862 results about "Capillarities" patented technology

An electronic cigarette including an elongated housing that has a mouthpiece with an aerosol outlet, and an atomizer disposed within an atomizing chamber. The atomizer selectively generates an aerosol of the liquid in response to suction pressure at the aerosol outlet. The atomizing chamber has an air inlet, an atomizer outlet coupled to the aerosol outlet, and a first wick aperture. A liquid reservoir is disposed within the elongated housing, which is sealably separated from the atomizing chamber. A wick disposed through the first wick aperture between the liquid reservoir and the atomizing chamber and it is configured to transfer the liquid by capillarity from the liquid reservoir to the atomizer.

A device for sampling body fluid, the device comprising, a main body, a lancet disposed within the main body, a carrier disposed within the main body fixedly attached to the lancet, a biasing means in communication with the lancet and the carrier, an annular space disposed within the main body adjacent the lancet, and a means for measuring a body fluid. Wherein the means for measuring the body fluid may include micro-porous test strips, an electronic testing device, an optical / reflectance testing measuring device, or a visual inspection.

An electronic cigarette including an elongated housing that has a mouthpiece with an aerosol outlet, and an atomizer disposed within an atomizing chamber. The atomizer selectively generates an aerosol of the liquid in response to suction pressure at the aerosol outlet. The atomizing chamber has an air inlet, an atomizer outlet coupled to the aerosol outlet, and a first wick aperture. A liquid reservoir is disposed within the elongated housing, which is sealably separated from the atomizing chamber. A wick disposed through the first wick aperture between the liquid reservoir and the atomizing chamber and it is configured to transfer the liquid by capillarity from the liquid reservoir to the atomizer.

There is provided a cholesterol sensor with high-accuracy and excellent response, whose object to be measured is whole blood, where plasma with hemocytes therein filtered can rapidly reach an electrode system. In a biosensor where plasma with hemocytes therein filtered with a filter is sucked into a sample solution supply pathway due to capillarity, there are formed: a first pressing part for holding a primary side portion of the filter from the bottom; a second pressing part for holding a secondary side portion of the filter from the top and the bottom; a third pressing part for holding the central portion of the filter from the top; and a void for surrounding the filter between the second pressing part and third pressing part.

The invention is directed to a device and a method for carrying out experiments of chemical, biochemical, biological and physical analysis, reaction and assay employing a reaction unit, in a preferred embodiment comprising: a capillarity reaction chamber, non-capillarity zone and bottom structure, which can use capillary action to quantitatively take up by itself and hold liquid in the reaction chamber. A multi-unit plate, which contains a number of reaction units on a plate frame, can be used for parallel experiments in conjunction with reservoir plate, waster pad, and liquid transfer guider.

Some embodiments of the invention provide a meter and a disposable cartridge for analyzing a fluid sample confined to the disposable cartridge. The fluid sample, particularly blood, is drawn into the cartridge by capillary action, negative pressure, positive pressure, or combination thereof. The cartridge has at least one flow path, which includes at least one optical chamber for spectroscopic measurement, and at least one biosensor for biosensor measurement. The meter has a sample slot for receiving the disposable cartridge. The cartridges have electrical output contacts, and the meter slot has electrical input contacts. When the output contacts mate with the input contacts, the optical chamber becomes positioned for spectroscopic measurement. Neither biosensors nor spectroscopy can be used alone to measure key analytes in blood for effective patient care. The present invention provides joint-diagnostic spectroscopic and biosensor measurements. Optionally, plasma can be extracted from whole blood, for measuring analytes that cannot be measured accurately in whole blood. The invention provides a wider panel of blood analytes using as little as a drop of blood, at the point of patient care.

