Methods for forming small-volume electrical contacts and material manipulations with fluidic microchannels
US6685809B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 4, 1999 |
| Grant date | Feb 3, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 4, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB01L2400/049
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A microfabricated device employing a bridging membrane and methods for electrokinetic transport of a liquid phase biological or chemical material using the same are described. The bridging membrane is deployed in or adjacent to a microchannel and permits either ionic current flow or the transport of gas species, while inhibiting the bulk flow of material. The use of bridging membranes in accordance with this invention is applicable to a variety of processes, including electrokinetically induced pressure flow in a region of a microchannel that is not influenced by an electric field, sample concentration enhancement and injection, as well as improving the analysis of materials where it is desired to eliminate electrophoretic bias. Other applications of the bridging membranes according to this invention include the separation of species from a sample material, valving of fluids in a microchannel network, mixing of different materials in a microchannel, and the pumping of fluids.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.