Device having a liquid flowpath
US7008521B2 · kind B2 · utility
0Cited by
4References
7Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 19, 2002 |
| Grant date | Mar 7, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 26, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB01L2400/086
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A micro-reactor is provided with a mixture of channels having larger cross-sectional areas (17′,22′,25′,27′,31′,33′) and channels having smaller cross-sectional areas (40a′,40b′,40c′). The smaller channels (40a′,40b′,40c′) resist liquid movement driven by hydrostatic force but allow liquid movement driven by electro-osmotic force. Accordingly liquid flow is almost entirely driven by electro-osmotic force. The smaller channels (40a′,40b′,40c′) are formed by etched grooves which are closed by a planar surface 13. This allows the cross-sectional areas of the smaller channels to be closely and reproducibly controlled.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.