Microfluidic chip having integrated electrodes
First Claim
1. A microfluidic device for operations at high field strengths comprising:
- a substrate having at least one channel and at least one aperture in fluid communication with said channel;
a cover bonded to said substrate such that a reservoir is formed at said at least one aperture; and
a driving electrode used to apply a field of at least 400 V/cm comprised of an electrically conducting silver/silver chloride ink pattern on at least one of said substrate and cover such that when a material is present in said channel and reservoir said ink pattern makes electrical contact with said material and such that fewer bubbles form in said channel and reservoir when establishing said field across a driving electrode of bare platinum.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A microfluidic device having integrated components for conducting chemical operations. Depending upon the desired application, the components include electrodes for manipulating charged entities, heaters, electrochemical detectors, sensors for temperature, pH, fluid flow, and other useful components. The device may be fabricated from a plastic substrate such as, for example, a substantially saturated norbornene based polymer. The components are integrated into the device by adhering an electrically conductive film to the substrate. The film may be made of metal or an electrically conducting ink and is applied to the device through metal deposition, printing, or other methods for applying films. Methods for reducing bubble formation during electrokinetic separation and methods for heating material in a microfluidic device are also disclosed.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A microfluidic device for operations at high field strengths comprising:
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a substrate having at least one channel and at least one aperture in fluid communication with said channel;
a cover bonded to said substrate such that a reservoir is formed at said at least one aperture; and
a driving electrode used to apply a field of at least 400 V/cm comprised of an electrically conducting silver/silver chloride ink pattern on at least one of said substrate and cover such that when a material is present in said channel and reservoir said ink pattern makes electrical contact with said material and such that fewer bubbles form in said channel and reservoir when establishing said field across a driving electrode of bare platinum. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for reducing bubble formation during electrokinetic applications in a microfluidic device having interconnected channels and reservoirs, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing at least two driving electrodes for contacting a medium in said channels and reservoirs when the medium is present, wherein at least one driving electrode has a surface comprising silver and silver chloride; and
establishing a field of at least 400 V/cm across the at least one driving electrode having a surface comprising silver and silver chloride and another driving electrode such that fewer bubbles form in said channels and reservoirs as are formed when establishing said field across driving electrodes of bare platinum. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification