Variable control of electroosmotic and/or electrophoretic forces within a fluid-containing structure via electrical forces
First Claim
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1. A microfluidic system comprisinga plurality of capillary channels in an insulated substrate;
- a plurality of electrodes at different nodes of said capillary channels for creating electric fields in said capillary channels to electrokinetically flow materials in a fluid through said capillary channels;
at least one variable voltage controller operably coupled to said plurality of electrodes which is configured to control an applied voltage at said plurality of electrodes in response to a measure of electric current flow at said plurality of electrodes; and
at least one conductive lead on said substrate extending to a capillary channel location for determining a voltage level at said location due to said applied voltage.
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Abstract
In a microfluidic system using electrokinetic forces, the present invention uses electrical current or electrical parameters, other than voltage, to control the movement of fluids through the channels of the system. Time-multiplexed power supplies also provide further control over fluid movement by varying the voltage on an electrode connected to a fluid reservoir of the microfluidic system, by varying the duty cycle during which the voltage is applied to the electrode, or by a combination of both. A time-multiplexed power supply can also be connected to more than one electrode for a savings in cost.
195 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A microfluidic system comprising
a plurality of capillary channels in an insulated substrate; -
a plurality of electrodes at different nodes of said capillary channels for creating electric fields in said capillary channels to electrokinetically flow materials in a fluid through said capillary channels;
at least one variable voltage controller operably coupled to said plurality of electrodes which is configured to control an applied voltage at said plurality of electrodes in response to a measure of electric current flow at said plurality of electrodes; and
at least one conductive lead on said substrate extending to a capillary channel location for determining a voltage level at said location due to said applied voltage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of a manufacturing a microfluidic system comprising
disposing a plurality of capillary channels in an insulating substrate; -
selecting a plurality of different nodes of said capillary channel to receive electrodes, said electrodes being capable of creating electric fields in said capillary channels in response to an applied voltage to said electrodes to electrokinetically flow materials in a fluid through said capillary channels;
fixing a plurality of electrodes at said different nodes of said capillary channels;
connecting said electrodes to at least one variable voltage controller which is configured to control the applied voltage at said electrodes in response to a measure of electric current flow at said electrodes; and
disposing at least one conductive lead on said substrate to a capillary channel location to determine a voltage at said capillary channel location due to said applied voltage at said plurality of electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification