Fabrication of paper-based microfluidic devices
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsJaione Tirapu Azpiroz, Matheus Esteves Ferreira, Ademir Ferreira da Silva, Ricardo Luis Ohta, Mathias Steiner
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Abstract
Fabricating a fluid testing device includes receiving a substrate, and applying a pattern of hydrophobic material to the substrate. The substrate is positioned between layers of a thermally reflective material. Heat and pressure is applied to the substrate and thermally reflective material to reflow the pattern of hydrophobic material. A protective coating is applied over a portion of the substrate to form the fluid testing device.
Claims18
A method for fabricating a fluid testing device comprising:
- receiving a substrate;
- applying a pattern of hydrophobic material to the substrate, the applying comprising forming a stack, the forming of the stack comprising:
- applying a first pattern layout of hydrophobic material on a first transfer surface;
- applying a second pattern layout of hydrophobic material on a second transfer surface;
- and
- aligning the first transfer surface with the substrate and with the second transfer surface;
- inserting the stack into a thermal envelope that includes an internal absorption layer and layers of a thermally reflective material, wherein the inserting of the stack includes inserting the stack between the layers of the thermally reflective material and separating the stack from a second substrate of another stack by the internal absorption layer;
- applying heat and pressure to the stack and the thermally reflective material to reflow the first and second pattern layouts of hydrophobic material onto respective opposite sides of the substrate to form the pattern of hydrophobic material;
- applying a mask to hydrophilic portions of the substrate;
- applying an adhesive material to the substrate, the mask protecting the hydrophilic portions of the substrate from the adhesive material;
- and
- applying a protective coating over a portion of the substrate to form a fluid testing device.
A computer usable program product comprising one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage mediums, and program instructions stored on at least one of the one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage mediums, the stored program instructions comprising:
- program instructions to receive a substrate;
- program instructions to apply a pattern of hydrophobic material to the substrate, the applying comprising forming a stack, the forming of the stack comprising:
- applying a first pattern layout of hydrophobic material on a first transfer surface;
- applying a second pattern layout of hydrophobic material on a second transfer surface;
- and
- aligning the first transfer surface with the substrate and with the second transfer surface;
- program instructions to insert the stack into a thermal envelope that includes an internal absorption layer and layers of a thermally reflective material, wherein the inserting of the stack includes inserting the stack between the layers of the thermally reflective material and separating the stack from a second substrate of another stack by the internal absorption layer;
- program instructions to apply heat and pressure to the stack and the thermally reflective material to reflow the first and second pattern layouts of hydrophobic material onto respective opposite sides of the substrate to form the pattern of hydrophobic material;
- program instructions to apply a mask to hydrophilic portions of the substrate;
- program instructions to apply an adhesive material to the substrate, the mask protecting the hydrophilic portions of the substrate from the adhesive material;
- and
- program instructions to apply a protective coating over a portion of the substrate to form a fluid testing device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.