Microfluidic chip comprising several cylinder-piston arrangements
First Claim
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1. A microfluidic arrangement comprising:
- a substrate in which a microfluidic structure is formed, the latter having a plurality of parallel adjacent channels each having an open top side, and at least one common supply line, into which one end of the adjacent channels open, wherein a portion of each of the adjacent channels forms a cylinder section of a cylinder/piston arrangement, with the other end of the adjacent channels forming an aperture sized to receive a piston;
a plurality of elongate pistons each associated with one of the plurality of channels and having a cross sectional area significantly less than the associated channel, wherein the pistons each have a free end which extends through the aperture into the cylinder section of one of the channels;
a cover cooperating with the top side of the substrate and configured to sealingly isolate the parallel adjacent channels from the outside environment;
and a sealing arrangement, which is stationary relative to the substrate, for sealing each of the pistons in an associated cylinder adjacent a second end of the channel;
wherein the pistons are configured to move axially through the sealing arrangement, enabling the free end to move into or out of the cylinder section; and
wherein the sealing arrangement comprises a continuous seal element which spans the plurality of adjacent channels and seals a plurality of the pistons.
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Abstract
A microfluidic arrangement including a substrate in which a microfluidic structure having several adjacent channels and at least one common supply line, into which the adjacent channels merge, is formed. Each of the adjacent channels form the cylinder of a cylinder-piston arrangement for receiving an associated piston. A method for producing the type of microfluidic-arrangement is also disclosed.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A microfluidic arrangement comprising:
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a substrate in which a microfluidic structure is formed, the latter having a plurality of parallel adjacent channels each having an open top side, and at least one common supply line, into which one end of the adjacent channels open, wherein a portion of each of the adjacent channels forms a cylinder section of a cylinder/piston arrangement, with the other end of the adjacent channels forming an aperture sized to receive a piston; a plurality of elongate pistons each associated with one of the plurality of channels and having a cross sectional area significantly less than the associated channel, wherein the pistons each have a free end which extends through the aperture into the cylinder section of one of the channels; a cover cooperating with the top side of the substrate and configured to sealingly isolate the parallel adjacent channels from the outside environment; and a sealing arrangement, which is stationary relative to the substrate, for sealing each of the pistons in an associated cylinder adjacent a second end of the channel; wherein the pistons are configured to move axially through the sealing arrangement, enabling the free end to move into or out of the cylinder section; and wherein the sealing arrangement comprises a continuous seal element which spans the plurality of adjacent channels and seals a plurality of the pistons. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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14. A microfluidic arrangement comprising:
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a substrate in which a microfluidic structure is formed, the latter having a plurality of parallel adjacent channels each having an open top side, and at least one common supply line, into which one end of the adjacent channels open, wherein a portion of each of the adjacent channels forms a cylinder section of a cylinder/piston arrangement, with the other end of the adjacent channels forming an aperture sized to receive a piston; a plurality of elongate pistons each associated with one of the plurality of channels and having a cross sectional area significantly less than the associated channel, wherein the pistons each have a free end which extends through the aperture into the cylinder section of one of the channels; a cover cooperating with the top side of the substrate and configured to sealingly isolate the parallel adjacent channels from the outside environment; and a sealing arrangement, which is stationary relative to the substrate, for sealing each of the pistons in an associated cylinder adjacent a second end of the channel; wherein the pistons are configured to move axially through the sealing arrangement, enabling the free end to move into or out of the cylinder section; and wherein each of the adjacent channels further comprise an open top functional channel section located between the cylinder channel section and the supply line, wherein the functional channel section has a significantly smaller cross sectional area than the cylinder channel section. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification