Thin film particle sensor
First Claim
1. A microfluidic sensor, comprising:
- a plurality of stacked thin film substantially planar layers, certain of said layers carrying one or more electrode to dispose a plurality of electrodes in a 3-dimensional array in space; and
a fluid path, disposed inside said sensor, comprising;
a first portion disposed parallel to, and within, said layers;
a second portion provided by a tunnel passing through at least one layer, a constriction in said tunnel being sized to urge particles entrained in a carrier fluid into substantially single-file travel through a particle interrogation zone; and
a third portion disposed parallel to, and within, said layers, said first portion and said third portion being disposed on opposite sides of said particle interrogation zone.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A Coulter-style, microfluidic sensor formed by stacking a plurality of substantially non-electrically conductive layers, typically formed from thin polymer films. Certain layers carry patterned electrodes that are arranged to permit their connection to an electrical interrogation circuit. Electrodes may be disposed in a 3-dimensional array in the sensor. A fluid path through the sensor includes an orifice sized to promote single-file travel of particles. The orifice may be defined by a tunnel passing through at least one layer. Particles entrained in an electrolytic carrier fluid may be detected, or otherwise characterized, by interrogation circuitry connected to the sensor. Certain sensors may include portions of a fluid path disposed parallel to the layers. In certain preferred embodiments, the sensor is carried by a cartridge, which is adapted to couple with an interrogation platform. Desirably, such coupling places the sensor in-circuit with operable interrogation electronics, as well as with a fluid-flow control device. Structure included in a cartridge may provide fluid sample loading, routing, and storage capabilities.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A microfluidic sensor, comprising:
-
a plurality of stacked thin film substantially planar layers, certain of said layers carrying one or more electrode to dispose a plurality of electrodes in a 3-dimensional array in space; and a fluid path, disposed inside said sensor, comprising; a first portion disposed parallel to, and within, said layers; a second portion provided by a tunnel passing through at least one layer, a constriction in said tunnel being sized to urge particles entrained in a carrier fluid into substantially single-file travel through a particle interrogation zone; and a third portion disposed parallel to, and within, said layers, said first portion and said third portion being disposed on opposite sides of said particle interrogation zone. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A multi-layer microfluidic sensor, comprising:
-
a first fluid-flow channel formed in a first layer, said first fluid-flow channel being configured to permit fluid flow in a direction generally parallel to said first layer; a first electrode disposed for contact with fluid in said first fluid-flow channel; a second electrode disposed downstream of said first electrode, said first electrode and said second electrode being carried on a first side of an interrogation layer; a second fluid-flow channel passing through said interrogation layer, said second fluid-flow channel being sized to urge single-file travel therethrough of particles entrained in a carrier fluid; and a third electrode, disposed for contact with fluid in a third fluid-flow channel and carried on a second side of said interrogation layer, said third fluid-flow channel being formed in a layer and configured to permit flow of fluid received from said second fluid-flow channel to continue in a direction generally parallel to a layer. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
-
Specification