Method for making miniaturized planar columns in novel support media for liquid phase analysis
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of forming a microchannel device, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a first substrate having a substantially planar surface;
(b) forming by laser ablation a microchannel in the planer surface of the first substrate substantially parallel to the planar surface;
(c) providing a second substrate having a substantially planar surface and miniaturized feature in that substantially planar surface;
(d) deriving a first plate from the first substrate and deriving a second plate from the second substrate, the first plate having a planar surface and a microchannel corresponding to the planar surface and microchannel of the first substrate, and the second plate having a planar surface and miniaturized feature corresponding to the planar surface and the miniaturized feature of the second substrate; and
(e) aligning two or more plates, including;
aligning the first plate and the second plate such that the planar surface of the first plate and the planar surface of the second plate are in facing abutment and the miniaturized feature of the second plate is aligned with the microchannel of the first plate, thereby providing a miniaturized column device with a microcompartment including a microchannel.
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Abstract
Miniaturized planar column devices are described for use in liquid phase analysis, the devices comprising microstructures fabricated by laser ablation in a variety of novel support substrates. Devices formed according to the invention include associated laser-ablated features required for function, such as analyte detection means and fluid communication means. Miniaturized columns constructed under the invention find use in any analysis system performed on either small and/or macromolecular solutes in the liquid phase and may employ chromatographic, electrophoretic, electrochromatographic separation means, or any combination thereof.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of forming a microchannel device, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a first substrate having a substantially planar surface; (b) forming by laser ablation a microchannel in the planer surface of the first substrate substantially parallel to the planar surface; (c) providing a second substrate having a substantially planar surface and miniaturized feature in that substantially planar surface; (d) deriving a first plate from the first substrate and deriving a second plate from the second substrate, the first plate having a planar surface and a microchannel corresponding to the planar surface and microchannel of the first substrate, and the second plate having a planar surface and miniaturized feature corresponding to the planar surface and the miniaturized feature of the second substrate; and (e) aligning two or more plates, including;
aligning the first plate and the second plate such that the planar surface of the first plate and the planar surface of the second plate are in facing abutment and the miniaturized feature of the second plate is aligned with the microchannel of the first plate, thereby providing a miniaturized column device with a microcompartment including a microchannel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of forming a microchannel device, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a first polymeric or ceramic substrate having a substantially planar surface and a second polymeric or ceramic substrate having a substantially planar surface; (b) by laser ablation forming a microchannel in the planer surface of the first polymeric or ceramic substrate substantially parallel to said planar surface and forming a microchannel in the planar surface of the second polymeric or ceramic substrate substantially parallel to that planar surface and being a mirror image of the microchannel of the first polymeric or ceramic substrate; (c) in a molding process deriving a first plate using the first substrate as a template and deriving a second plate from the second substrate using the second substrate as a template, the first plate having a planar surface and a microchannel corresponding to the planar surface and the microchannel of the first substrate and the second plate having a planar surface and a microchannel corresponding to the planar surface and the microchannel of the second substrate; (d) in at least one of the first plate and the second plate providing a plurality of apertures in fluid communication with the microchannel and traversing through the thickness of said at least one plate, permitting the passage of fluid from the microchannel through the thickness of said at least one plate; and (e) aligning the first plate and the second plate such that the microchannel of the second plate is aligned with the microchannel of the first plate in facing abutment, thereby providing a miniaturized column device with a microcompartment including a microchannel.
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18. A method of forming a microchannel device, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a first substrate having a substantially planar surface and a second substrate having a substantially planar surface; (b) by a "LIGA process" forming a microchannel in the planer surface of the first substrate substantially parallel to said planar surface and forming a microchannel in the planar surface of the second substrate substantially parallel to that planar surface and being a mirror image of the microchannel of the first substrate; (c) in a molding process deriving a first plate using the first substrate as a template and deriving a second plate from the second substrate using the second substrate as a template, the first plate having a planar surface and a microchannel corresponding to the planar surface and the microchannel of the first substrate and the second plate having a planar surface and a microchannel corresponding to the planar surface and the microchannel of the second substrate; (d) in at least one of the first plate and the second plate providing a plurality of apertures in fluid communication with the microchannel and traversing through the thickness of said at least one plate, permitting the passage of fluid from the microchannel through the thickness of said at least one plate; and (e) aligning the first plate and the second plate such that the microchannel of the second plate is aligned with the microchannel of the first plate in facing abutment, thereby providing a miniaturized column device with a microcompartment including a microchannel.
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19. A method of forming a microchannel device, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a first polymeric substrate having a substantially planar surface and a second polymeric substrate having a substantially planar surface; and (b) by laser ablation forming a microchannel in the planer surface of the first polymeric substrate substantially parallel to that planar surface and forming a microchannel in the planar surface of the second polymeric substrate substantially parallel to said planar surface and being a mirror image of the microchannel of the first polymeric substrate; such that when the planar surface of first substrate and the planar surface of the second substrate are aligned in facing abutment the microchannel of the first polymeric substrate is aligned to face the microchannel of the second polymeric substrate to form a microcompartment having an elongated part.
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Specification