There have been problems in that a dedicated apparatus is needed for a conventional method of manufacturing an organic thin film transistor and in that: a little amount of an organic semiconductor film is formed with respect to a usage amount of a material; and most of the used material is discarded. Further, apparatus maintenance such as cleaning of the inside of an apparatus cup or chamber has needed to be frequently carried out in order to remove the contamination resulting from the material that is wastefully discarded. Therefore, a great cost for materials and man-hours for maintenance of apparatus have been required. In the present invention, a uniform organic semiconductor film is formed by forming an aperture between a first substrate for forming the organic semiconductor film and a second substrate used for injection with an insulating film formed at a specific spot and by injecting an organic semiconductor film material into the aperture due to capillarity to the aperture. The insulating film formed at the specific spot enables formation of the organic semiconductor film with high controllability. Further, the insulating film can also serve as a spacer that holds the aperture, that is, an interval (gap) between the substrates.

A fluid dispensing utensil, such as a writing utensil, includes a container defining a first storage area for storing fluid, a second storage area and an opening therebetween, a tip, a capillary conveying line extending from the opening through at least a portion of the second storage area to the tip, and a capillary storage associated with the second storage area and in direct contact with the conveying line. The average capillarity of the capillary conveying line is substantially greater than the average capillarity of the storage.

The present invention provides a method and a device that utilizes capillarity-mediated, chromatographic transport, for the qualitative or semi-quantitative analysis of selected analytes in liquid samples. The device utilizes an applicator / collection device for collecting and administering the sample to the flow path such that reagent(s) flow through the applicator / collection device, washing the sample into the reaction pathway. The device farther utilizes an air gap between the initial location of the reagent and the reaction pathway to funnel the reagent efficiently through the sample so as to collect all or substantially all of the sample and make it available for the reaction(s).

An ink cartridge with ink level indication for containing dispensable ink is disclosed. The ink cartridge includes a cartridge body and a reservoir for receiving and storing ink within the cartridge body. The reservoir is filled with a porous material member. A window is supported by the cartridge body to be disposed adjacent the porous material member. The window interacts with the porous material member to define porous material member portions of predetermined increasing capillarities. Each portion is able to retain ink therein for viewing through the window depending on its capillarity and the amount of ink in the reservoir to thereby provide an overall indication of the amount of ink in the print cartridge.

Microfluidic devices include a photoresist layer in which an inlet chamber, an optional reaction chamber and at least one detection chamber are in fluid contact, a support arranged under the photoresist layer and a cover arranged above the photoresist layer. The devices further include a set of absorbent channels downstream of the last detection chamber. Biogenic or immunoreactive substances are placed in the reaction chamber and detection chamber(s). When a liquid sample is dropped into the inlet chamber, the sample liquid is drawn through the devices by capillary action. Detection methods include electrochemical detection, colorimetric detection and fluorescence detection.

A heat spreader comprising a casing, a micro-structure layer, a support device, and a working fluid is provided. The casing has an inner surface and is defined by a sealed chamber where the working fluid circulates therein. The micro-structure layer is formed on the inner surface of the casing, wherein the micro-structure layer comprises a first structure layer which is formed by the first metallic mesh. Specifically, the first metallic mesh forms the first structure layer on the inner surface through diffusion bonding so that the working fluid can circulate within the micro-structure layer by capillary action. In addition, the support device is disposed in the sealed chamber for supporting the casing. Thus, a heat spreader with a composite micro-structure can not only enhance the capillarity but also reduce the flowing resistance during operation.

An ionic liquid ion source can include a microfabricated body including a base and a tip. The microfabricated body can be formed of a porous metal compatible (e.g., does not react or result in electrochemical decaying or corrosion) with an ionic liquid or a room-temperature molten salt. The microfabricated body can have a pore size gradient that decreases from the base of the body to the tip of the body, so that the ionic liquid can be transported through capillarity from the base to the tip.

The present invention relates to a lab-on-a-chip version of biosensor for an on-the-spot analysis whose analytical performances were remarkably improved, by incorporating commercial membranes, traditionally used for rapid diagnostics, into microfluidic channels engraved on the surface of a plastic chip, as follows: 1) reduction of sample size; 2) realization of variable functions for total analysis; and 3) transfer of medium by capillary action without the assistance of an external force.

