Polymeric Fluid Transfer and Printing Devices
OwnerRobert C. Haushalterinventor
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for making a polymeric printhead having one or more pins for fluid transfer and printing, including the steps of forming a positive mold of the printhead using a bulk micromachining process, forming a negative mold of the printhead from the positive mold using an electroforming process, and forming the printhead from a polymeric material in the negative mold, the polymeric printhead being operative for fluid transfer and/or printing. Also, printheads and pins, holders and dispensing trays microfabricated from a polymeric materials for fluid transfer and printing.
Claims71
An apparatus for fluid transfer, the apparatus comprising:
- a pin microfabricated from a polymeric material, the pin for transferring a predetermined volume of a fluid, the pin having a tip and a fluid reservoir communicating with the tip.
A pin comprising:
- a tip;
- and
- a fluid reservoir communicating with the tip,
- wherein the pin is microfabricated from a polymeric material and is operative for transferring a predetermined volume of a fluid.
A holder for use in fluid transfer and printing, the holder comprising:
- a first member;
- and
- a first aperture formed in the first member for receiving a microfabricated pin for transferring a predetermined volume of a fluid,
- wherein the holder is microfabricated from a polymeric material.
A dispensing tray for use in fluid transfer and printing, the dispensing tray comprising:
- a well for holding a fluid to be transferred by a microfabricated pin for transferring a predetermined volume of a fluid,
- wherein the tray is microfabricated from a polymeric material.
A method comprising steps of:
- forming a positive mold of an article using a bulk micromachining process;
- forming a negative mold of the article from the positive mold using an electroforming process;
- and
- forming the article from a polymeric material in the negative mold, the polymeric article being operative for fluid transfer and printing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.