Method and device for manipulating small amounts of liquid on surfaces
US7198813B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 24, 2002 |
| Grant date | Apr 3, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 24, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T428/31504
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
The invention relates to methods and devices for manipulation of small amounts of liquid on surfaces, preferably on chip surfaces. According to the present invention, a quantity of liquid held together by its surface tension is applied on an area of a surface with at least one intermediate region, which borders at least in one lateral direction on a guide strip. According to the present invention, the guide strips have different surface characteristics relative to the intermediate region, such that they are more strongly wetted by a liquid, or the intermediate region is raised relative to the guide strips, whereby the height of the step is small relative to the height of the quantity of liquid.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.