Microfluidic chip having integrated electrodes
First Claim
1. A microfluidic device comprising:
- a substrate having at least one channel and an aperture in fluid communication with said channel;
a cover bonded to said substrate such that a reservoir is formed at said aperture; and
an electrically conducting ink pattern on at least one of said substrate and cover such that when a material is present in said channel and reservoir said ink pattern makes electrical contact with said material.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A microfluidic device having integrated components for conducting chemical operations. Depending upon the desired application, the components include electrodes for manipulating charged entities, heaters, electrochemical detectors, sensors for temperature, pH, fluid flow, and other useful components. The device may be fabricated from a plastic substrate such as, for example, a substantially saturated norbornene based polymer. The components are integrated into the device by adhering an electrically conductive film to the substrate. The film may be made of metal or an electrically conducting ink and is applied to the device through metal deposition, printing, or other methods for applying films. Methods for reducing bubble formation during electrokinetic separation and methods for heating material in a microfluidic device are also disclosed.
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Citations
45 Claims
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1. A microfluidic device comprising:
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a substrate having at least one channel and an aperture in fluid communication with said channel;
a cover bonded to said substrate such that a reservoir is formed at said aperture; and
an electrically conducting ink pattern on at least one of said substrate and cover such that when a material is present in said channel and reservoir said ink pattern makes electrical contact with said material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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26. A method for reducing bubble formation during electrokinetic applications in a microfluidic device having interconnected channels and reservoirs, said method comprising the steps of:
applying voltage to a medium contained in said channels and reservoirs, said voltage being applied to said medium through an electrically conducting ink in electrical contact with said medium wherein said electrically conducting ink reduces bubble formation during application of said voltage to said medium.
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31. A method of heating material contained in channels of a microfluidic device comprising:
applying a voltage to at least one electrically conductive ink trace patterned on a component of said microfluidic device wherein said application of voltage to said ink trace heats said material. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A method for measuring material in a microfluidic device having a substrate and a cover bonded to said substrate, said method comprising:
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applying a current to an ink trace patterned on said cover; and
measuring an electrical property resulting from said step of applying a current to said ink trace to determine the presence of a material to be detected. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44)
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45. A method for fabricating a microfluidic device having integrated electrodes comprising:
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applying an electrically conducting ink pattern to a plastic film;
bonding said film to a plastic substrate having interconnected channels such that said ink pattern makes electrical contact with material contained in the interconnected channels when the material is present in said channels.
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Specification