Microdevice having an annular lining for producing an electrospray emitter
First Claim
1. A microdevice comprising:
- a substrate having a microchannel formed therein;
a cover plate arranged over the substrate such that the cover plate in combination with the microchannel at least partially defines a conduit within the microdevice, wherein the conduit has a surface that extends from an upstream region toward a downstream region and terminates at an opening; and
an annular lining that conforms to the conduit surface at the downstream region and extends from the opening toward the upstream region in the conduit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A microdevice is constructed from a substrate having a microchannel formed therein and a cover plate arranged over the substrate. The cover plate in combination with the microchannel at least partially defines a conduit within the microdevice. The conduit has a surface that extends from an upstream region toward a downstream region and terminates at an opening. The microdevice also includes an annular lining that conforms to the conduit surface at the downstream region and extends from the opening toward the upstream region in the conduit. An emitter may be produced in situ by depositing an emitter material on the annular lining. In addition, material may be removed from the cover plate and/or substrate about the opening. As a result, an exterior microdevice surface is formed and a downstream portion of the emitter is exposed that protrudes from the exterior surface.
79 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A microdevice comprising:
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a substrate having a microchannel formed therein; a cover plate arranged over the substrate such that the cover plate in combination with the microchannel at least partially defines a conduit within the microdevice, wherein the conduit has a surface that extends from an upstream region toward a downstream region and terminates at an opening; and an annular lining that conforms to the conduit surface at the downstream region and extends from the opening toward the upstream region in the conduit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for producing a microdevice, comprising:
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(a) depositing a surface-conforming material on a cover plate and in a microchannel formed in a substrate; and (b) arranging the cover plate over the substrate such that the cover plate in combination with the microchannel at least partially defines a conduit having a surface extending from an upstream region toward a downstream region and terminates at an opening, and the material deposited in step (a) forms an annular lining that conforms to the conduit surface at the downstream region and extends from the opening toward the upstream region in the conduit. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method for producing a microdevice, comprising:
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(a) providing a microdevice comprised of a substrate having a microchannel formed thereon, a cover plate arranged over the substrate such that the cover plate in combination with the microchannel at least partially defines a conduit within the microdevice, wherein the conduit has a surface that extends from an upstream region toward a downstream region and terminates at an opening, and an integrated emitter that is located within the conduit and conforms to the conduit surface at the downstream region; and (b) removing material from the cover plate and/or substrate about the opening, thereby forming an exterior microdevice surface and exposing a downstream portion of the emitter that protrudes from the exterior surface. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification