Optical cell constructed by anodically bonding a thin metal layer between two optically clear glass windows

• US 10,444,138 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2016
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BennuBio, Inc.
• Original Assignee: BennuBio, Inc.
• Inventors: Cumbo, Michael J, Woods, Travis A, Graves, Steven Wayde, Turbov, Trevor
• Primary Examiner(s): Ayub, Hina F
• Assistant Examiner(s): Merlino, Amanda
• Application Number:
  US15/561,133
• Publication Number:
  US 20180052095A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,299 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/058 Flat flow cell
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/01 Arrangements or apparatus for facilitating the optical investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/03 Cuvette constructions
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 1/06 made of fluids in transparent cells

Abstract

A method using electric field assisted glass sealing (anodic bonding) to create strong, adhesive-free optical cells using a thin layer of metal between two layers of glass. The cells can be used as simple optical cells, liquid or gas flow cells, and as acousto-optical flow cells, where acoustic standing waves are used within the flow cell.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a metal insert comprising a void simultaneously anodically bonded between two plates of glass wherein combined edges of the void and glass plates form a sealed chamber wherein at least one of the glass plates further includes a hole that is fluidly connected to the sealed chamber so as to form an inlet to or outlet from the chamber.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein at least one of the glass plates further includes a second hole that is fluidly connected to the sealed chamber so as to form an inlet to or outlet from the chamber.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the metal insert is formed from a metal foil.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the metal is aluminum.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the metal insert has a thickness between 0.01 mm and 10 mm.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the metal insert has a smoothness of less than 10 nm RMS.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the metal insert has a smoothness of less than 1 nm RMS.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the void is rectangular.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the void is serpentine-shaped.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the glass and metal have unmatched coefficients of thermal expansion.

11. A method for forming a sealed chamber comprising:

providing a metal insert comprising a void;

sandwiching the metal insert between two glass plates; and

simultaneously anodically bonding the metal insert to the glass plates to form the sealed chamber wherein at least one of the glass plates has a hole that, when the insert is positioned between the glass plates, is fluidly connected to the void so as to form an inlet to or outlet from the chamber.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the metal insert has a thickness between 0.01 mm and 10 mm.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the metal insert is formed from a metal foil.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the metal insert has a smooth finish.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the metal insert has a smoothness of less than 10 nm RMS.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the metal insert has a smoothness of less than 1 nm RMS.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the smooth finish is obtained by pressing the relatively low yield strength metal foil insert between polished plates of relatively high yield strength material.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein the glass and metal have unmatched coefficients of thermal expansion.