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Microfluidic device and method for focusing, segmenting, and dispensing of a fluid stream

  • US 6,790,328 B2
  • Filed: 01/12/2001
  • Issued: 09/14/2004
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2000
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for the spatial confinement of a material stream, comprising:

  • a chamber formed in a surface of a substrate;

    a sample channel formed in the surface of the substrate for conducting a sample stream therethrough, said sample channel having a first end in fluid communication with a source of a sample material and a second end in fluid communication with said chamber;

    a focusing channel formed in the surface of the substrate for conducting a focusing stream therethrough, said focusing channel having a first end in fluid communication with a source of focusing material and a second end in fluid communication with said chamber;

    a waste channel formed in the surface of the substrate, said waste channel having a first end in fluid communication with said chamber and a second end in fluid communication with a waste reservoir;

    a buffer channel formed in the surface of the substrate for conducting a buffer stream therethrough, said buffer channel having a first end in fluid communication with a source of a buffer material and a second end in fluid communication with said chamber;

    means for driving the respective streams of the sample and focusing materials through the respective channels into said chamber, whereby the focusing stream spatially confines the sample stream within said chamber; and

    means for driving the buffer fluid through said buffer channel into said chamber such that the buffer material acts on the spatially confined sample stream.

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