High thermal efficiency glass microfluidic channels and method for forming the same

• US 20050241815A1
• Filed: 04/13/2005
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Corning Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Corning Incorporated
• Inventors: Dannoux, Thierry Luc Alain, Caze, Philippe
• Application Number:
  US11/106,178
• Publication Number:
  US 20050241815A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 165/170
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/12 Specific details about manufacturing devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/12 Specific details about materials
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502707 characterised by the manufacture of the container or its components by shaping or joining plastic parts B29C59/00, B29C65/00; by laminating B32B37/00; manufacture of microstructural devices in general B81C
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 2201/058 Microfluidics not provided for in B81B2201/051 - B81B2201/054
• CPC Class Codes: B81C 1/00119 Arrangement of basic structures like cavities or channels, e.g. suitable for microfluidic systems
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 21/006 of glass
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2260/02 having microchannels
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 3/12 Elements constructed in the shape of a hollow panel, e.g. with channels F28D1/02, F28D1/03 take precedence

Abstract

A microfluidic device includes a formed sheet of glass or glass ceramic material formed to have one or more first micro channels on a first surface thereof and one or more second micro channels on a second surface opposite the first. The second channels are complementary to the first channels and the first channels are substantially closed by a first sheet of glass or glass ceramic material bonded to the first surface of the formed sheet. The second channels may be substantially closed by a second sheet of a glass or glass ceramic material bonded to the second surface. The first and second sheets may also be formed sheets. The device may be formed by vacuum-forming the formed sheet against a single surface mold, then bonding a plate to one or both sides of the formed sheet.

Claims

1. A microfluidic device comprising a molded sheet of a glass or glass ceramic material bonded to at least one sheet of a glass or glass ceramic material so as to form micro channels.

2. The microfluidic device as recited in claim 1 wherein the molded sheet of a glass or glass ceramic material is bonded between two sheets, each of a glass or glass ceramic material, so as to form complementary micro channels.

3. The microfluidic device of claim 2 wherein the molded sheet comprises a first glass material and the two sheets each comprise a second glass material, the first glass material having a higher softening temperature than the second glass material.

4. The microfluidic device of claim 1 wherein the molded sheet comprises a first glass material and the two sheets each comprise a second glass material, the first glass material having a higher softening temperature than the second glass material.

5. The microfluidic device of claim 2 further comprising at least one through-hole through the molded sheet, said through-hole establishing fluid communication between an adjacent pair of said micro channels.

6. The microfluidic device of claim 1 further comprising at least one through-hole through the molded sheet, said through-hole establishing fluid communication between an adjacent pair of said micro channels.

7. The microfluidic device of claim 1 wherein the molded sheet, between adjacent micro channels separated by said molded sheet, has a thickness in the range of about 0.2 mm to about 0.7 mm.

8. The microfluidic device of claim 1 wherein the molded sheet, between adjacent micro channels separated by said molded sheet, has a thickness in the range of about 0.7 mm to about 3 mm.

9. The microfluidic device of any one of claims 1 wherein said at least one sheet comprises a second molded sheet.

10. A method of forming a microfluidic device, the method comprising:

providing a mold;

positioning a softened sheet of glass or ceramicizable glass over said mold;

applying a differential gas pressure to said sheet to conform said sheet to said mold, thereby forming micro channels on at least one surface of said sheet;

substantially closing said micro channels on said at least one surface of said sheet by bonding a sheet of glass or ceramicizable glass over said mold.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of ceramicizing said plate and said sheet.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of applying a differential gas pressure to said sheet to conform said sheet to said mold comprises applying a vacuum to said sheet between said sheet and said mold.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of positioning a softened sheet of glass or ceramicizable glass over said mold comprises rolling out a first soft glass sheet over said mold.

14. The method claim 10 wherein the step of positioning a softened sheet of glass or ceramicizable glass over said mold comprises positioning a sheet of glass or ceramicizable glass over said mold then heating said sheet of glass or ceramicizable glass.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of substantially closing said micro channels on said at least one surface of said sheet by bonding a sheet of glass or ceramicizable glass over said mold comprises rolling out a soft glass sheet onto said conformed sheet, thereby bonding said soft glass sheet to said conformed sheet.