Autonomous moving microstructures
US7516759B2 · kind B2 · utility
3Cited by
2References
41Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 23, 2004 |
| Grant date | Apr 14, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 11, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T137/206
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A microstructure includes a catalyst region, and a non-catalyst region proximate to the catalyst region. The catalyst region induces a chemical reaction of a fluid component when the microstructure is located within a fluid medium containing the fluid component. The chemical reaction induces relative motion between the fluid medium and the microstructure, which can be used to provide, for example, autonomous directional movement, rotation of microgears, microfluidic devices, and novel sensor configurations. In one example, a palladium catalyst is used, and the fluid medium is an aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.