Microfluidic surface processing device and method
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsUrs T. Duerig, Robert Lovchik
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention is notably directed to a microfluidic surface processing device including a microfluidic probe head with at least one aperture, on a face, including at least an outlet aperture; and a surface processing structure extending outward and perpendicular with respect to the face, the processing structure being further dimensioned and located with respect to the outlet aperture such that it can intercept a flowpath of liquid dispensed via the outlet aperture. The present invention is further directed to related apparatuses and methods.
Claims16
A microfluidic surface processing device, comprising:
- a microfluidic probe head having, on a face, at least one aperture, including at least an outlet aperture;
- and
- a processing structure extending outward and perpendicular with respect to the face, the processing structure being dimensioned and located with respect to the outlet aperture such that it can intercept a flowpath of liquid dispensed via the outlet aperture.
A method of surface processing, comprising:
- providing a microfluidic surface processing device having a microfluidic probe head having, on a face, at least one aperture including at least an outlet aperture;
- and a processing structure extending outward and perpendicular with respect to the face, the processing structure being positioned facing a surface to be processed and being dimensioned and located with respect to the outlet aperture such that it can intercept a flowpath of a liquid dispensed via the outlet aperture;
- dispensing a processing liquid via the outlet aperture so that the processing structure intercepts a flowpath of the processing liquid dispensed;
- transferring particles in the liquid to the surface via the processing structure by bringing the processing structure in contact with the surface, wherein a surface of the processing structure is functionalized to enable transport of the particles to an apex of the processing structure;
- and
- bringing the processing structure out of contact with the surface to create a pattern thereon.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.