The present disclosure relates to a separator of a lithium-ion battery and a preparation method thereof, the separator comprises a substrate membrane and a coating provided on a surface of the substrate membrane, the coating comprises ceramic particles, an adhesive and a solid polymer wax which has a melting point of 85˜120° C., a molecular weight of 1,000˜25,000 and a particle size of 0.5˜10 μm. When the lithium-ion battery is heated due to overcharge and the like to make the interior temperature reach the melting point of the solid polymer wax, the solid polymer wax can be melt and enter among the ceramic particles and into the micropores of the substrate membrane by capillarity so as to function as electrical disconnection, which can effectively cut off the channel of the lithium ions and stop the overcharge, and ensure the safety performance of the lithium-ion battery under the situation of overcharge.

There have been problems in that a dedicated apparatus is needed for a conventional method of manufacturing an organic thin film transistor and in that: a little amount of an organic semiconductor film is formed with respect to a usage amount of a material; and most of the used material is discarded. Further, apparatus maintenance such as cleaning of the inside of an apparatus cup or chamber has needed to be frequently carried out in order to remove the contamination resulting from the material that is wastefully discarded. Therefore, a great cost for materials and man-hours for maintenance of apparatus have been required. In the present invention, a uniform organic semiconductor film is formed by forming an aperture between a first substrate for forming the organic semiconductor film and a second substrate used for injection with an insulating film formed at a specific spot and by injecting an organic semiconductor film material into the aperture due to capillarity to the aperture. The insulating film formed at the specific spot enables formation of the organic semiconductor film with high controllability. Further, the insulating film can also serve as a spacer that holds the aperture, that is, an interval (gap) between the substrates.

A liquid compound or a compound solution is kept in contact with the surface of a solid material, such as a synthetic resin, glass, metal, or ceramic, radiation selected from ultraviolet radiation, visible radiation, and infrared radiation is irradiated on the interface between the surface of the solid material and the liquid compound or compound solution to optically excite the surface of the solid material and the liquid compound or compound solution, thereby effecting substitution with a chemical species in the liquid compound or compound solution, depositing the chemical species, or performing etching with the chemical species. Preferably, a transparent window is kept in tight contact with the surface of a solid material to be treated, a thin layer of a liquid compound or of a compound solution is interposed between the surface of the solid material and the transparent window by using capillarity, and ultraviolet radiation, visible radiation, or infrared radiation is irradiated through the transparent window. With this treatment, the irradiated portion can be imparted with hydrophilicity, adhesion properties printing properties, a corrosion resistance, and conductivity.

A heat dissipation system includes a heat sink, a heat pipe, and a cooling assembly. The heat sink includes a substrate and a number of fins extending therefrom. The heat sink has a receiving portion. The heat pipe includes a shell, a wick, and a working fluid contained in the shell. The heat pipe has an evaporation section and a condensation section. The evaporation section is inserted into the receiving portion of the substrate while the condensation section is equipped with the cooling assembly. A hydrophilic layer is formed on the wick so that the capillarity of the wick is enhanced. The heat dissipation system has two mechanisms by which to dissipate heat from a heat-generating component, i.e., via the heat sink and the heat pipe. Therefore, an efficiency of heat dissipation of the heat dissipation system is improved.

Propellant liquid is supplied to a Colloidal Thruster for Micro-Satellite vehicles in Space by capillarity induced flow through a wick element comprising a permeable porous aggregate of fibers or particles of material that is wetted by the propellant liquid. An intense electric field at the tip of the wick element dispersed the arriving liquid into a fine spray of charged droplets. Electrodes having appropriate design, location and potentials accelerate the charge droplets to high velocity, thereby providing reactive thrust to the vehicle. In this method of propellant liquid introduction the flow rate and exhaust velocity, and therefore the thrust level, are determined by the applied potential difference, thereby eliminating the need for pumps or pressurized gas and flow controllers to provide the desired flow-rate for the propellant liquid.

In order to provide a cholesterol sensor capable of measuring whole blood with high accuracy and excellent response, where plasma with hemocytes therein filtered promptly reaches an electrode system, in a biosensor comprising: an insulating base plate; an electrode system which is provided on the base plate and has a measurement electrode and a counter electrode; a reaction layer including at least oxidoreductase and an electron mediator; a sample solution supply pathway which includes the electrode system and the reaction layer and has an air aperture on the termination side thereof; a sample supply portion; and a filter which is disposed between the sample solution supply pathway and the sample supply portion and filters hemocytes, where plasma with the hemocytes therein filtered with the filter is sucked into the sample solution supply pathway due to capillarity, the central part of a secondary side portion of the filter is protruded into the sample solution supply pathway more than both the right and left ends thereof.

