Washington Patent of the Month – July 2023
Many of us have tested commercially available products to treat pain, anxiety, and sleep issues, but we rarely get the results we hope for. Altopa, Inc. (Oblend) is working to address this issue by building personalization into the mix. Their process starts with botanical blends formulated by experts. The base formula is adjusted to suit your specific needs based on survey feedback.
In order to make this possible at scale, Oblend has developed a microfluidic mixer system that ensures the botanical blends are fully incorporated. The botanical oil blending system is the result of 3 long years of R&D. The microfluidic mixer allows for precision mixing of cannabinoids and terpenoids with a range of viscosity and flow characteristics to within single microliter levels of precision.
The secure, on-demand microfluidic mixer system consists of two main components: the blend application and the microfluidic mixer device. The blend application is implemented on a mobile compute device, such as a smartphone, and acts as the control center for issuing blend instructions based on specific recipes. The microfluidic mixer device is a compact and portable unit that houses a microfluidic mixer chip, microfluidic pumps, valves, and dispensers.
One of the key features of this system is the microfluidic mixer chip, which is designed to receive and meter microfluidic amounts of different fluids with varying characteristics. By precisely controlling the flow rates of these fluids, the system ensures accurate and consistent mixing according to the specified recipe. The microfluidic mixer chip is also equipped with a heater to maintain the desired mix temperature, further enhancing the blending process.
To guarantee security and ease of use, the microfluidic mixer device includes a separable housing and an electronic lock controlled by the mix controller. This lock prevents unauthorized access to the device, ensuring the integrity of the blend. Additionally, the device can communicate with the blend application to receive unlock instructions and maintain traceability.
One fascinating application of this technology is in the field of cannabinoid blending. The microfluidic cannabinoid mixer system enables precise mixing of different cannabinoid oils and terpenes, allowing researchers, physicians, and enthusiasts to create customized blends tailored to specific needs. With the mix controller’s ability to control fluid temperatures and system pressure, the resulting microfluidic cannabinoid mixture can be dispensed accurately and efficiently.
Are you developing new technology for an existing application? Did you know your development work could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? Even if your development isn’t successful your work may still qualify for R&D credits (i.e. you don’t need to have a patent to qualify). To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.
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