Capillary transport device having speed and meniscus control means
First Claim
1. In a liquid transport device having two opposed surfaces spaced apart a distance effective to create a capillary transport zone and to induce capillary flow between said surfaces of introduced liquid, said opposed surfaces being joined together at opposite edges of said zone, whereby flow of introduced liquid and air is confined between said edges, and access means for admitting liquids to said zone.the improvement wherein one of said surfaces includes:
- (a) spaced-apart energy barriers extending across a portion of a primary direction of travel of liquid through said zone between said edges, said barriers (i) having a height less than said distance between said surfaces and (ii) being effective to retard the rate of flow of liquid through said zone, and (b) means on said one sufface for initiating liquid flow past each of said energy barriers at a predetermined location between said edges.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
There is described a capillary transport device wherein the transport zone includes energy barriers such as ribs extending partway from one opposing surface to the other opposing surface of the zone, and slot means for preventing air entrapment, such means being in each energy barrier, or in every other energy barrier.
There is also described a method of providing a non-mixing junction between two miscible liquids.
160 Citations
8 Claims
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1. In a liquid transport device having two opposed surfaces spaced apart a distance effective to create a capillary transport zone and to induce capillary flow between said surfaces of introduced liquid, said opposed surfaces being joined together at opposite edges of said zone, whereby flow of introduced liquid and air is confined between said edges, and access means for admitting liquids to said zone.
the improvement wherein one of said surfaces includes: - (a) spaced-apart energy barriers extending across a portion of a primary direction of travel of liquid through said zone between said edges, said barriers (i) having a height less than said distance between said surfaces and (ii) being effective to retard the rate of flow of liquid through said zone, and (b) means on said one sufface for initiating liquid flow past each of said energy barriers at a predetermined location between said edges.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
Specification