System for electrophoretic stretching of biomolecules using micro scale t-junctions

Abstract

System for trapping and stretching biomolecules. A microfluidic device includes a symmetric channel forming a T-shaped junction at a narrow center region and three wider portions outside the center region. At least one power supply is provided to generate an electric potential across the T-shaped junction to create a local planar extensional field having a stagnation point in the junction whereby a biomolecule introduced into the microfluidic device is trapped at the stagnation point and stretched by the extensional field.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.