Multiple optical channels for chemical analysis
First Claim
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1. A method of fabricating a micron-scale artificial gel, comprising:
- defining on a substrate an etch mask defining the locations and cross-sectional shapes of an array of pillars; and
etching said substrate through said mask to fabricate a multiplicity of pillars in an array, the pillars having cross-sectional shapes and dimensions on the order of 20 nm, and being spaced from adjacent pillars by distances determined by said etch mask to define a porous artificial gel for separating sample material which passes through said array of pillars.
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Abstract
Apparatus for optical analysis of a sample material includes a channel block incorporating microfabricated channels and an integral gel material. Illuminating optics direct light to the sample material and light reflected from, refracted by and/or emitted by the sample is collected by collection optics for detection. The gel material is formed within the channels and includes multiple closely spaced pillars to form a porous separator for sample material to be analyzed.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method of fabricating a micron-scale artificial gel, comprising:
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defining on a substrate an etch mask defining the locations and cross-sectional shapes of an array of pillars; and
etching said substrate through said mask to fabricate a multiplicity of pillars in an array, the pillars having cross-sectional shapes and dimensions on the order of 20 nm, and being spaced from adjacent pillars by distances determined by said etch mask to define a porous artificial gel for separating sample material which passes through said array of pillars. - View Dependent Claims (3)
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- 2. The method of claim wherein 1, wherein the step of defining said etch mask includes lithographically defining an array of pillars in an elongated channel, with a range of sizes and spacings to vary the density of the artificial gel material along the length of the channel.
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5. A method of fabricating a micron-scale artificial gel, comprising:
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defining on a substrate an etch mask defining the locations and cross-sectional shapes of an array of pillars;
etching said substrate through said mask to fabricate a multiplicity of pillars having cross-sectional dimensions on the order of 20 nm, and being spaced from adjacent pillars by distances determined by said etch mask;
locating said substrate and etched pillars in a mold to form a die; and
fabricating from said die mold a channel block containing gel columns corresponding to the spaces between said pillars. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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6. A method of fabricating a micron-scale artificial gel, comprising:
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defining in an etch mask carried by a substrate at least one elongated channel;
defining within the elongated channel the locations and cross-sectional shapes of at least one array of pillars;
etching said substrate through said mask to fabricate a channel containing an array of a multiplicity of upstanding, generally parallel, spaced pillars having cross-sectional dimensions on the order of 20 nm, each pillar being spaced from adjacent pillars to define a porous artificial gel for separating sample material which passes along the elongated channel. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
supplying to said at least one sample channel a sample material to be optically viewed; and
illuminating said channel through said substrate to view said sample material.
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12. The method of claim 11, further including supplying an electric potential to sample material in said at least one sample channel to permit electrophoretic analysis of material passing through said gel.
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13. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of defining said etch mask comprises depositing a thin film on a non-wetting surface of said substrate to produce beading in said thin film to define isolated mask islands on said surface.
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14. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of defining said etch mask comprises lithographically defining an array of pillars having a range of sizes and spacings to vary the density of the artificial gel along at least a part of the length of the elongated channel.
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20. A method of fabricating a micron-scale artificial gel in a channel comprising:
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forming at least one elongated channel in a surface of a substrate;
simultaneously forming in said channel an array of generally parallel pillars having nanometer-scale cross-sectional dimensions, said pillars being generally parallel to each other and being spaced to define a porous artificial gel for separating sample material which passes along the elongated channel. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification