Method of producing a multi-microchannel, flow-through element and device using same

• US 9,404,882 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2010
• Issued: 08/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: New Mexico Tech University Research Park Corporation
• Original Assignee: New Mexico Tech Reasearch Foundation
• Inventors: Ivniski, Dmitri, Shapovalov, Vladimir
• Primary Examiner(s): Ripa, Bryan D.
• Application Number:
  US12/958,809
• Publication Number:
  US 20120032366A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,070 Days
• Field of Search: 205/775
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 2201/013 Hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 2999/00 Aspects linked to processes or compositions used in powder metallurgy
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 3/1121 by using decomposable, meltable or sublimatable fillers
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 44/02 for articles of definite length, i.e. discrete articles
• CPC Class Codes: C22B 9/023 By filtering filtration of aluminium C22B21/066
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 1/08 Alloys with open or closed pores
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 1/085 with external pressure or pressure buildup to make porous metals
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 38/002 containing In, Mg, or other elements not provided for in one single group C22C38/001 - C22C38/60
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 38/02 containing silicon
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 38/04 containing manganese
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 38/52 with cobalt
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/327 Biochemical electrodes , e.g. electrical or mechanical details for in vitro measurements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 10/20 Recycling

Abstract

A method of producing a multi-microchannel, flow-through element, including the steps of providing a body of material, and producing multiple microchannels within the body, wherein the microchannels extend through the body to produce a multi-microchannel, flow-through element. Such an element can be used as a micromixer, a sensor element, a filter, a fuel element or a chromatographic element.

Claims

1. A method of using a multi-microchannel, flow-through element as a transducer or electrode in an electrochemical sensor, comprising:

applying a polarization potential between the multi-microchannel, flow-through element as a working electrode and a further, reference electrode;

exposing the multi-microchannel, flow-through element to a sample containing an analyte;

detecting as a signal a physico-chemical change as a result of interactions between the analyte in the sample and a complementary biorecognition agent, wherein said complementary biorecognition agent is immobilized in real time on at least one surface of the multi-microchannel flow-through element,

wherein the multi-microchannel, flow-through element is provided for use in an electrochemical sensor, and wherein the multi-microchannel, flow-through element is provided as a transducer and is an electrically conductive, metallic element,

wherein the multi-microchannel, flow-through element includes a body and a plurality of microchannels, wherein each of said microchannels extends completely through the body of the multi-microchannel, flow-through element and provides a direct flow path between opposite faces of said multi-microchannel, flow-through element.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the multi-microchannel, flow-through element includes a plurality of microchannels, and wherein walls of said microchannels of said multi-microchannel, flow-through element have a mirrored and smooth, unpolished, surface.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a chemical or the biological recognition agent is immobilized on at least some of the walls of said microchannels of said multi-microchannel, flow-through element.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said chemical or biological recognition agent is effective for carrying out binding reactions involving small molecules, macromolecules, particles or cellular systems.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said chemical or biological recognition agents are selected from the group consisting of polypeptides, proteins, nucleic acids, receptors, polysaccharides, phospholipids, cells, tissue, nano-particles, selected from the group consisting of metallic, and or carbon nanotubes, with immobilized biological recognition agent, and related unnatural polymers of biological relevance.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrochemical sensor is a flow-through amperometric detector coupled with a micropipette, wherein said at least one multi-microchannel, flow-through element is disposed in said amperometric detector.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrochemical sensor is a flow-through micro-array chip that includes a carrier for said at least one multi-microchannel, flow-through element and a respective contact pad disposed on said carrier and electrically connected to said at least one multi-microchannel, flow-through element.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein a plate is disposed on at least part of said carrier and is provided with holes to receive a portion of said at least one multi-microchannel, flow-through element that extends beyond a surface of said carrier.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein at least one cap is provided on said carrier for distributing said sample to said at least one multi-microchannel, flow-through element.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein walls of said microchannels of the flow-through element have ridges, grooves, protuberances, or regular or irregularly changing cross-sections.

11. A method of using a multi-microchannel, flow-through element as a transducer or electrode in an electrochemical sensor, comprising:

applying a polarization potential between the multi-microchannel, flow-through element as a working electrode and a further, reference electrode;

exposing the multi-microchannel, flow-through element to a sample containing an analyte;

detecting as a signal a physico-chemical change as a result of interactions between the analyte in the sample and a complementary biorecognition agent immobilized on at least one surface of the multi-microchannel flow-through element,

wherein the multi-microchannel, flow-through element is provided for use in an electrochemical sensor, and wherein the multi-microchannel, flow-through element is provided as a transducer and is an electrically conductive, metallic element, and

wherein the electrochemical sensor is a flow-through micro-array chip that includes a carrier for said at least one multi-microchannel, flow-through element and a respective contact pad disposed on said carrier and electrically connected to said at least one multi-microchannel, flow-through element.