Sample evaporative control
First Claim
1. A microfluidic device comprising(a) a solid substrate, (b) formed in the substrate, a channel network having (i) one or more reservoirs, and (ii) one or more capillary channels connecting the reservoirs in fluid communication with one another, said network having wall portions that are sufficiently wettable to promote flow of a liquid in the network by capillarity along such wall portions, and (c) formed on at least one of said wall portions, a non-wettable region effective to block liquid flow by capillarity past or through said non-wettable region.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Devices and methods are provided using microfluidic devices for manipulating small volumes and determining a variety of chemical and physical events. The devices rely upon an opening to the atmosphere of a small volume in a zone, where a sample is placed in the zone where evaporation can occur. The zone is maintained in contact with a liquid medium that serves to replenish the liquid in the zone and maintain the composition of the mixture in the zone substantially constant. The diffusion of components in the zone is restricted during the course of the determination by the liquid flux into the zone.
169 Citations
6 Claims
-
1. A microfluidic device comprising
(a) a solid substrate, (b) formed in the substrate, a channel network having (i) one or more reservoirs, and (ii) one or more capillary channels connecting the reservoirs in fluid communication with one another, said network having wall portions that are sufficiently wettable to promote flow of a liquid in the network by capillarity along such wall portions, and (c) formed on at least one of said wall portions, a non-wettable region effective to block liquid flow by capillarity past or through said non-wettable region.
Specification