Alignment of multicomponent microfabricated structures
First Claim
1. A method of fabricating a multilayered microfluidic device, comprising:
- providing a first notch in an edge of a first substrate layer;
providing a second notch in an edge of a second substrate layer, the first and second notches being positioned such that the first and second notches circumscribe a single opening when the first and second substrate layers are mated in a first relative position;
inserting an alignment key into the single opening, the alignment key being configured to fit into the single opening; and
bonding the first substrate layer to the second substrate layer in the first relative position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Multilayered microfluidic devices include structures that are used to align elements that make up the devices. Such elements include additional substrate layers, external sampling elements, and the like. In one embodiment, a multilayered microfluidic device includes first and second substrate layers attached one to the other, each substrate layer having a notch in an edge of the substrate layer. The notches are positioned such that they circumscribe a single opening into which an alignment key is inserted. In a method of fabricating a multilayered microfluidic device, notches are provided in first and second substrate layers, the notches circumscribing a single opening when the substrate layers are mated together. An alignment key is inserted into the single opening, and the substrate layers are bonded together. The alignment key may be, for example, a shim or a capillary element.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of fabricating a multilayered microfluidic device, comprising:
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providing a first notch in an edge of a first substrate layer;
providing a second notch in an edge of a second substrate layer, the first and second notches being positioned such that the first and second notches circumscribe a single opening when the first and second substrate layers are mated in a first relative position;
inserting an alignment key into the single opening, the alignment key being configured to fit into the single opening; and
bonding the first substrate layer to the second substrate layer in the first relative position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A multilayered microfluidic device, comprising:
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a first substrate layer having a first notch in an edge of the first substrate layer;
a second substrate layer attached to the first substrate layer, the second substrate layer having a second notch in an edge of the second substrate layer, the first and second notches being positioned such that the first and second notches circumscribe a single opening; and
an alignment key inserted into the single opening. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification