Abstract:
La présente invention concerne un microcanal (7) formé à l'interface de deux couches de matériau (8, 9), au moins un des deux matériaux étant un substrat (9). Un volume du microcanal (7) contient un film (10) de polymère fixé par liaison covalente sur la couche de substrat, ledit film de polymère étant formé d'un matériau de type hydrogel susceptible de subir des variations de volume sous l'action d'un stimulus extérieur. Le polymère de type hydrogel est choisi parmi ceux sensibles aux variations de température, de lumière, de champ électrique ou de pH. L'invention concerne également le procédé de fabrication du microcanal selon l'invention.
Abstract:
본 발명은 경질 고분자 수지를 사출성형하여 제조되는 상하 기판 사이에 폴리비닐리덴클로라이드 필름을 삽입한 후 가열 가압하여 제조되는 랩온어칩의 마이크로밸브 소자를 제작하는 방법 및 이로부터 제작되는 마이크로밸브 소자에 관한 것이다. 본 발명에 따른 랩온어칩에 장착되는 마이크로밸브 소자의 제작방법은 상하 기판을 경질 고분자 소재로 사출성형이 가능하므로 짧은 시간에 대량생산이 가능하고, 폴리비닐리덴클로라이드 필름과 기판의 열융착 특성이 우수하여 경질 기판/필름 막/경질 기판의 구조를 용이하고 신뢰성 있게 구현할 수 있어서 마이크로밸브 소자의 제조에 소요되는 시간이 단축되어 랩온어칩의 대량생산이 가능하다. 또한, 폴리비닐리덴클로라이드 필름의 열수축 특성으로 인하여 열압착 접착시 필름 막이 늘어나 미세형상을 메우는 일이 발생하지 않고 필름 막의 형상이 그대로 유지되면서 진공에 의해 만곡된 형상을 가지므로 개폐가 부드럽고 민감하게 작동될 수 있으며, 유체의 투과율이 낮아서 필름 막 상하의 양 유체가 섞이지 않으므로 밸브 또는 펌프의 역할에 적합하다.
Abstract:
A micro-fluidic system (1) comprising a micro- fluidic channel (2), which has a wall (7) provided with a hole (9); a closing element (10), which is partially- housed within the hole (9) and has a membrane portion (14) adapted to deform and a side portion (15) sealingly connected with the above mentioned wall (7); and a partition (12) arranged within the micro-fluidic channel (2) between a first and a second segment (4, 5); the closing element (10) is deformable between a locked configuration in contact with the partition (12) and an open configuration spaced from the partition (12); the closing element (10) may be deformed by suction or by a rod or a piston.
Abstract:
A fluid handling device with an anisotropic wetting surface including a substrate with a multiplicity of asymmetric substantially uniformly shaped asperities thereon. Each asperity has a first asperity rise angle and a second asperity rise angle relative to the substrate. The asperities are structured to present a desired retentive force ratio (f 1 /f 2 ) greater or less than unity caused by asymmetry between the first asperity rise angle and the second asperity rise angle according to the formula: f 3 /f 2 = sin(? 3 + 1/2?? 0 )/sin(? 2 + 1/2?? 0 ).
Abstract:
The present invention relates to microfluidic devices, and in particular, flow management in such devices. In particular, the present invention provides an electrostatic valve for flow manipulation in a microfluidic device. The valve of the present invention sits on a valve seat in a microchannel and deflects away from the valve seat by electrostatic actuation to assume an opened configuration to allow fluid flow.
Abstract:
A method for processing two or more liquid aliquots in a microchannnel structure of a microfluidic device. The microchannel structure comprises a hydrophilic microconduit with a fluidic function and a local non-wettable surface associated with the fluidic function/microconduit. The characterizing features are: A) said processing comprises the steps of: i) passing a liquid aliquot I that contains components selected amongst organic solvents and surface active entities through the microconduit, and ii) passing another liquid aliquot II through the microconduit, and B) said non-wettable local surface area exposes fluoro groups on its surface and/or a rough part. A method for producing the fluidic function defined above. The method comprises introducing non-wettability on a local surface area S that is associated with the microconduit. The method comprises the steps of: i) providing said local surface S; ii) contacting this surface with a fixatable fluoropolymer; and iii) fixating the fluoropolymer to this surface. The fluidic function is typically selected amongst passive valves, anti-wicking functions, vents and liquid-directing functions.
Abstract:
High-density microfluidic chips contain plumbing networks with thousands of micromechanical valves and hundreds of individually addressable chambers. These fluidic devices are analogous to electronic integrated circuits fabricated using large scale integration (LSI). A component of these networks is the fluidic multiplexor, which is a combinatorial array of binary valve patterns that exponentially increases the processing power of a network by allowing complex fluid manipulations with a minimal number of inputs. These integrated microfluidic networks can be used to construct a variety of highly complex microfluidic devices, for example the microfluidic analog of a comparator array, and a microfluidic memory storage device resembling electronic random access memories.
Abstract:
Various microfluidic flow control devices are provided. In one embodiment, a regulating device includes overlapping channel segments (139,143) separated by a deformable membrane (133) in fluid communication with one another. In another embodiment, a normally open microfluidic valve provides latching valve operation with at least one adhesive surface. A stencil-based microfluidic valve may be operated by deforming a membrane against a seating surface to prevent flow through an aperture. Configurable microfluidic devices permit flow control among an interconnected microfluidic channel network. Magnetic elements may be integrated into flexible membranes to provide magnetically actuated microfluidic flow control device.
Abstract:
A micro (thin film type) valve apparatus for controlling fluid flow and its rate using a microbead and a method for controlling the apparatus are provided. The microbead is moved by the magnetic forge generated by upper and lower electromagnets disposed on the top and bottom surface of the body or by the electric field generated by upper and lower electrode plates disposed on the top and bottom surface of the body, thereby interconnecting or blocking flow channels in the body. The micro valve apparatus and the method for controlling the same are suitable for thin film type diagnostic assay devices, such as lab-on-chips, protein chips, or DNA chips, for detecting small quantities of analytes in fluids, and more suitable for interconnecting or blocking channels formed in thin disk type apparatus including general CD-ROMs,DVDs, bioCDs, and bio DVDs.
Abstract:
A method of fabricating an elastomeric structure, comprising : forming a first elastomeric layer on top of a first micromachined mold, the first micromachined mold having a first raised protrusion which forms a first recess extending along a bottom surface of the first elastomeric layer; forming a second elastomeric layer on top of a second micromachined mold, the second micromachined mold having a second raised protrusion which forms a second recess extending along a bottom surface of the second elastomeric layer; bonding the bottom surface of the second elastomeric layer onto a top surface of the first elastomeric layer such that a control channel forms in the second recess between the first and second elastomeric layers; and positioning the first elastomeric layer on top of a planar substrate such that a flow channel forms in the first recess between the first elastomeric layer and the planar substrate.