Integrated electrokinetic devices and methods of manufacture
First Claim
1. An integrated electrokinetic circuit for transport of an aqueous solute, comprising a device for electrokinetic transport of an aqueous solute, the device comprisingan electrically insulating substrate;
- a conductor element for electrokinetic transport of the solute, the conductor element being in the form of a solid hydrophilic-matrix layer on the substrate, the matrix layer being in a substantially dry, inactive state wherein electrokinetic transport is substantially prevented and having a first surface engaging the substrate and a second surface; and
a cover layer for electrically insulating and covering the second surface, the cover layer being impermeable to the solute;
whereby exposure of the hydrophilic matrix to water converts the matrix from the inactive state to a hydrated, active state permitting electrokinetic transport of the solute.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Devices with electrokinetic elements are disclosed as well as their method of microfabrication for use in micro-scale analysis, mixture separation and reaction. The devices consist of solid hydrophilic-matrix films that have been microfabricated into a variety of micro-scale structures. These structures include hydrophilic-matrix conductors for electrokinetic species transport and separation. They also include hydrophilic-matrix cladding containing chemical species adjacent to either an open conduit or a hydrophilic matrix conductor. Also described are other integrated microstructures consisting of hydrophilic-matrix materials such as micro-reaction zones for retaining chemical species for on-chip chemical reactions and integrated detection structures for on-chip species detection. In general, a hydrophilic matrix on a substrate functions as a conductor that is covered by an electrically insulating, preferably water permeable material.
51 Citations
31 Claims
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1. An integrated electrokinetic circuit for transport of an aqueous solute, comprising a device for electrokinetic transport of an aqueous solute, the device comprising
an electrically insulating substrate; -
a conductor element for electrokinetic transport of the solute, the conductor element being in the form of a solid hydrophilic-matrix layer on the substrate, the matrix layer being in a substantially dry, inactive state wherein electrokinetic transport is substantially prevented and having a first surface engaging the substrate and a second surface; and a cover layer for electrically insulating and covering the second surface, the cover layer being impermeable to the solute; whereby exposure of the hydrophilic matrix to water converts the matrix from the inactive state to a hydrated, active state permitting electrokinetic transport of the solute. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. An integrated electrokinetic circuit for transport of an aqueous solute, comprising a plurality of devices for electrokinetic transport of an aqueous solute, each device comprising
an electrically insulating substrate; -
a conductor element for electrokinetic transport of the solute, the conductor element being in the form of a solid hydrophilic-matrix layer on the substrate, the matrix layer being in a substantially dry, inactive state wherein electrokinetic transport is substantially prevented and having a first surface engaging the substrate and a second surface; and a cover layer for electrically insulating and covering the second surface, the cover layer being impermeable to the solute; whereby exposure of the hydrophilic matrix to water converts the matrix from the inactive state to a hydrated, active state permitting electrokinetic transport of the solute. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification