US20110297547A1 - Virtual channel platform - Google Patents
Virtual channel platform Download PDFInfo
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- US20110297547A1 US20110297547A1 US13/214,390 US201113214390A US2011297547A1 US 20110297547 A1 US20110297547 A1 US 20110297547A1 US 201113214390 A US201113214390 A US 201113214390A US 2011297547 A1 US2011297547 A1 US 2011297547A1
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- Prior art keywords
- virtual channel
- electrode
- channel platform
- main driven
- layer
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Classifications
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
- F04B—POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS
- F04B43/00—Machines, pumps, or pumping installations having flexible working members
- F04B43/02—Machines, pumps, or pumping installations having flexible working members having plate-like flexible members, e.g. diaphragms
- F04B43/04—Pumps having electric drive
- F04B43/043—Micropumps
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
- B01L3/00—Containers or dishes for laboratory use, e.g. laboratory glassware; Droppers
- B01L3/50—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes
- B01L3/502—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures
- B01L3/5027—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip
- B01L3/50273—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip characterised by the means or forces applied to move the fluids
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
- B01L3/00—Containers or dishes for laboratory use, e.g. laboratory glassware; Droppers
- B01L3/50—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes
- B01L3/502—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures
- B01L3/5027—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip
- B01L3/502769—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip characterised by multiphase flow arrangements
- B01L3/502784—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip characterised by multiphase flow arrangements specially adapted for droplet or plug flow, e.g. digital microfluidics
- B01L3/502792—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip characterised by multiphase flow arrangements specially adapted for droplet or plug flow, e.g. digital microfluidics for moving individual droplets on a plate, e.g. by locally altering surface tension
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
- B01L2300/00—Additional constructional details
- B01L2300/08—Geometry, shape and general structure
- B01L2300/0809—Geometry, shape and general structure rectangular shaped
- B01L2300/0816—Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
- B01L2300/00—Additional constructional details
- B01L2300/08—Geometry, shape and general structure
- B01L2300/0861—Configuration of multiple channels and/or chambers in a single devices
- B01L2300/0883—Serpentine channels
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
- B01L2300/00—Additional constructional details
- B01L2300/08—Geometry, shape and general structure
- B01L2300/089—Virtual walls for guiding liquids
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
- B01L2400/00—Moving or stopping fluids
- B01L2400/04—Moving fluids with specific forces or mechanical means
- B01L2400/0403—Moving fluids with specific forces or mechanical means specific forces
- B01L2400/0415—Moving fluids with specific forces or mechanical means specific forces electrical forces, e.g. electrokinetic
- B01L2400/0424—Dielectrophoretic forces
Definitions
- the instant disclosure relates generally to a platform for fluidic manipulations, more particularly, to a platform to controllably pump fluids in an electric-field-formed virtual channel without physical channel walls. Even more particularly, the instant disclosure relates to a platform for fluid pumping and fluid formation by dielectrophoresis.
- microfabrication techniques have been developed to carve and seal microchannels on silicon, glass, or polymer substrates.
- different pumping mechanisms have been investigated. For example, mechanical micropumps transport liquids through hydraulic pressure differences, while non-mechanical electroosmotic pumping relies on the zeta potential on the channel wall and electric potential difference across the liquid in a microchannel.
- microfabricated physical channel walls assist pumping in a mechanical or/and electrical way(s) as described above, they eliminate the controllability of the liquid streams during operation for different applications.
- the fabrication and sealing of the microchannels are usually complicated. The problems of liquid leakage and dead volume are commonly observed.
- FIGS. 4A and 4B show a conventional droplet manipulation platform 1 a .
- the droplet manipulation platform 1 a has two electrode plates 11 a .
- One of the electrode plates 11 a has a plurality of discrete electrodes 111 a so as to define a fluidic space 2 a between plates.
- the fluidic space 2 a is only used for the passing through of a droplet 3 a by utilizing the discrete electrodes 111 a .
- the droplet manipulation platform 1 a has some limitations, such as liquid in the droplet manipulation platform 1 a cannot be applied to capillary electrophoresis or light guidance which is usually performed along a continuous liquid channel complicatedly carved and sealed on silicon, glass, or polymer substrate.
- An object of the instant disclosure is to provide a virtual channel platform which has no substantial flow channel and drives fluid surrounded by immiscible filling fluid(s) based on an electric field. With no substantial flow channels, the platform is easily manufactured.
- Another object of the instant disclosure is to provide a virtual channel platform flexibly controlling and delivering fluids without substantial flow channels and moving components (valves or pumps).
- the virtual channel platform includes a first and a second electrode plates spaced for forming an electric field, with the first electrode plate having a first substrate and a conductive layer disposed on the first substrate, with the second electrode plate having a second substrate and a patterned conductive electrode disposed on the second substrate.
- While the conductive layer and the patterned conductive electrode define a virtual reservoir and a virtual channel in communication with the virtual reservoir; a voltage source electrically connected to the conductive layer and the patterned conductive electrode; and a main driven fluid and a surrounding fluid arranged between the first and the second electrode plates, with the surrounding fluid being immiscible with the main driven fluid, and the main driven fluid is arranged in the virtual reservoir.
- the voltage source provides a voltage between the conductive layer and the patterned conductive electrode, the electric field generates a force to drive the main driven fluid streaming from the virtual reservoir to the virtual channel, so as to fill the virtual channel with the main driven fluid.
- the operating frequency of the voltage is greater than the cutoff frequency of the virtual channel platform.
- the electric field established by the two electrode plates generates a dielectrophoretic force in order to drive the main driven fluid of a higher dielectric constant along the strong electric field into the region of lower permittivity, i.e., the surrounding fluid, in the planar passageway.
- the virtual channel platform of the instant disclosure has the merits as follows: the virtual channel platform of the instant disclosure has a simple structure and has no moving component, and the virtual channel platform may be manufactured via a simple lithography process without complex channel structures and packaging; furthermore, the virtual channel platform of the instant disclosure can drive the main driven fluid by voltage applications at different frequencies to achieve programmable operation and control.
- the virtual channel platform of the instant disclosure does not need an enclosed substantial flow channel, and doesn't need a moving component (valve or pump) to drive the main driven fluid.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a virtual channel platform of the instant disclosure
- FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view of the virtual channel platform of the instant disclosure taken along line A-A in FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of the virtual channel platform of the instant disclosure taken along line B-B in FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 1C is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the virtual channel platform of the instant disclosure taken along line A-A in FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 1D is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the virtual channel platform of the instant disclosure taken along line B-B in FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 2A is a schematic view of the virtual channel platform without the main driven fluid of the instant disclosure
- FIG. 2B is a schematic view of the virtual channel platform of the instant disclosure in operation
- FIG. 2C is a schematic view of the virtual channel platform of the instant disclosure in another operation state
- FIG. 3A is a schematic view of a main driven fluid filled in the virtual channel that is in a tapered shape of the instant disclosure
- FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a droplet channel platform of the related art.
- FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of the droplet channel platform of the related art taken along line C-C in FIG. 4A .
- FIGS. 1 , 1 A, and 1 B illustrate a virtual channel platform 1 according to the instant disclosure, into which a main driven fluid 2 is injected.
- the virtual channel platform 1 When the virtual channel platform 1 generates an electric field, the main driven fluid 2 located in the virtual channel platform 1 moves in the virtual channel platform 1 under the influence of the electric field.
- the virtual channel platform 1 includes two electrode plates 11 , 12 and at least two spacers 13 .
- the two electrode plates 11 , 12 will generate an electric field.
- the spacers 12 are disposed between the two electrode plates 11 , 12 .
- the conductive layer 112 and the first hydrophobic layer 113 can be manufactured by semiconductor manufacturing technologies, e.g. thin film manufacturing technology. Furthermore, the conductive layer 112 may be made of metal, e.g., copper-chromium, oxide, Indium Tin Oxide (ITO), or conductive polymers. The conductive layer 112 can be deposited on the surface of the first substrate 111 by physical vapor deposition including sputtering and evaporation. Furthermore, the material of the first hydrophobic layer 113 can be Teflon coated on the surface of the conductive layer 112 by spin coating.
- semiconductor manufacturing technologies e.g. thin film manufacturing technology.
