Methods for Forming Small-Volume Electrical Contacts and Material Manipulations With Fluid Microchannels
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Abstract
A microfabricated device employing a bridging membrane and methods for electrokinetic transport of a liquid phase biological or chemical material using the same are described. The bridging membrane is deployed in or adjacent to a microchannel and permits either ionic current flow or the transport of gas species, while inhibiting the bulk flow of material. The use of bridging membranes in accordance with this invention is applicable to a variety of processes, including electrokinetically induced pressure flow in a region of a microchannel that is not influenced by an electric field, sample concentration enhancement and injection, as well as improving the analysis of materials where it is desired to eliminate electrophoretic bias. Other applications of the bridging membranes according to this invention include the separation of species from a sample material, valving of fluids in a microchannel network, mixing of different materials in a microchannel, and the pumping of fluids.
21 Citations
48 Claims
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1-35. -35. (canceled)
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36. A device for the manipulation of liquid phase materials, comprising:
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a substrate formed of a gas permeable material; a first channel disposed in said substrate and containing a first material, said first channel having first and second ends; an electrode made of a spatially defined electrically conducting material, said electrode being in electrical contact with said first channel at a location along said first channel that is intermediate the first and second ends thereof; a coverplate; said coverplate and said substrate being mated together such that the coverplate seals the first channel; and means for applying an electric potential between the first end of said first channel and said electrode, whereby transport of the first material can be induced in a first segment of the first channel between the first end of said first channel and said electrode and in a second segment between said electrode and the second end. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A method for the manipulation of liquid phase materials, comprising the steps of:
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providing a microchannel device that includes a substrate having a channel formed therein, an electrode made of a spatially defined electrically conducting material, said electrode being in electrical contact with said channel at a location along said channel that is intermediate first and second ends thereof, and a coverplate for sealing the channel, wherein either said substrate or said coverplate is formed of a gas permeable material; providing a material in the channel; and inducing transport of the material in a first segment of said channel between said electrode and the first end of said channel by applying an electric potential between the second end of said channel and said electrode, whereby the material is transported in the first segment of said channel and in a second segment of the channel between the second end of said channel and said electrode. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46)
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43. A method for the manipulation of liquid phase materials, comprising the steps of:
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providing a microchannel device that includes a substrate having a channel formed therein, first and second electrodes made of a spatially defined electrically conducting material, said electrodes being in electrical contact with said channel at spaced apart locations along said channel that are intermediate first and second ends thereof, and a coverplate for sealing the channel, wherein either said substrate or said coverplate is formed of a gas permeable material; providing a material in the channel; and inducing transport of the material in a first segment of said channel between said first electrode and the first end of said channel and in a second segment of said channel between the second electrode and the second end of said channel by applying an electric potential between said electrodes, whereby the material is transported in the first and second segments, and in a third segment of said channel between said electrodes.
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47. A device for the manipulation of liquid phase materials, comprising:
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a substrate; a first channel disposed in said substrate and containing a first material, said first channel having first and second ends; first and second electrodes each made of a spatially defined electrically conducting material, said electrodes being in electrical contact with said first channel at spaced apart locations along said first channel that are intermediate the first and second ends thereof; a coverplate; said coverplate and said substrate being mated together such that the coverplate seals the first channel, said substrate or said coverplate being formed of a gas permeable material; and means for applying an electric potential between the first and second electrodes, whereby transport of the first material can be induced in a first segment of the first channel between the first and second electrodes, in a second segment of said first channel between the first electrode and the first end, and in a third segment of said first channel between the second electrode and the second end. - View Dependent Claims (48)
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Specification