Patent · US Expired

Fluid guide device having an open structure surface for attachement to a fluid transport source

US6080243A · kind A · utility

86Cited by
48References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 18, 1998
Grant dateJun 27, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 18, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA47L9/02
  • WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A fluid guide device that can evenly and effectively distribute the potential from a fluid transport source over an area substantially larger than the opening of a source conduit. The fluid guide device includes a first major surface having a structured surface that includes a plurality of flow channels disposed thereon. The flow channels extend from a first point to a second point along the structured surface and have a minimum aspect ratio of about 10:1 and a hydraulic radius no greater than about 300 micrometers (.mu.m). The fluid guide device also includes an active fluid transport source provided external to the structured polymeric surface to provide a potential over the flow channels to promote movement of matter through the flow channels from a first potential to a second potential. The fluid transport source is connected with a plurality of the flow channels of the structured surface by way of a manifold.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.