- the conductive layer 112 may be made of metal, e.g., copper-chromium, oxide, Indium Tin Oxide (ITO), or conductive polymers.
- the conductive layer 112 can be deposited on the surface of the first substrate 111 by physical vapor deposition including sputtering and evaporation.
- the first hydrophobic layer 113 may also be manufactured by other materials and other processes, including chemical or physical vapor deposition, self-assembled formation of lipid surface monolayer and so on. It must be mentioned that the first hydrophobic layer 113 is optionally disposed on the conductive layer 112 to facilitate handling of the main driven fluid 2 and produces a hydrophobic surface characteristic, thereby being convenient for driving the main driven fluid 2 . The formation of the virtual channel and fluid pumping phenomenon may also occur on a virtual channel platform 1 without the first hydrophobic layer 113 . Additionally, if the main driven fluid 2 does not wet the surface of the conductive layer 112 , the first hydrophobic layer 113 may not necessary.
- the material of the conductive layer 112 is not limited to copper-chromium metal or Indium Tin Oxide, and it may be any one of conductive metal materials, conductive polymer materials or conductive oxide materials.
- first dielectric layer 114 is optionally disposed on the upper electrode plate 11 according to the electric characteristic of the main driven fluid 2 ; that is, first dielectric layer 114 may be disposed on the upper electrode plate 11 ; or first dielectric layer 114 need not to be disposed on the upper electrode plate 11 since the electric characteristic of the main driven fluid 2 can meet the demands of the user.
- the lower electrode plate 12 further includes a second substrate 121 , a patterned conductive electrode 122 disposed on a surface of the second substrate 121 , a second dielectric layer 123 disposed on the patterned conductive electrode 122 and the second substrate 121 , and a second hydrophobic layer 124 disposed on a surface of the second dielectric layer 123 .
- the second substrate 121 may be a substrate plate made of glass, silicon, poly-dimethylsiloxane (PDMS), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), a flexible polymer, and so on.
- the patterned conductive electrode 122 , the second dielectric layer 123 , and the second hydrophobic layer 124 can be manufactured by semiconductor manufacturing technologies.
- the patterned conductive electrode 122 is not fixed in shape, which may be rectangle-shaped, strip-shaped, tapered, circular-shaped, meander-shaped, or formed in any other shapes.
- the shape of the patterned conductive electrode 122 is determined based on user's demands.
- the patterned conductive electrode 122 may be made of copper-chromium metal or Indium Tin Oxide (ITO), deposited by physical vapor deposition, including sputtering and evaporation.
- ITO Indium Tin Oxide
- the material of the second dielectric layer 123 may be parylene, a positive photoresist, a negative photoresist or a material with a high dielectric constant, or a material with a low dielectric constant, and the above material may be coated on the patterned conductive electrode 122 by spin coating, chemical or physical vapor deposition, sol-gel, or other thin film manufacturing technologies. It is worthy to mention that the second dielectric layer 123 is optionally disposed on the lower electrode plate 12 according to the electric characteristic of the main driven fluid 2 ; that is, the second dielectric layer 123 may be disposed on the lower electrode plate 12 ; or the second dielectric layer 123 need not to be disposed on the lower electrode plate since the electric characteristic of the main driven fluid 2 can meet the demands of the user.
- the material of the second hydrophobic layer 124 is Teflon, and Teflon may also be coated on the surface of the conductive layer 112 by spin coating. Besides spin coating of Teflon, the second hydrophobic layer 124 may also be manufactured by other materials with other processes, including chemical or physical vapor deposition, self-assembled monolayer, and so on.
- the second hydrophobic layer 124 is optionally disposed on the second dielectric layer 123 to facilitate liquid handling of the main driven fluid 2 .
- the formation of the virtual channel and fluid pumping phenomenon may also occur on a virtual channel platform 1 without the second hydrophobic layer 124 .
- the main driven fluid 2 does not wet the surface of the second dielectric layer 123
- the second hydrophobic layer 124 may be not coated.
- the second dielectric layer 123 is not necessary for the electric characteristic of the main driven fluid 2 and the main driven fluid 2 does not wet the surface of the conductive layer 122 , the second hydrophobic layer 124 and the second dielectric layer 123 may be not coated.
