Abstract:
The present invention is directed to a substrate having a plurality of microfeatures that provide a high surface area and are open to provide ready access to fluids and components therein. Methods of making the high surface area substrates are described and include generating microfeatures and/or microstructures on the surface of the substrate.
Abstract:
The present invention is disclosed a microchannel array structure embedded in a silicon substrate and a fabrication method thereof. The microchannel array structure of the present invention is formed deep inside the substrate and has high-density microscopic micro-channels. Besides, going through surface micromachining, physical and chemical properties of the silicon substrate are hardly influenced by the fabrication procedures. With microchannels buried in the substrate, the top of a microchannel array structure becomes flat, minimizing the effect of step height. That way, additional devices such as passive components, micro sensors, micro actuators and electronic devices can be easily integrated onto the microchannel array structure. The microchannel array structure of the present invention can be employed as a basic fluidic platform for miniaturizing and improving perfomances of electronic device coolers as well as such fluidic micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) devices as biochips, microfluidic components and chemical analyzers, lab-on-a-chips, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplifiers, micro reactors and drug delivery systems.
Abstract:
An adjustable nanopore is fabricated by placing the surfaces of two planar substrates in contact, wherein each substrate contains a hole having sharp corners and edges. A corner is brought into proximity with an edge to define a triangular aperture of variable area. Ionic current in a liquid solution and through the aperture is monitored as the area of the aperture is adjusted by moving one planar substrate with respect to the other along two directional axes and a rotational axis. Piezoelectric positioners can provide subnanometer repeatability in the adjustment process. The invention is useful for characterizing, cleaving, and capturing molecules, molecular complexes, and supramolecular complexes which pass through the nanopore, and provides an improvement over previous devices in which the hole size of nanopores fabricated by etching and/or redeposition is fixed after fabrication.
Abstract:
Methods and a device are provided for adhering cells in a specific and predetermined position. The device comprises a plate defining a surface and a plurality of cytophilic islands that adhere cells which are isolated by cytophobic regions to which cells do not adhere. The cytophobic regions can be wide enough such that less than 10 percent of the cells adhered to the cytophilic islands are allowed to form bridges across the cytophobic regions and contact each other. Further, the islands or the regions or both may be formed of a self-assembled monolayer (SAM). The methods are for forming a patterned surface for a population of cells and for selectively manipulating individual cells formed on the surface of the plate of the device. Furthermore, the device is used in immobilization of cells at a surface and for controlling shape of the cells.
Abstract:
The microreactor is completely integrated and is formed by a semiconductor body having a surface and housing at least one buried channel accessible from the surface of the semiconductor body through two trenches. A heating element extends above the surface over the channel and a resist region extends above the heating element and defines an inlet reservoir and an outlet reservoir. The reservoirs are connected to the trenches and have, in cross-section, a larger area than the trenches. The outlet reservoir has a larger area than the inlet reservoir. A sensing electrode extends above the surface and inside the outlet reservoir.
Abstract:
A device is provided for adhering cells in a specific and predetermined position. The device comprises a plate defining a surface and a plurality of cytophilic islands that adhere cells which are isolated by cytophobic regions to which cells do not adhere and further is contiguous with the cytophilic islands. The islands or the regions or both may be formed of a self-assembled monolayer (SAM). Further, the cytophobic regions are wide enough such that less than 10 percent of the cells adhered to the cytophilic islands are allowed to form bridges across the cytophobic regions and contact each other. The device is used in a method for culturing cells on a surface or in a medium and also for performing cytometry. Furthermore, the device is used in immobilization of cells at a surface and for controlling the shape of a cell.
Abstract:
The disclosed invention is a device for adhering cells in a specific and predetermined position. The device comprises a plate defining a surface and a plurality of cytophilic islands that adhere cells which are isolated by cytophobic regions to which cells do not adhere and further is contiguous with the cytophilic islands. The islands or the regions or both may be formed of a self-assembled monolayer (SAM). Further, the cytophobic regions are wide enough such that less than 10 percent of the cells adhered to the cytophilic islands are allowed to form bridges across the cytophobic regions and contact each other. The device is used in a method for culturing cells on a surface or in a medium and also for performing cytometry. Furthermore, the device is used in immobilization of cells at a surface and for controlling the shape of a cell.
Abstract:
A laminated structure includes a wafer member with a membrane attached thereto, the membrane being formed of substantially hydrogen-free boron nitride having a nominal composition B.sub.3 N. The structure may be a component in a mechanical device for effecting a mechanical function, or the membrane may form a masking layer on the wafer. The structure includes a body formed of at least two wafer members laminated together with a cavity formed therebetween, with the boron nitride membrane extending into the cavity so as to provide the structural component such as a support for a heating element or a membrane in a gas valve. In another aspect borom is selectively diffused from the boron nitride into a surface of a silicon wafer. The surface is then exposed to EDP etchant to which the diffusion layer is resistant, thereby forming a channel the wafer member with smooth walls for fluid flow.
Abstract:
A method for manufacturing package structure is provided, including: providing a substrate having recesses; forming first MEMS chips on the substrate, each with a through-substrate via, and a first sensor or microactuator on the lower surface, located in one of the recesses; forming first intermediate chips on the substrate, each respectively on one of the first MEMS chips, having a through-substrate via, and including a signal conversion unit, a logic operation unit, control unit, or a combination thereof; forming second MEMS chips on the first intermediate chips, each with a through-substrate via, having a second sensor or microactuator on its upper surface, wherein the package structure includes at least one of the first sensor and the second sensor; and forming first capping plates on the second MEMS chips, each providing a receiving space for the second sensor or microactuator on the upper surface of each second MEMS chip.