# US 2014/0191438 A1 · Microfluidic Devices and Methods of Fabrication

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2014/0191438 A1
- Document ID: US20140191438A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/187,673
- Filed: 2014-02-24
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2006-08-15
- Assignees: University of Maryland, College Park
- Inventors: John T. Fourkas; Christopher N. LaFratta
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140191438A1

## CPC

- B29C 39/36: Removing moulded articles
- B29C 33/3857: {by making impressions of one or more parts of models, e.g. shaped articles and including possible subsequent assembly of the parts}
- B29C 33/405: {Elastomers, e.g. rubber (B29C33/50 takes precedence)}
- B29C 39/006: {Monomers or prepolymers (by reaction injection moulding B29C67/246)}
- B29L 2031/756: {Microarticles, nanoarticles}
- Y10T 137/2224: Structure of body of device
- Y10T 137/8593: Systems
- Y10T 137/85938: Non-valved flow dividers
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

The present invention relates to microfluidic devices that comprise a 3-D microfluidic network of microchannels of arbitrary complexity and to a method for fabricating such devices. In particular, the invention relates to a method of forming microfluidic devices having 3-D microfluidic networks that contain open or closed loop microchannels using a single-step molding process without the need for layer-by-layer fabrication, and to the resultant microfluidic devices. The networks of such microfluidic devices may comprise one or more microchannel circuits which may be discrete or interconnected.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of fabricating a microfluidic device comprising a 3-dimensional microfluidic network, said network comprising a closed, hollow microchannel, wherein said method comprises the steps of:
(A) opening a sealable casting of a mold of said microfluidic device, said device comprising a closed loop microstructure having the shape of said desired microfluidic network;
said casting comprising a 3-dimensional structure comprising an internal cavity that conforms to the shape of said mold;
(B) removing said mold from said casting; and
(C) sealing said casting to thereby convert said cavity into said desired microfluidic device.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said network comprises two microchannel circuits.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein at least two microchannel circuits of said network are discrete.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein at least two microchannel circuits of said network are interconnected.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, which additionally comprises the step of constructing said sealable casting.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, which additionally comprises the step of fabricating said mold.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said mold comprises a planar membrane and said cavity comprises a space conforming to the shape of said membrane; said planar membrane permitting said casting to be opened to effect removal of said mold.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein after removal of said mold, said casting is sealed by eliminating said cavity space previously occupied by said membrane.