- the material of the patterned conductive electrode 122 is not limited to copper-chromium metal or Indium Tin Oxide, and it may be any one of conductive metal materials, conductive polymer materials, or conductive oxide materials.
- the at least two spacers 13 are disposed between the upper electrode plate 11 and the lower electrode plate 12 .
- the at least two spacers 13 may be insulating gaskets so as to separate the upper electrode plate 11 from the lower electrode plate 12 for forming a planar passageway 14 into which the main driven fluid 2 is injected.
- a surrounding fluid 3 is also injected into the planar passageway 14 for encompassing the main driven fluid 2 .
- the main driven fluid 2 and the surrounding fluid 3 are not limited to the above descriptions, that is, the fluid of the two fluids selected by users having a higher dielectric constant is the main driven fluid 2 , and the other fluid of the two selected fluids is the surrounding fluid 3 .
- a voltage source 4 is electrically connected to the conductive layer 112 and the patterned conductive electrode 122 , so that the conductive layer 112 and the patterned conductive electrode 122 define a virtual reservoir 141 and a virtual channel 142 in communication with the virtual reservoir 141 .
- the main driven fluid 2 is arranged in the virtual reservoir 141 .
- the patterned conductive electrode 122 has at least one strip-shaped electrode and at least one rectangle-shaped electrode.
- the conductive layer 112 and the at least one rectangle-shaped electrode define the virtual reservoir 141
- the conductive layer 112 and the at least one strip-shaped electrode define the virtual channel 142 .
- the length (L) of the strip-shaped electrode of the patterned conductive electrode 122 divided by the width (W) of the strip-shaped electrode of the patterned conductive electrode 122 is greater than 5.0.
- the distance (D) between the first and the second electrode plates 11 , 12 divided by the width (W) of the patterned conductive electrode 122 is approximately (but not limited to) 0.5 to 2.0.
- the voltage source 4 supplies a voltage (V) between the conductive layer 112 and the patterned conductive electrode 122 , the electric field generates a force (such as the dielectrophoretic force, the DEP force) that drives the main driven fluid 2 from the virtual reservoir 141 to the virtual channel 142 .
- a force such as the dielectrophoretic force, the DEP force
- the DEP force is proportional to WV 2 /D.
- the main driven fluid 2 and the surrounding fluid 3 are electrically polarized in different degrees, so the molecules of the main driven fluid 2 and the surrounding fluid 3 tend to be aligned in the direction of the electric field.
- the electric field is spatially non-uniform generated by the shape of the patterned conductive electrodes 122 of the lower electrode plate 12
- the electrically polarized main driven fluid 2 and surrounding fluid 3 under the influence of resultant (referred to as the DEP force) generate drift movements in different degrees, thereby the main driven fluid 2 can move in the virtual channel 142 of the planar passageway 14 without a pump.
- the main driven fluid 2 may move in the virtual channel 142 of the planar passageway 14 in the form of liquid columns (as shown in FIG. 2C ).
- the virtual channel platform 1 of the instant disclosure can be used for guiding light via the main driven fluid 2 .
- the patterned conductive electrode 122 may has a tapered electrode, so that the virtual channel 142 can be tapered, and the virtual channel 142 is full of the main driven fluid 2 (as shown in FIG. 3A ).
- the patterned conductive electrode 122 may has a meander-shaped electrode, so that the virtual channel 142 can be meander-shaped, and the virtual channel 142 is full of the main driven fluid 2 (as shown in FIG. 3B ).
- the patterned conductive electrode 122 may has at least one of the strip-shaped electrode, the rectangle-shaped electrode, the tapered electrode, and the meander-shaped electrode.
- the operating frequency of the said voltage is greater than the cutoff frequency of the virtual channel platform 1 .
- the operating frequency of the voltage is approximately 8-12 times to the cutoff frequency of the virtual channel platform 1 .
- the cutoff frequency of such two parallel plates device (not shown) is 11.6 kHz when the distance between the parallel plates is 25 ⁇ m.
- the operating frequency of the instant disclosure is 100 kHz when D is 25 ⁇ m, which is sufficient to neglect the voltage drop across the second dielectric layer 123 (if there is any) causing electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD).
