Method for making miniaturized planar columns in novel support media for liquid phase analysis

• US 5,804,022 A
• Filed: 08/18/1997
• Issued: 09/08/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Mittelstadt, Laurie S., Bek, Fritz, Swedberg, Sally A., Kaltenbach, Patrick, Witt, Klaus E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Simmons, David A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rivard, Paul M.
• Application Number:
  US08/914,297
• Time in Patent Office: 386 Days
• Field of Search: 156/64, 156/217, 156/242, 156/245, 156/257, 156/272.8, 156/290, 156/292, 95/82, 210/198.2, 210/656, 264/156, 264/220, 264/328.1, 264/328.2, 422/70
• US Class Current: 156/257
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/025 Align devices or objects to ensure defined positions relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0689 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/10 Integrating sample preparation and analysis in single entity, e.g. lab-on-a-chip concept
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/12 Specific details about manufacturing devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/087 Multiple sequential chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0874 Three dimensional network
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0887 Laminated structure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1822 using Peltier elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0415 electrical forces, e.g. electrokinetic
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502707 characterised by the manufacture of the container or its components by shaping or joining plastic parts B29C59/00, B29C65/00; by laminating B32B37/00; manufacture of microstructural devices in general B81C
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502715 characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5055 Hinged, e.g. opposable surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 7/54 using spatial temperature gradients
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/02 by heating, with or without pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/54 Joining several hollow-preforms, e.g. half-shells, to form hollow articles, e.g. for making balls, containers; Joining several hollow-preforms, e.g. half-cylinders, to form tubular articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/549 said hollow-preforms being interconnected during their moulding process, e.g. by a hinge
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/756 Microarticles, nanoarticles
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2030/0035 electrical field
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2030/285 electrically driven carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2030/3007 : same temperature for whole column
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2030/3015 : temperature gradients along column
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2030/303 : using peltier elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/44704 : Details; Accessories
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/44708 : Cooling
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/44721 : by optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/44773 : Multi-stage electrophoresis, e.g. two-dimensional electrophoresis
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/44791 : Microapparatus sample containers with integrated microfluidic structures B01L3/5027
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/02 : Column chromatography
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/60 : Construction of the column
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/6047 : with supporting means; Holders
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/6052 : body
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/606 : with fluid access or exit ports
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/6095 : Micromachined or nanomachined, e.g. micro- or nanosize
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1064 : Partial cutting [e.g., grooving or incising]

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.

Claims

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.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising laser ablating the second substrate to form the miniaturized feature to include a microchannel.

3. The method according to claim 2 further comprising aligning the first plate with the second plate in facing abutment with each other, thereby aligning the microchannels to provide a miniaturized column device.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the first plate is the first substrate having a microchannel thereon.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the first plate is the first substrate having microchannels thereon and the second plate is the second substrate having miniaturized feature thereon.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the first plate is derived from the first substrate by using the first plate as a template in a molding process.

7. The method according to claim 1 further comprising laser-ablating apertures on the first substrate or the second substrate for providing detection means in the first plate or the second plate.

8. The method according to claim 1 further comprising aligning at least three plates each of which has miniaturized features derived from substrates having corresponding miniaturized features, the three plates including the first plate and the second plate.

9. The method according to claim 8 wherein at least two surfaces of the at least three plates have a microchannel.

10. The method according to claim 1 further comprising laser ablating at least two substrates to form microchannels thereon and deriving from the at least two substrates at least two plates each having a microchannel on a planar surface.

11. The method according to claim 10 further comprising laser ablating the at least two substrates such that the microchannel formed on each substrate is a mirror image of the microchannel of another of the at least two substrates.

12. The method according to claim 1 wherein the first substrate is a material other than silicon or silicon dioxide.

13. The method according to claim 12 wherein the first substrate is a polymeric substrate.

14. The method according to claim 12 wherein the first substrate is a ceramic substrate.

15. The method according to claim 1 further comprising providing a fold means connecting at least the first plate and the second plate, the fold means being formed by a process comprising laser ablating a row of spaced-apart perforations in a connecting material connecting the first plate and the second plate.

16. The method according to claim 1 further comprising providing corresponding projections and depressions on the planar surfaces in the first plate and the second plate for microaligning said plates by mating the depressions of one plate to the projections of the other plate.

17. A method of forming a microchannel device, comprising the steps of:

(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.

18. A method of forming a microchannel device, comprising the steps of:

(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.

19. A method of forming a microchannel device, comprising the steps of:

(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.