Electrical detector for micro-analysis systems
AssigneeUniversity of Utah Research Foundation
InventorsA. Bruno Frazier, Richard D. Rabbitt, H. Edward Ayliffe
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A micro-electric detector provides conductivity or impedance based measurements of a test sample placed in a microchannel of a micro-analysis system. The detector includes a pair of electrodes disposed on opposing sidewalls of the microchannel to create a detection zone in the microchannel between and adjacent to the electrodes. A variety of test samples can be monitored by the detector, such as particulate-containing fluids and biological materials including living cells and subcellular structures. The detector can be integrated on-chip using micromachining techniques with a variety of micro-analysis systems.
Claims19
A method for monitoring a test sample in a micro-analysis system, comprising the steps of:
- providing a micro-electric sensor device in a micro-analysis system, the micro-electric sensor device comprising:
- a substrate having a substantially planar upper surface;
- at least one microchannel formed in the upper surface of the substrate and defined by a pair of opposing sidewalls and a bottom wall in the substrate;
- one or more reservoirs formed in the planar surface of the substrate and in fluid communication with the microchannel;
- and
- at least one pair of opposing electrodes on the planar surface of the substrate and terminating at electrode tips formed on the opposing sidewalls of the microchannel such that the electrode tips face each other, thereby creating a detection zone in the microchannel between and adjacent to the electrodes;
- supplying electrical power to the electrodes to create an electric field in the detection zone of the microchannel;
- injecting a test sample into the microchannel;
- and
- detecting changes in the electric field as the test sample enters the detection zone of the microchannel to provide conductivity or impedance based measurements of the test sample in the microchannel.
A micro-electric sensor device for use in a micro-analysis system, comprising:
- a substrate having a substantially planar upper surface;
- at least one microchannel formed in the upper surface of the substrate and defined by a pair of opposing sidewalls and a bottom wall in the substrate;
- one or more reservoirs formed in the planar surface of the substrate and in fluid communication with the microchannel;
- and
- at least one pair of opposing electrodes on the planar surface of the substrate and terminating at electrode tips formed on the opposing sidewalls of the microchannel such that the electrode tips face each other, thereby creating a detection zone in the microchannel between and adjacent to the electrodes;
- wherein the electrodes provide for transverse interrogation of a test sample in the microchannel by conductivity or impedance based measurements.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.