Fluid handling system and method of manufacture
AssigneeAgilent Technologies, Inc.
InventorsPhillip W. Barth, Reid Alyn Brennen
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Abstract
A fluid handling system, and a method of manufacture therefor, is provided having a flexible manifold including two layers of flexible material laminated together. The flexible manifold has provided therein a covered capillary, a capillary inlet hole fluidically connected to the covered capillary, and a capillary outlet hole fluidically connected to the covered capillary. A peripheral rim is attached to the flexible manifold and exerts tensile stress on the flexible manifold to provide dimensional stability to the flexible manifold.
Claims33
A method of manufacturing a fluid handling system, comprising
- providing first and second sheets of respective first and second flexible materials;
- forming a trench in a surface of one of the first sheet and the second sheet;
- providing a rigid rim;
- laminating the second sheet to the rigid rim while laminating the first sheet to the second sheet to form a composite laminated sheet in a state of tensile stress on the rim, the composite laminated sheet having the trench located at the interface between the first sheet and the second sheet wherein the trench is converted into a covered capillary by the process of laminating the first sheet to the second sheet.
A fluid handling system comprising:
- a flexible manifold including two layers of flexible material laminated together, the flexible manifold having provided therein a covered capillary;
- and
- a peripheral rim attached to the flexible manifold and exerting tensile stress on the flexible manifold to provide dimensional stability to the flexible manifold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.