Microfabricated devices and methods
US6454945B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 1, 2000 |
| Grant date | Sep 24, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 1, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T436/25375
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
This invention provides microfabricated systems for extraction of desired particles from a sample stream containing desired and undesired particles. The sample stream is placed in laminar flow contact with an extraction stream under conditions in which inertial effects are negligible. The contact between the two streams is maintained for a sufficient period of time to allow differential transport of the desired particles from the sample stream into the extraction stream. In a preferred embodiment the differential transport mechanism is diffusion. The extraction system of this invention coupled to a microfabricated diffusion-based mixing device and/or sensing means allows picoliter quantities of fluid to be processed or analyzed on devices no larger than silicon wafers. Such diffusion-based mixing or sensing devices are preferably channel cell systems for detecting the presence and/or measuring the quantity of analyte particles in a sample stream.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.