Apparatus and method
AssigneeSmiths Detection-Watford Limited
InventorJonathan Marcel GOWERS
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A channel assembly is disclosed, which may comprise a microfluidic channel. Methods of manufacture are also disclosed as are detectors and detector components which may comprise such a channel assembly. An example is a detection apparatus comprising: a detector for detecting a substance of interest; and a pneumatic system comprising a microfluidic channel assembly comprising a first microfluidic channel for dispensing vapour to the detector, wherein the first microfluidic channel comprises a groove in a surface of a polymer body and a wall of the first channel is provided by a film bonded to the surface of the body over the groove.
Claims33
A detection apparatus comprising:
- a detector for detecting a substance of interest;
- and
- a pneumatic system comprising a microfluidic channel assembly comprising a first microfluidic channel for dispensing vapour to the detector, wherein the first microfluidic channel comprises a groove in a surface of a polymer body and a wall of the first channel is provided by a film bonded to the surface of the body over the groove.
The apparatus of any preceding claim wherein:
- the film comprises a polymer film having a thickness of less than 1 mm and the body comprises a polymer body having a thickness of at least 2 mm, wherein the groove comprises an elongate groove disposed in the surface of the polymer body beneath the polymer film, wherein the polymer film and the polymer body comprise the same polymer and the polymer film and polymer body are at least partially fused together along an elongate track that follows the elongate groove along the surface so that the film and elongate track together enclose the groove to provide the first microfluidic channel.
The assembly of any preceding claim wherein the microfluidic channel assembly is a vapour dispenser adapted for dispensing vapour into the detector and the film is configured to allow vapour to diffuse through the wall.
A detection apparatus comprising:
- a detector for detecting a substance of interest, the detector comprising a pneumatic system;
- a pneumatic interface arranged to be seated on a PCB and comprising a body having a plurality of pneumatic channels for coupling with the pneumatic system of the detection apparatus, and a plurality of pump couplings arranged at the surface of the body so that, when the interface is seated on the PCB, the plurality of pump couplings are each aligned with a corresponding one of the plurality of pumps to couple each pump to a corresponding channel of the plurality of pneumatic channels.
A method of forming a microfluidic channel, the method comprising:
- providing a polymer body having an elongate groove disposed in a surface of the polymer body having a thickness of at least 2 mm;
- assembling a polymer film having a thickness of less than 1 mm to the surface;
- fusing the polymer film to the polymer body along an elongate track that follows the elongate groove along the surface so that the film and elongate track together enclose the groove to provide a microfluidic channel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.