INTEGRATED ELECTROKINETIC DEVICES AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURE
First Claim
1. A device for electrokinetic transport of an aqueous solute, comprising an electrically insulating substrate;
- a conductor element for electrokinetic transport of the solute, the conductor element being in the form of a solid hydrophilic-matrix layer on the substrate, the matrix layer being in a substantially dry, inactive state wherein electrokinetic transport is substantially prevented and having a first surface engaging the substrate and a second surface; and
a cover layer for electrically insulating and covering the second surface, the cover layer being impermeable to the solute;
whereby exposure of the hydrophilic matrix to water converts the matrix from the inactive state to a hydrated, active state permitting electrokinetic transport of the solute.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
Devices with electrokinetic elements are disclosed as well as their method of microfabrication for use in micro-scale analysis, mixture separation and reaction. The devices consist of solid hydrophilic-matrix films that have been microfabricated into a variety of micro-scale structures. These structures include hydrophilic-matrix conductors for electrokinetic species transport and separation. They also include hydrophilic-matrix cladding containing chemical species adjacent to either an open conduit or a hydrophilic matrix conductor. Also described are other integrated microstructures consisting of hydrophilic-matrix materials such as micro-reaction zones for retaining chemical species for on-chip chemical reactions and integrated detection structures for on-chip species detection. In general, a hydrophilic matrix on a substrate functions as a conductor that is covered by an electrically insulating, preferably water permeable material.
101 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A device for electrokinetic transport of an aqueous solute, comprising an electrically insulating substrate;
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a conductor element for electrokinetic transport of the solute, the conductor element being in the form of a solid hydrophilic-matrix layer on the substrate, the matrix layer being in a substantially dry, inactive state wherein electrokinetic transport is substantially prevented and having a first surface engaging the substrate and a second surface; and
a cover layer for electrically insulating and covering the second surface, the cover layer being impermeable to the solute;
whereby exposure of the hydrophilic matrix to water converts the matrix from the inactive state to a hydrated, active state permitting electrokinetic transport of the solute. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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13. A device for electrokinetic transport of an aqueous solute, comprising an electrically insulating substrate;
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a conductor element in the form of a solid hydrophilic-matrix layer on the substrate, the matrix layer being in a substantially dry, inactive state and having a first surface engaging the substrate and a second surface;
a cover layer for electrically insulating and covering the second surface, the cover layer being impermeable to the solute, but having at least one permeable portion in contact with the conductor element which is permeable to water vapor; and
whereby exposure of the permeable portion to water leads to hydration of the hydrophilic matrix converting the matrix from the inactive state to a hydrated, active state permitting electrokinetic transport of the solute in the conductor element. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification