded to the outside 14 of the microfluidic cartridge 10 using an adhesive 62. Certain adhesives have been found to potentially interact with the fragrance mixture of the fluid composition dispensed from the microfluidic die 51. In particular, some adhesives absorb the fragrance mixture, causing the adhesive to swell, which can move the electrical circuit 52 and the microfluidic die 51, resulting in physical and electrical instability of the electrical circuit 52 and the microfluidic die 51. Silicone pressure-sensitive adhesives have been found to provide sufficient interfacial adhesion strength to fix the electrical circuit 52 to the microfluidic cartridge 10, while not containing any substances that could chemically react with the fragrance mixture in the fluid composition. The sticker 32 and/or lid sticker 63 may include a carrier material and an adhesive disposed on the side of the carrier material that will come into contact with the microfluidic cartridge 10. The carrier material can be selected from a variety of materials, including plastic films such as polypropylene film, paper, cardboard, etc. Both the sticker 32 and the lid sticker 63 may come into contact with the fluid composition and therefore both may need to be designed not to contain any substances that may chemically react with the fluid composition. It has also been found that adhesives used on stickers 32 or portions of stickers 32 that may come into contact with the fluid composition, such as the adhesive used to join the electrical circuit 52 to the microfluidic cartridge 10, are also affected by the question of whether they may chemically react with the fragrance mixture. Therefore, for stickers 32 intended to cover the microfluidic die 51, or stickers positioned adjacent to the microfluidic die 51 where the electrical circuit 52 or fluid composition may be present, the adhesive may preferably be a silicone pressure-sensitive adhesive. As shown in Figures 8 and 14, combined or separate stickers 32 can be used for various purposes. Figure 14 includes a sticker 32a disposed on the reservoir 16 for aesthetic purposes or to communicate instructions or provide information regarding the cartridge, a sticker 32b disposed on the microfluidic die 51 to cover the nozzle before use, and a sticker 32c covering the microfluidic die 51 and one or more cartridge connectors 36 on the microfluidic cartridge 10. All of the stickers 32 shown in Figure 14 may be equipped with a silicone pressure-sensitive adhesive for chemical compatibility.