- the virtual channel platform of the instant disclosure has the beneficial effects as follows:
- the virtual channel platform 1 of the instant disclosure has a simple structure, has no movable component and can be programmably operated and controlled.
- the virtual channel platform 1 of the instant disclosure may be manufactured via a simple semiconductor process (lithography process) and applies the voltage of different frequencies to the two electrode plates 11 , 12 so as to generate an electric field in order to drive the main driven fluid 2 , so that the main driven fluid 2 can move without a substantial flow channel and an outer pump.
- the virtual channel platform 1 of the instant disclosure does not need a close substantial flow channel, and instead of using a moving component (valve or pump) to drive the main driven fluid 2 , the virtual channel platform 1 flexibly controls and projects the conveying path of the main driven fluid 2 based on the electric field.
- a moving component valve or pump
- the virtual channel platform 1 of the instant disclosure can drive the main driven fluid 2 to move in the way of liquid columns (continuous way).
- the virtual channel platform 1 of the instant disclosure can save sample fluid and avoid waste.
Abstract
A virtual channel platform is disclosed. Said virtual channel platform comprises two spaced electrode plates, which can provide an electric field, and a voltage source electrically connected to the two electrode plates. Said plates define a virtual reservoir and a virtual channel. When the voltage source provides a voltage between the electrode plates, the electric field generates a force to drive a driven fluid streaming from the virtual reservoir to the virtual channel, allowing the virtual channel to be filled with the driven fluid fully.
Description
- This Application is being filed as a Continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/385,771, filed on Apr. 20, 2009, currently pending.
- 1. Field of the Invention
- The instant disclosure relates generally to a platform for fluidic manipulations, more particularly, to a platform to controllably pump fluids in an electric-field-formed virtual channel without physical channel walls. Even more particularly, the instant disclosure relates to a platform for fluid pumping and fluid formation by dielectrophoresis.
- 2. Description of Related Art
- Pumping liquids in microchannels is essential to the study of microfluidics and practical to the wide applications including lab-on-a-chip (LOC) and micro total analysis systems (μTAS).
- Various microfabrication techniques have been developed to carve and seal microchannels on silicon, glass, or polymer substrates. To drive liquids in microchannels, different pumping mechanisms have been investigated. For example, mechanical micropumps transport liquids through hydraulic pressure differences, while non-mechanical electroosmotic pumping relies on the zeta potential on the channel wall and electric potential difference across the liquid in a microchannel.
- Although the microfabricated physical channel walls assist pumping in a mechanical or/and electrical way(s) as described above, they eliminate the controllability of the liquid streams during operation for different applications. In addition, the fabrication and sealing of the microchannels are usually complicated. The problems of liquid leakage and dead volume are commonly observed.
- Please refer to
FIGS. 4A and 4B , which show a conventional droplet manipulation platform 1 a. The droplet manipulation platform 1 a has twoelectrode plates 11 a. One of theelectrode plates 11 a has a plurality of discrete electrodes 111 a so as to define afluidic space 2 a between plates. Thefluidic space 2 a is only used for the passing through of adroplet 3 a by utilizing the discrete electrodes 111 a. However, in practice, the droplet manipulation platform 1 a has some limitations, such as liquid in the droplet manipulation platform 1 a cannot be applied to capillary electrophoresis or light guidance which is usually performed along a continuous liquid channel complicatedly carved and sealed on silicon, glass, or polymer substrate. - Hence, the inventors of the instant disclosure believe that the shortcomings described above are able to be improved and finally suggest the instant disclosure which is of a reasonable design and is an effective improvement based on deep research and thought.
- An object of the instant disclosure is to provide a virtual channel platform which has no substantial flow channel and drives fluid surrounded by immiscible filling fluid(s) based on an electric field. With no substantial flow channels, the platform is easily manufactured.
- Another object of the instant disclosure is to provide a virtual channel platform flexibly controlling and delivering fluids without substantial flow channels and moving components (valves or pumps).
