Method and apparatus for micro-contact printing

A micro-contact printing apparatus for producing micro patterns on a surface of a substrate, comprising:

• a rigid support member having first and second opposed ends and a fluid flow passageway extending therethrough;
• a printing stamp having a portion defining a flexible diaphragm portion, the flexible diaphragm portion having an outer surface which is coated with one or more materials in a pre-selected pattern;
• biasing means communicating with an inner surface of the flexible diaphragm portion through the fluid flow passageway for biasing the flexible diaphragm portion outwardly into intimate and substantially uniform contact with the surface of the substrate for transferring the pre-selected pattern of the one or more materials onto the surface;
• and
• a positioning mechanism, the rigid support member being constructed and configured to allow oriented attachment to said positioning mechanism, said printing stamp being integrally formed with the first of the opposed ends of the rigid support member in such a manner that, after the rigid support member is engaged by the positioning mechanism so that the flexible diaphragm portion is moved into close position relative to the surface of the substrate prior to pattern transfer and the flexible diaphragm portion thereafter biased, the flexible diaphragm portion is not excessively stretched during pattern transfer to give a substantially undistorted micro pattern on the surface of the substrate.