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US 7,049,558 B2Granted
Apparatus and method for heating microfluidic volumes and moving fluids
AssigneeArcturas Bioscience, Inc.
InventorsThomas M. Baer, Thomas L. Smith, Robert H. Reamey
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device and method for the temperature control, concentration, volume measurement and transport of microfluidic volumes are provided. The device includes one or more heating elements having a resistive material that varies with temperature. The heating elements are formed into a laminar body that may be formed into a variety of geometries and/or easily married to a second body including micro-well plates, micro-centrifuge tubes and microfluidic circuits.
Claims18
A device comprising:
- a laminar body comprising:
- a substrate having a first surface and a second surface;
- at least one heating element disposed on the first surface;
- the heating element comprising:
- a first contact and second contact through which electric current enters and leaves the heating element;
- a first conductive trace having a first end connected to the first contact;
- a second conductive trace having a second end connected to the second contact;
- the first conductive trace being patterned in a spaced relation separate from the second conductive trace;
- a resistive layer comprising a resistive material having a resistance temperature coefficient such that resistance changes with temperature;
- the resistive layer being disposed to permit current to flow from one conductive trace through the resistive material to the other conductive trace according to the temperature-based resistance of the resistive material;
- and
- at least one fluid-receiving location corresponding to the location of the at least one heating element wherein the heating element is in thermal communication with the fluid-receiving location.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.