Separation device and method of making the same

• US 20040079696A1
• Filed: 10/28/2002
• Published: 04/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Hernandez, Juan J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,143,900 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/435
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/184 Special form, dimension of the openings, pores of the filtering elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 29/01 with flat filtering elements B01D29/39 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 29/012 Making filtering elements making bag, cage, hose, tube, sleeve or like filtering elements B01D29/111
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/6065 with varying cross section
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/6069 with compartments or bed substructure
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/6095 Micromachined or nanomachined, e.g. micro- or nanosize

Abstract

A separation device, such as a filter or separation line apparatus, and method of making the same.

Claims

1. A method of making a separation device, comprising the steps of:

providing a first cover having an inlet region and an outlet region and defining a flow path that extends along the first cover from the inlet region to the outlet region; and

forming a plurality of spaced filter members on the first cover that extend in a direction transverse to the flow path by depositing filter member material onto the first cover.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of forming a plurality of spaced filter members comprises forming a plurality of spaced filter members on the first cover that extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the flow path by depositing filter member material onto the first cover.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of forming a plurality of spaced filter members comprises forming a plurality of spaced filter members on the first cover that extend in a direction transverse to the flow path by a photolithographic process.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of forming a plurality of spaced filter members comprises forming a plurality of spaced filter members on the first cover that extend in a direction transverse to the flow path by depositing photoactive filter member material onto the first cover.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

positioning a second cover in contact with the plurality of spaced filter members such that the plurality of spaced filter members are located between the first and second covers.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

forming side wall members on opposite sides of the flow path by depositing filter member material onto the first cover.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the step of forming a plurality of spaced filter members and the step of forming side wall members on opposite sides of the flow path are performed simultaneously.

8. A filter, comprising:

first and second covers in spaced relation having a flow region therebetween defining an inlet and an outlet; and

a plurality of spaced, relatively small filter members located between the inlet and the outlet, each filter member including a first longitudinal end associated with the first cover and a second longitudinal end associated with the second cover.

9. A filter as claimed in claim 8, wherein the filter members are perpendicular to the first and second covers.

10. A filter as claimed in claim 8, wherein adjacent filter members are less than about 100 μ

m apart.

11. A filter as claimed in claim 8, wherein the filter members define a width of less than about 100 μ

m.

12. A filter as claimed in claim 8, wherein the filter members define a height of less than about 500 μ

m.

13. A filter as claimed in claim 8, wherein a flow path is defined between the inlet and the outlet and the filter members define a filter member group that extends along the flow path and transverse to the flow path.

14. A filter as claimed in claim 8, wherein the filter members are formed from a different material than the first and second covers.

15. A filter as claimed in claim 14, further comprising:

first and second side wall members located on opposite sides of the flow region, each of the side wall members extending from the first cover to the second cover and each of the side wall members being formed from the same material as the filter members.

16. A filter as claimed in claim 8, wherein the filter members are formed from a photoactive material.

17. A filter formed by a process comprising the steps of:

providing a first cover having an inlet region and an outlet region and defining a flow path that extends along the first cover from the inlet region to the outlet region; and

forming a plurality of spaced filter members on the first cover that extend in a direction transverse to the flow path by depositing filter member material onto the first cover.

18. A filter as claimed in claim 17, wherein the step of forming a plurality of spaced filter members comprises forming a plurality of spaced filter members on the first cover that extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the flow path by depositing filter member material onto the first cover.

19. A filter as claimed in claim 17, wherein the step of forming a plurality of spaced filter members comprises forming a plurality of spaced filter members on the first cover that extend in a direction transverse to the flow path by a photolithographic process.

20. A filter as claimed in claim 17, wherein the step of forming a plurality of spaced filter members comprises forming a plurality of spaced filter members on the first cover that extend in a direction transverse to the flow path by depositing photoactive filter member material onto the first cover.

21. A filter as claimed in claim 17, further comprising the step of:

positioning a second cover in contact with the plurality of spaced filter members such that the plurality of spaced filter members are located between the first and second covers.

22. A filter as claimed in claim 17, further comprising the step of:

forming side wall members on opposite sides of the flow path by depositing filter member material onto the first cover.

23. A filter as claimed in claim 22, wherein the step of forming a plurality of spaced filter members and the step of forming side wall members on opposite sides of the flow path are performed simultaneously.

