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US 2011/0300034 A1Published application
Disposable, High Pressure Microfluidic Chips
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of California
InventorsDieudonne Mair, Emil J. Geiger
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Abstract
An injection molding process for the fabrication of disposable unitary plastic microfluidic chips with a cycle time on the order of minutes is described. The microfluidic chips feature novel, integrated, reversible, standardized, ready-to-use inter-connects that enable operation at pressures not before realized with microfluidic chips.
Claims9
A microfluidic chip, comprising:
- a first approximately planar portion, comprising:
- a first side with a groove;
- a second side with an integrated interconnect, through which interconnect is an opening that provides fluid communication between the second side and the groove;
- a second approximately planar portion bonded to the first side of the first portion, thus sealing the groove to make a channel.
1 more element
A unitary microfluidic system, comprising:
- a first approximately flat piece;
- a second piece approximately parallel to the first piece and attached to the first piece;
- a microfluidic channel embedded between the first piece and the second piece;
- a microfluidic channel extension providing fluid communication between the microfluidic channel and an outer surface of the second piece;
- a protrusion on the outer surface of the second piece, the protrusion approximately perpendicular to the second piece and an integral part of the second piece, the protrusion comprising a fluid communication path between the microfluidic channel extension and the outside environment.
2 more elements
A method of making a unitary microfluidic chip, comprising the steps of:
- providing a mold base that has negative features to define interconnect protrusions and positive features to define openings in the interconnect protrusions;
- providing a mold insert that has positive raised features to define a layout of microfluidic channel grooves;
- assembling the mold base and the mold insert to form an A-side mold;
- injecting a liquid polymer into the mold;
- allowing the liquid polymer to solidify into an A-side;
- releasing the A-side from the mold;
- providing an approximately planar B-side comprising a polymer and having approximately the same outer dimensions as the A-side;
- and
- bonding the B-side to the A-side to seal the microfluidic channel grooves into microfluidic channels.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.