This invention provides rotors and methods of precisely metering a sample fluid and mixing the sample with a reagent. The rotors have a metering tube of defined volume that fills until sample flow is stopped by surface tension of a meniscus at a capillarity port, while excess sample is stripped from the metering tube inlet by centripetal force of the spinning rotor. By spinning the rotor at a higher speed, a reagent can be forced from a reagent chamber to contact the meniscus, breaking the surface tension and allowing the metered sample to mix with the reagent.

A capillary structure for a heat transfer device, such as a heat pipe is provided having a plurality of particles joined together by a brazing compound such that fillets of the brazing compound are formed between adjacent ones of the plurality of particles and one or more vapor vents are defined in the capillary structer. In this way, a network of capillary passageways are formed between the particles and vapor-vents through the capillary structure so as to aid in the transfer of working fluid by capillary action, while the plurality of fillets provide enhanced thermal transfer properties between the plurality of particles so as to greatly improve over all heat transfer efficiency of the device. A method of making the capillary structure according to the invention is also presented.

A heat spreader comprising a casing, a micro-structure layer, a support device, and a working fluid is provided. The casing has an inner surface and is defined by a sealed chamber where the working fluid circulates therein. The micro-structure layer is formed on the inner surface of the casing, wherein the micro-structure layer comprises a first structure layer which is formed by the first metallic mesh. Specifically, the first metallic mesh forms the first structure layer on the inner surface through diffusion bonding so that the working fluid can circulate within the micro-structure layer by capillary action. In addition, the support device is disposed in the sealed chamber for supporting the casing. Thus, a heat spreader with a composite micro-structure can not only enhance the capillarity but also reduce the flowing resistance during operation.

A thermoduct comprises a metallic tube with multiple trenches, cupric powder and a metallic net, wherein the metallic net and the cupric powder are disposed inside the metallic tube and function as a capillary texture. The cupric powder is sintered to adhere to recesses of trenches, and the metallic net is sintered to adhere to the inner wall of the metallic tube. In the present invention, the metallic net can confine the cupric powder inside the gap between the metallic net and the inner wall of the metallic tube, which enables the cupric powder to be sintered to firmly adhere to the recesses of the trenches; thus, the thermoduct can simultaneously have capillarity, permeability and thermal conductivity, and the backflow of the liquid working fluid is speeded up.

A method of coating projections on a patch, the method including, selecting a coating solution viscosity, the viscosity being selected to reduce the degree of capillary action between the patch and the coating solution and immersing at least part of tips of projections in a coating solution having the selected coating solution viscosity such that substantially only tips of the projections are coated.

An ionic liquid ion source can include a microfabricated body including a base and a tip. The body can be formed of a porous material compatible with at least one of an ionic liquid or room-temperature molten salt. The body can have a pore size gradient that decreases from the base of the body to the tip of the body, such that the at least one of an ionic liquid or room-temperature molten salt is capable of being transported through capillarity from the base to the tip.

Liquid packs 34 provided with liquid leading members 42 are stored in a container case 31 that is constituted by fitting a case main body portion 32 and a lid case 33 in fitting portions 27 and 28, support portions 13, which positions the liquid leading members 42 so as to be opposed to liquid introducing members 71 attached to a cartridge inserting portion 13, are provided on a front surface 32a of the container case 31, the fitting portions 27 and 28 are arranged in a state in which the fitting portions 27 and 28 traverses the support portions 43, and space portions 29 and 30 having a gap larger than a gap formed in the fitting portions 27 and 28 are formed near the support portions 43 in the fitting portions 27 and 28. In this way, liquid flowing through the fitting portions 27 and 28 due to the capillarity is retained by the space portions 29 and 30 and never flows to the fitting portions 27 and 28 further extending from the space portions 29 and 30.