Formation of layers of amphiphilic molecules
First Claim
1. An apparatus for supporting a layer separating two volumes of aqueous solution, the apparatus comprising:
- elements defining a chamber, the elements including a body of non-conductive material having formed therein at least one recess opening into the chamber; and
an electrode contained in the recess;
wherein an outer part of an internal surface of the recess is hydrophobic;
wherein an inner part of the internal surface of the recess, closer to the electrode than the outer part of the internal surface of the recess, is hydrophilic; and
wherein the body comprises an outermost layer formed of a hydrophobic material and an inner layer formed of a hydrophilic material, the recess extending through both the outermost layer and the inner layer, said outer part of the internal surface of the recess being a surface of the outermost layer, and said inner part of the internal surface of the recess being a surface of the inner layer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
To form a layer separating two volumes of aqueous solution, there is used an apparatus comprising elements defining a chamber, the elements including a body of non-conductive material having formed therein at least one recess opening into the chamber, the recess containing an electrode. A pre-treatment coating of a hydrophobic fluid is applied to the body across the recess. Aqueous solution, having amphiphilic molecules added thereto, is flowed across the body to cover the recess so that aqueous solution is introduced into the recess from the chamber and a layer of the amphiphilic molecules forms across the recess separating a volume of aqueous solution introduced into the recess from the remaining volume of aqueous solution.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. An apparatus for supporting a layer separating two volumes of aqueous solution, the apparatus comprising:
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elements defining a chamber, the elements including a body of non-conductive material having formed therein at least one recess opening into the chamber; and an electrode contained in the recess; wherein an outer part of an internal surface of the recess is hydrophobic; wherein an inner part of the internal surface of the recess, closer to the electrode than the outer part of the internal surface of the recess, is hydrophilic; and wherein the body comprises an outermost layer formed of a hydrophobic material and an inner layer formed of a hydrophilic material, the recess extending through both the outermost layer and the inner layer, said outer part of the internal surface of the recess being a surface of the outermost layer, and said inner part of the internal surface of the recess being a surface of the inner layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification