Methods and systems for performing superheated reactions in microscale fluidic systems
First Claim
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1. A method for performing at least one reaction at superheated temperature, comprising:
- placing at least a first reactant contained in a fluid in a microscale fluidic channel; and
applying an energy to the fluid in the microscale channel, whereby the fluid is heated to a superheated temperature without boiling the fluid and further whereby a reaction occurs within said channel.
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Abstract
The present invention is generally directed to methods and systems for performing chemical and biochemical reactions at superheated temperatures by carrying out the reactions in microscale fluidic channels. Also provided are applications of these methods and systems, as well as ancillary systems for use with these methods and systems in monitoring and controlling the performance of the methods of the invention.
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Citations
45 Claims
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1. A method for performing at least one reaction at superheated temperature, comprising:
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placing at least a first reactant contained in a fluid in a microscale fluidic channel; and
applying an energy to the fluid in the microscale channel, whereby the fluid is heated to a superheated temperature without boiling the fluid and further whereby a reaction occurs within said channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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4. A method for performing at least one reaction at superheated temperature, comprising:
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placing at least a first reactant contained in a fluid in a microscale fluidic channel; and
applying an energy to the fluid in the microscale channel, whereby the fluid is heated to a superheated temperature without boiling the fluid whereby a reaction occurs-within the channel, and further wherein the applying step comprises delivering an electrical current through the microscale channel sufficient to superheat the fluid in the microscale channel. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33)
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9. A method of performing a reaction at a superheated temperature, the method comprising;
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providing a substrate having at least a first microscale channel disposed therein, said substrate being in communication with an energy source for delivering a sufficient level of energy to contents of the microscale channel to heat said contents to superheated temperatures;
placing at least a first reactant into said microscale channel;
applying a sufficient level of energy from said energy source to said microscale channel to heat said contents to superheated temperatures without boiling the contents, thereby causing a reaction to occur within said channel. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 17)
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14. A method of performing a reaction at a superheated temperature, the method comprising:
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providing a substrate having at least a first microscale channel disposed therein, wherein the substrate comprises;
a planar substrate having at least a first planar surface, the first microscale channel fabricated into the first planar surface; and
a second planar substrate having at least a first planar surface, the first planar surface of the second planar substrate overlaying and bonded to the first planar surface of first planar substrate, defining the first microscale channel therebetween, said substrate being in communication with an energy source for delivering a sufficient level of energy to contents of the microscale channel to heat said contents to superheated temperatures;
placing at least a first reactant into said microscale channel; and
applying a sufficient level of energy from said energy source to said microscale channel to heat said contents to superheated temperatures without boiling the contents thereby causing a reaction to occur within the channel. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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18. A system for performing at least one reaction at superheated temperature, comprising:
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a microfluidic device comprising;
at least a first substrate;
a microscale channel disposed in the substrate, the microscale channel having at least first and second unintersected termini;
a heating system for applying energy to the microscale channel to heat a fluid in the channel to superheated temperatures, without boiling the fluid in the channel; and
a controller for maintaining energy applied from the heating system to the microscale channel. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 27, 28)
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21. A system for performing at least one reaction at superheated temperature, comprising:
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a microfluidic device comprising;
at least a first substrate comprising;
a planar substrate having at least a first planar surface, a first microscale channel fabricated into the first planar surface; and
a second planar substrate having at least a first planar surface, the first planar surface of the second planar substrate overlaying and bonded to the first planar surface of first planar substrate, defining the first microscale channel therebetween, the first microscale channel having at least first and second unintersected termini;
a heating system for applying energy to the microscale channel to heat a fluid in the channel to superheated temperatures, without boiling the fluid in the channel; and
a controller for maintaining energy applied from the heating system to the microscale channel. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 40)
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24. A system for performing at least one reaction at superheated temperatures, comprising:
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a microfluidic device comprising at least a first substrate, a microscale channel disposed in the substrate, the microscale channel having at least first and second unintersected termini;
a heating system for applying energy to the microscale channel to heat a fluid in the channel to superheated temperatures, without boiling the fluid in the channel, which, heating system comprises;
first and second electrodes disposed in electrical contact with the first and second unintersected termini of the microchannel; and
a controller for maintaining energy applied from the heating system to the microscale channel, wherein the controller comprises an electrical controller separately electrically coupled to each of the first and second electrodes, the electrical controller delivering an electrical current between the first and second electrodes, the electrical current elevating a temperature of a fluid in the microscale channel without boiling the fluid in the channel. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 41, 42)
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29. A system for performing at least one reaction at superheated temperature, comprising:
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a microfluidic device comprising;
at least a first substrate;
a microscale channel disposed in the substrate, the microscale channel having at least first and second unintersected termini;
a heating system for applying energy to the microscale channel to heat a fluid in the channel to superheated temperatures, without boiling the fluid in the channel;
the heating system comprises first and second electrodes disposed at the first and second unintersected termini of the first channel, and a conductivity sensor operably coupled to the first and second electrodes for measuring a conductivity between the first and second electrodes; and
a controller for maintaining energy applied from the heating system to the microscale channel. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45)
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Specification