Solid state chemical micro-reservoirs

• US 5,262,127 A
• Filed: 02/12/1992
• Issued: 11/16/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Michigan (University of Michigan)
• Original Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Michigan (University of Michigan)
• Inventors: Wise, Kensall D., Schwank, Johannes W., Gland, John L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, HIEN THI
• Application Number:
  US07/834,199
• Time in Patent Office: 643 Days
• Field of Search: 422/98, 422/90, 422/88, 422/58, 73/31.06, 73/31.05, 338/34, 204/425
• US Class Current: 422/98
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/0093 Microreactors, e.g. miniaturised or microfabricated reactors laboratory containers with capillary fluid transport in microfabricated channels or chambers B01L3/5027
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00237 Handling microquantities of analyte, e.g. microvalves, capillary networks
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/12 of a solid body in dependence upon absorption of a fluid; of a solid body in dependence upon reaction with a fluid , for detecting components in the fluid
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00 Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1002 Reagent dispensers

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for storing chemical reagents in micro-reservoirs, a chemical sensor system and a chemical micro-reactor.

Claims

1. A chemical microsensing system, comprising:

a chemical microsensor; and

a chemical micro-reservoir comprising;

i) a substrate comprising

a) two opposed major surfaces including a dielectric window region;

b) heater means situated on said dielectric window region on one side of said opposed surfaces; and

c) a conductivity cell electrode means situated on said dielectric window on the opposite surface from said heater means;

ii) a solid film deposited on said surface containing said conductivity cell electrode means; and

iii) a chemical reagent absorbed onto said solid film;

wherein said chemical reagent is one that is liberated from said chemical micro-reservoir and transported to said chemical microsensor.

3. The chemical microsensing system of claim 1, further comprising at least a second chemical micro-reservoir.

2. A chemical micro-reactor comprising

two micro-reservoirs, wherein each micro-reservoir comprises:

a) two opposed major surfaces including a dielectric window region;

b) heater means situated on said dielectric window region on one side of said opposed surfaces;

c) an active film situated on said major surface opposed to said heater means; and

d) a chemical reagent absorbed onto said active film;

wherein said chemical reagent is different for each micro-reservoir; and

wherein liberation of the two different chemical reagents results in a chemical reaction between said chemical reagents.

4. The chemical micro-reactor of claim 2, comprising at least two micro-reservoirs.