Ultraminiaturized surface structure with controllable adhesion

US6113768A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Föderung der Wissenschaften e.V. · US

Inventors

• Gunter Fuhr · Berlin, DE
• Andreas Voigt · Regensburg, DE
• Torsten Müller · Berlin, DE
• Rolf Hagedorn · Berlin, DE
• Bernd Wagner · Looft, DE
• Thomas Lisec · Itzehoe, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 8, 1996
• Grant date: Sep 5, 2000
• Expiry date: Sep 8, 2016

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B01J2219/00853
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An ultra-miniaturized surface structure with controllable adhesion having extremely miniaturized (in the sub atomic range) planar electrode strips applied to the surface to which high frequency pulse trains may be applied to generate progressive or stationary standing waves. The electrodes in themselves are combined with dielectric insulating materials with controlled bio-compatibility. The type of electric drive, together with the properties of the surface layers that cover the electrodes, determines the adhesion properties of the surface to a large extent regardless of the used base material. Particle movement is gently influenced, so that for the first time it becomes possible to influence particles in highly physiological nutritive solutions.