Microfluidic articles

• US 6,761,962 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2002
• Issued: 07/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Poirier, Richard J., McClure, Donald J., Johnston, Raymond P., Biernath, Rolf W., Bentsen, James G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Monique R.
• Application Number:
  US10/108,069
• Publication Number:
  US 20020098124A1
• Time in Patent Office: 839 Days
• Field of Search: 428/188, 428/906, 428/457, 428/166, 428/156, 428/167, 428/172, 264/1.6, 264/1.7, 156/242, 422/100
• US Class Current: 428/188
• 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 2300/0887 Laminated structure
• 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 3/505 flexible containers not provided for above
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 39/148 characterised by the shape of the surface
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 43/222 characterised by the shape of the surface
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 59/022 characterised by the disposition or the configuration, e.g. dimensions, of the embossments or the shaping tools therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00009 provided with a sample supporting tape, e.g. with absorbent zones
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/906 Roll or coil
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24562 Interlaminar spaces
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2457 Parallel ribs and/or grooves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24612 Composite web or sheet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24744 Longitudinal or transverse tubular cavity or cell
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31678 Of metal

Abstract

The present invention provides various microfluid processing architecture-bearing, polymeric articles. The articles may include microelectronic, microoptical or microchemical elements. The article also may include inorganic thin film coatings.

Claims

1. An article comprising:

(a) a first non-elastic, molded polymeric substrate comprising (i) a first major surface that includes a microfluid processing architecture having at least one fluid-processing structure arranged in a pre-determined, self-contained pattern with at least one of the structures having a depth dimension of about 50 micrometers and a width dimension ranging from about 4 to about 64 micrometers, and (ii) a second major surface; and

(b) a second polymeric substrate that is integrally bonded to said second major surface of said first substrate,

said second substrate being capable of forming a free-standing substrate in the absence of said first substrate.

2. An article according to claim 1 further comprising a cover layer overlying said microfluid processing architecture.

3. An article according to claim 2 wherein said cover layer comprises a polymeric cover layer.

4. An article according to claim 2 wherein said cover layer is bonded to said first major surface of said first substrate.

5. An article according to claim 1 wherein said structures are microchannels, fluid reservoirs, sample handling regions, or combinations thereof.

6. An article according to claim 1 wherein said article further comprises a microelectronic element.

7. An article according to claim 1 wherein said article further comprises a microoptical element.

8. An article according to claim 1 wherein said article further comprises a micromechanical element.

9. The article of claim 1 further comprising an inorganic thin film coating disposed on at least a portion of the microfluid processing architecture.

10. The article of claim 9 wherein the inorganic thin film coating increases the hydrophilicity of the microfluid processing architecture.

11. An article according to claim 9 wherein the inorganic thin film coating provides a barrier film that reduces outgassing through the first substrate.

12. An article according to claim 9 wherein the inorganic thin film coating is electrically conductive.

13. The article of claim 9, wherein the inorganic thin film coating is adapted to increase hydrophilicity, provide a barrier layer, provide electrical conductivity or facilitate wicking into the fluid-processing structure.

14. The article of claim 1, wherein the first molded polymeric substrate comprises a cast polymeric substrate.

15. The article of claim 1 wherein the first molded polymeric substrate comprises an embossed polymeric substrate.

16. An article comprising a first molded polymeric substrate comprising (i) a first major surface that includes a plurality of microfluid processing architectures each having at least one fluid-processing structure arranged in a pre-determined, self-contained pattern with at least one of the structures having a depth dimension of about 50 micrometers and a width dimension ranging from about 4 to about 64 micrometers and (ii) a second major surface,

wherein said article is in the form of a roll.

17. An article according to claim 16 wherein said article further comprises a second polymeric substrate integrally bonded to said second major surface of said first substrate, said second substrate being capable of forming a free-standing substrate in the absence of said first substrate.

18. An article according to claim 16 further comprising a polymeric cover layer bonded to the first major surface of said first substrate.

19. An article according to claim 16 wherein said structures are microchannels, fluid reservoirs, sample handling regions, or combinations thereof.

20. An article according to claim 16 wherein said article further comprises a microelectronic element.

21. An article according to claim 16 wherein said article further comprises a microoptical element.

22. An article according to claim 16 wherein said article further comprises a micromechanical element.

23. The article of claim 16 further comprising an inorganic thin film coating disposed on at least a portion of one or more of the plurality of microfluid processing architectures.

24. The article of claim 16, wherein the first molded polymeric substrate comprises a cast polymeric substrate.

25. The article of claim 16, wherein the first molded polymeric substrate comprises an embossed polymeric substrate.