Abstract:
The invention is directed to a microfluidic device, which comprises distinct, parallel levels, including a first level and a second level. It further includes: a first microchannel, a second microchannel, and a node. This node comprises: an inlet port, a cavity, a via, and an outlet port. The cavity is formed on the first level and is open on a top side. The inlet port is defined on the first level; it branches from the first microchannel and communicates with the cavity through an ingress thereof. The outlet port, branches to the second microchannel on the second level. The via extends from the bottom side of the cavity, down to the outlet port, so the cavity may communicate with the outlet port. In addition, the cavity comprises a liquid blocking element to prevent an aqueous liquid filling the inlet port to reach the outlet port.
Abstract:
A microfluidic device includes first and second outer layers each having one or more microfluidic formations and an intermediate layer bonded between the first and second outer layers; in which the glass transition temperature of the first outer layer is higher than the glass transition temperature of the second outer layer.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a component, comprising a carrier made of a structurable material with at least one continues opening which is closed by a porous membrane, characterized in that the porous membrane protrudes from the surface of the component surrounding the continuous opening. In some embodiments, the component further comprises a carrier substrate, wherein a side of the carrier substrate which faces the component and the opposite side of the component preferably form a fluid channel, wherein the at least one continuous opening of the carrier preferably communicates on its open side with the fluid channel. The component according to the invention is suitable for the installation and electrochemical measuring of transmembrane proteins, preferably in lipid bilayers. The invention also proposes different methods for producing the component.
Abstract:
The present invention is notably directed to a method of fabrication of a microfluidic chip (1). comprising: providing (S10-S20) a wafer (10, 12) of semiconductor material having a diamond cubic crystal structure, exhibiting two opposite main surfaces (S1, S2), one on each side of the wafer, and having, each, a normal in the or direction; and performing (S30) self-limited, anisotropic wet etching steps on each of the two main surfaces on each side of the wafer, to create a via (20, 20a) extending transversely through the thickness of the wafer, at a location such that the resulting via connects an in-plane microchannel (31) on a first one (51) of the two main surfaces to a second one (S2) of the two main surfaces, the via exhibiting slanted sidewalls (20s) as a result of the self-limited wet etching. The invention further concerns microfluidic chips accordingly obtained.
Abstract:
The present invention is to provide a microfluidic device capable of allowing a fluid to stably flow in a microchannel without using an external source such as a pump or a suction device, and the microfluidic device, provided with a microchannel to which a sample liquid is transported, includes: an inlet reservoir which reserves a sample liquid to be introduced into said microchannel; an inlet which is provided on a sample-introduced side of the microchannel, and communicates with the inlet reservoir; an outlet provided on a sample-discharged side of the microchannel; and an open channel which is provided as communicating with the outlet, and part of at least one surface of which is opened to the outside atmosphere, wherein the inlet is provided at a higher position in a gravity direction than the outlet.
Abstract:
A support unit for a microfluidic system includes a first support; a first adhesive layer provided on a surface of the first support; and a hollow filament laid on a surface of the first adhesive layer to have an arbitrary shape and functioning as a flow channel layer of the microfluidic system.
Abstract:
A microfluidic device includes a semiconductor chip having a main chip surface. The microfluidic device further includes an encapsulation body embedding the semiconductor chip, the encapsulation body having a main body surface. A microfluidic component extends over the main chip surface and over the main encapsulation body surface and traverses an outline of the main chip surface.
Abstract:
Producing a nanowire structural element with a nanowire array between two cover layers forming a hollow chamber permeated in a column-like manner with nanowires. The process includes: preparing a template foil; application of a first surface covering electroconductive cover layer on a first side of the template foil; generation of numerous nanopores in the template foil; generation of nanowires in the nanopores wherein an electroconductive material fills the nanopores by electrochemical deposition, wherein the nanowires grow within the nanopores on the first cover layer; generation of a second surface filling cover layer on the second side of the template foil thus forming a sandwich-like arrangement of the two cover layers and the template foil permeated with nanowires; and clearing the structured hollow chamber between by dissolving of the template foil and removal of the dissolved template substance, wherein the two cover layers remain intact.
Abstract:
A method of fabricating a micro-device having micro-features on glass is presented. The method includes the steps of preparing a first glass substrate, fabricating a metallic pattern on the first glass substrate, preparing a second glass substrate and providing one or more apertures on the second glass substrate, heating the first glass substrate and the second glass substrate with a controlled temperature raise, bonding the first glass substrate and the second glass substrate by applying pressure to form a bonded substrate, wherein the metallic pattern is embedded within the bonded substrate, cooling the bonded substrate with a controlled temperature drop and thereafter maintaining the bonded substrate at a temperature suitable for etching, etching the metallic pattern within the bonded substrate, wherein an etchant has access to the metallic pattern via the apertures, forming a void within the bonded substrate, wherein the void comprises micro-features.
Abstract:
A microfluidic component made of a metal sheet having a structure which includes a closed fluid line and which is formed of a structured surface of a first section of the metal sheet and an adjoining structured or unstructured surface of a second section of the metal sheet, wherein the metal sheet is folded such that the sections integrally connected to each other are located on top of each other in a surface-parallel manner. The metal sheet further includes at least one third section having a contoured edge and is moreover folded such that the third section is also supported in a surface-parallel manner and the contoured edge forms a first wall section and the adjoining structured or unstructured surface of the first or second section forms a second wall section of an open fluid line. A microfluidic reactor comprising a plurality of such microfluidic components and a method for producing such components.