Microfluidic structures and how to make them

Abstract

A microfluidic structure includes a first layer (1) containing an active fluidic device (4); a second layer (3) containing an interconnect channel (6) for connecting the device (4) to a fluid source and / or outlet and / or another device and an intermediate layer (2) for defining at least one via (5) defining a fluid passage way between the device (4) and the interconnect channel (6) wherein the flow paths through the device (4) and the interconnect channel (6) are generally parallel.

Description

Background technique [0001] The miniaturization of fluid circuits is an area that has received considerable renewed attention in recent years. They were first developed for logic devices before solid state semiconductors, examples are US3,495,604 and US3,495,608. Here logic devices and their interconnects are formed within a single surface of a single layer and sealed by the backside of a gasket or other layer. There has recently been a renewed focus, particularly on the miniaturization of fluid analysis, reducing sample size and enabling the use of disposable analysis chips, similar to credit cards that fit into point-of-use devices. Less attention has been paid to the use of microfluidics for the preparation of emulsions, polymer beads, etc., whereby synthesis on the micro- or nano-scale is reproducible by massively parallel operations to commercial scale. There are many potential advantages, these include: a large-scale production process as precise as the research proces...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

There are many problems with this method, not the least of which is that coating non-planar surfaces with adhesive integrity, high quality and consistent thickness is presently difficult or impossible

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