24. A method of making a separation line apparatus, comprising the steps of:

providing a first cover having an inlet region and an outlet region and defining a flow path that extends along the first cover from the inlet region to the outlet region;

forming a separation layer with channel on the first cover; and

positioning a second cover over the separation layer.

25. A method as claimed in claim 24, wherein the step of forming a separation layer comprises forming a separation layer by depositing separation layer material onto the first cover.

26. A method as claimed in claim 24, wherein the step of forming a separation layer comprises forming a separation layer on the first cover by a photolithographic process.

27. A method as claimed in claim 24, wherein the step of forming a separation layer comprises forming a separation layer by depositing photoactive separation layer material onto the first cover.

28. A method as claimed in claim 24, wherein the step of forming a separation layer comprises forming a separation layer with a serpentine channel on the first cover.

29. A method as claimed in claim 24, wherein the step of forming a separation layer comprises forming a separation layer with a channel that is less than about 100 μ

m wide on the first cover.

30. A separation line apparatus, comprising:

first and second spaced covers having a flow region therebetween defining an inlet region and an outlet region; and

a separation layer, defining a channel extending from the inlet region to the outlet region, located between the first cover and the second cover.

31. A separation line apparatus as claimed in claim 30, where the channel comprises a serpentine channel.

32. A separation line apparatus as claimed in claim 30, wherein the channel defines plurality of relatively long portions that are connected in series by connector portions.

33. A separation line apparatus as claimed in claim 32, wherein the relatively long portions are substantially linear.

34. A separation line apparatus as claimed in claim 32, wherein the relatively long portions are separated by less than about 100 μ

m.

35. A separation line apparatus as claimed in claim 30, wherein the channel is about 100 μ

m wide.

36. A separation line apparatus as claimed in claim 30, wherein the separation layer is formed from a different material than the first and second covers.

37. A separation line apparatus as claimed in claim 30, wherein the separation layer is less than about 1 mm thick.

38. A separation line apparatus as claimed in claim 30, wherein the separation layer is formed from a photoactive material.

39. A separation line apparatus formed by a process comprising the steps of:

providing a first cover having an inlet region and an outlet region and defining a flow path that extends along the first cover from the inlet region to the outlet region;

forming a separation layer with channel on the first cover; and

positioning a second cover over the separation layer.

40. A separation line apparatus as claimed in claim 39, wherein the step of forming a separation layer comprises forming a separation layer by depositing separation layer material onto the first cover.

41. A separation line apparatus as claimed in claim 39, wherein the step of forming a separation layer comprises forming a separation layer on the first cover by a photolithographic process.

42. A separation line apparatus as claimed in claim 39, wherein the step of forming a separation layer comprises forming a separation layer by depositing photoactive separation layer material onto the first cover.

43. A separation line apparatus as claimed in claim 39, wherein the step of forming a separation layer comprises forming a separation layer with a serpentine channel on the first cover.

44. A separation line apparatus as claimed in claim 39, wherein the step of forming a separation layer comprises forming a separation layer with a channel that is less than about 100 μ

m wide on the first cover.

45. A filter, comprising:

first and second covers; and

means for securing the first cover to the second cover and filtering particles that are smaller than 100 μ

m from fluid.

46. A fluid delivery system, comprising:

a filter as claimed in claim 45;

and

a source of fluid operably connected to the filter.

47. A separation line apparatus, comprising:

first and second covers; and

means for securing the first cover to the second cover and separating a fluid compound into individual compound components.

48. A spectroscopy system, comprising:

a separation line apparatus as claimed in claim 47;

and

a spectroscopic analyzer having an inlet operably connected to the separation line apparatus.

49. A method of making a separation device, comprising the steps of:

providing a first cover having an inlet region and an outlet region and defining a flow path that extends along the first cover from the inlet region to the outlet region;

forming a separation apparatus on the first cover; and

positioning a second cover on the separation apparatus.

50. A method as claimed in claim 49, wherein the step of forming a separation apparatus on the first cover comprises forming a filter layer on the first cover.

51. A method as claimed in claim 49, wherein the step of forming a separation apparatus on the first cover comprises forming a layer that defines a separation line on the first cover.

52. A separation device, comprising:

first and second covers; and

means for securing the first cover to the second cover and filtering particles that are smaller than 100 μ

m from fluid or separating a fluid compound into individual compound components.