Three dimensional microfluidic device having porous membrane
AssigneeCornell Research Foundation, Inc.
InventorsStephen Turner, Jun Kameoka, Hye Park, Harold Craighead
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A three dimensional microfluidic device is formed by placing a membrane between two fluid containing features. The membrane is positioned to cover the area where features intersect. In one embodiment the membrane is porous. Electric pulses are applied such that molecules in the fluid with faster membrane transit times go through the membrane, while longer transit time molecules withdraw back from the membrane between pulses.
Claims19
A method of separating molecules, the method comprising:
- placing different molecules in a first reservoir separated from an adjacent second reservoir by a porous membrane;
- applying an electric field across the membrane of sufficient strength to move the molecules to the membrane;
- and
- pulsing the electric field to move molecules having a faster membrane transit time through the membrane into the second reservoir.
A method of separating molecules, the method comprising:
- placing different molecules in a first chamber separated from a directly adjacent second chamber by a porous membrane where such chambers overlap;
- applying an electric field across the membrane of sufficient strength to move the molecules to the membrane;
- and
- pulsing the electric field to move molecules having a faster membrane transit time through the membrane into the second chamber.
A method of separating molecules, the method comprising:
- placing different molecules in a first passage that crosses with and is separated from a directly adjacent second passage by a porous membrane where such passages cross;
- applying an electric field across the membrane of sufficient strength to move the molecules to the membrane;
- and
- pulsing the electric field to move molecules having a faster membrane transit time through the membrane into the second passage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.