Abstract:
The present invention relates to a device comprising a patterned polymer layer with high aspect ratio to be used in contact with biological solutions or fluids, as well as the method of production of said layer, comprising a phase of polymerization moulding, that uses an acrylic and/or epoxy polymerizable material with a mold of organic or inorganic nature.
Abstract:
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a UV -curable polyurethane-methacrylate (PUMA) substrate for manufacturing microfluidic devices. PUMA is optically transparent, biocompatible, and has stable surface properties. Embodiments include two production processes that are compatible with the existing methods of rapid prototyping, and characterizations of the resultant PUMA microfluidic devices are presented. Embodiments of the present invention also relate to strategies to improve the production yield of chips manufactured from PUMA resin, especially for microfluidic systems that contain dense and high-aspect-ratio features. Described is a mold-releasing procedure that minimizes motion in the shear plane of the microstructures. Also presented are simple yet scalable methods for forming seals between PUMA substrates, which avoids excessive compressive force that may crush delicate structures. Two methods for forming interconnects with PUMA microfluidic devices are detailed. These improvements produce a microfiltration device containing closely spaced and high-aspect-ratio fins, suitable for retaining and concentrating cells or beads from a highly diluted suspension.
Abstract:
A device is made by forming sacrificial fibers on a substrate mold. The fibers and mold are covered with a first material. The substrate mold is removed, and the covered fibers are then removed to form channels in the first material.
Abstract:
The present invention is directed to micro- and nano-scale imprinting methods and the use of such methods to fabricate supported and/or free-standing 3-D micro- and/or nano-structures of polymeric, ceramic, and/or metallic materials. In some embodiments, a duo-mold approach is employed in the fabrication of these structures. In such methods, surface treatments are employed to impart differential surface energies to different molds and/or different parts of the mold(s). Such surface treatments permit the formation of three-dimensional (3-D) structures through imprinting and the transfer of such structures to a substrate. In some or other embodiments, such surface treatments and variation in glass transition temperature of the polymers used can facilitate separation of the 3-D structures from the molds to form free-standing micro- and/or nano-structures individually and/or in a film. In some or other embodiments, a "latch-on" assembly technique is utilized to form supported and/or free-standing stacked micro- and/or nano-structures that enable the assembly of polymers without a glass transition temperature and eliminate the heating required to assemble thermoplastic polymers.
Abstract:
A chip or the like is packaged by being sealed between first and second package elements. The package elements are created by impressing dispensing a liquid polymer into a mould cavity and impressing the chip, or another object of equivalent shape, into a polymer body by hot or cold embossing. The polymer body may comprise a liquid polymer dispensed into a mould cavity, the liquid polymer being cured by heat or radiation such as UV. Multiple chips may be enclosed in a single package.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to polymer patterns of various shapes formed using modifications of means and methods used in the prior lithography process, and the metal film patterns, metal patterns and plastic molds using the polymer patterns, as well as methods of forming these patterns and molds. The method of forming the polymer patterns comprises the steps of: (a) depositing a photosensitive polymer on the substrate to form a polymer film; (b) placing a photomask on the polymer film; and (c) irradiating the polymer film with a light moving in random direction through the photomask, so as to form at least one pattern which is concave from the surface of the polymer film in a direction perpendicular to the substrate and extends in a direction parallel to the substrate. The inventive polymer patterns have at least one pattern which is concave from the surface of the polymer film in a direction perpendicular to the substrate and extends in a direction parallel to the substrate. The vertical cross-section of the concave patterns has at least one curved surface.
Abstract:
A method is provided for manufacturing microstructures of the type which contain a substrate and an array of protruding microelements with through-holes, which are used in penetrating layers of skin. The microelements are embossed or pressed into an initial substrate structure, which in some embodiments is formed from extruded polymeric material, and in some cases from two layers of polymer that are co-extruded. The through-holes are formed from filled through-cylinders of a second material that is removed after the embossing or pressing step; in other instances, the through-holes are left hollow during the embossing or pressing step.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a micro-mechanical thermal structure for modulating a light beam and a method for manufacturing such a structure. The micro-mechanical structure comprises two layers of material with different thermal expansion coefficients in a first direction and a second direction respectively, in which the first direction is transverse to the second direction and the two layers comprise an oriented polymer and the director of the molecules of the oriented polymer of the first layer is transverse to the director of the molecules of the oriented polymer of the second layer. An array of such micro-mechanical structures may form a thermo-optical modulator for modulating light. The method comprises a step of providing a mold with an orientation-inducing layer to obtain a molecular orientation in a mono-meric state of liquid crystalline monomers and a step of fixing the molecular orientation by photo-polymerization.
Abstract:
The invention provides ceramic molded solid articles and methods for making these articles on the micron scale. Articles are molded from ceramic precursors, optionally using molds including at least one portion that is elastomeric.
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.