- To achieve the above-mentioned objects, a virtual channel platform in accordance with the instant disclosure is provided. The virtual channel platform includes a first and a second electrode plates spaced for forming an electric field, with the first electrode plate having a first substrate and a conductive layer disposed on the first substrate, with the second electrode plate having a second substrate and a patterned conductive electrode disposed on the second substrate. While the conductive layer and the patterned conductive electrode define a virtual reservoir and a virtual channel in communication with the virtual reservoir; a voltage source electrically connected to the conductive layer and the patterned conductive electrode; and a main driven fluid and a surrounding fluid arranged between the first and the second electrode plates, with the surrounding fluid being immiscible with the main driven fluid, and the main driven fluid is arranged in the virtual reservoir. When the voltage source provides a voltage between the conductive layer and the patterned conductive electrode, the electric field generates a force to drive the main driven fluid streaming from the virtual reservoir to the virtual channel, so as to fill the virtual channel with the main driven fluid.
- Advantageously, the operating frequency of the voltage is greater than the cutoff frequency of the virtual channel platform.
- Advantageously, the electric field established by the two electrode plates generates a dielectrophoretic force in order to drive the main driven fluid of a higher dielectric constant along the strong electric field into the region of lower permittivity, i.e., the surrounding fluid, in the planar passageway.
- Consequently, the virtual channel platform of the instant disclosure has the merits as follows: the virtual channel platform of the instant disclosure has a simple structure and has no moving component, and the virtual channel platform may be manufactured via a simple lithography process without complex channel structures and packaging; furthermore, the virtual channel platform of the instant disclosure can drive the main driven fluid by voltage applications at different frequencies to achieve programmable operation and control.
- Additionally, the virtual channel platform of the instant disclosure does not need an enclosed substantial flow channel, and doesn't need a moving component (valve or pump) to drive the main driven fluid.
- To further understand features and technical contents of the instant disclosure, please refer to the following detailed description and drawings related the instant disclosure. However, the drawings are only to be used as references and explanations, not to limit the instant disclosure.
-
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a virtual channel platform of the instant disclosure; -
FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view of the virtual channel platform of the instant disclosure taken along line A-A inFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of the virtual channel platform of the instant disclosure taken along line B-B inFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 1C is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the virtual channel platform of the instant disclosure taken along line A-A inFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 1D is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the virtual channel platform of the instant disclosure taken along line B-B inFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 2A is a schematic view of the virtual channel platform without the main driven fluid of the instant disclosure; -
FIG. 2B is a schematic view of the virtual channel platform of the instant disclosure in operation; -
FIG. 2C is a schematic view of the virtual channel platform of the instant disclosure in another operation state; -
FIG. 3A is a schematic view of a main driven fluid filled in the virtual channel that is in a tapered shape of the instant disclosure; -
FIG. 3B is another schematic view of the main driven fluid filled in the virtual channel that is in a meandered-shape of the instant disclosure; -
FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a droplet channel platform of the related art; and -
FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of the droplet channel platform of the related art taken along line C-C inFIG. 4A . - Please refer to
FIGS. 1 , 1A, and 1B, which illustrate avirtual channel platform 1 according to the instant disclosure, into which a main drivenfluid 2 is injected. When thevirtual channel platform 1 generates an electric field, the main drivenfluid 2 located in thevirtual channel platform 1 moves in thevirtual channel platform 1 under the influence of the electric field. More specifically, thevirtual channel platform 1 includes twoelectrode plates spacers 13. When a voltage is applied to the twoelectrode plates electrode plates spacers 12 are disposed between the twoelectrode plates - Specifically, the two
electrode plates FIG. 1B , theupper electrode plate 11 further includes afirst substrate 111, aconductive layer 112 disposed on a surface of thefirst substrate 111 and a firsthydrophobic layer 113 disposed on a surface of theconductive layer 112. Thefirst substrate 111 may be made of glass, silicon, poly-dimethylsiloxane (PDMS), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), a flexible polymer, and so on. Theconductive layer 112 and the firsthydrophobic layer 113 can be manufactured by semiconductor manufacturing technologies, e.g. thin film manufacturing technology. Furthermore, theconductive layer 112 may be made of metal, e.g., copper-chromium, oxide, Indium Tin Oxide (ITO), or conductive polymers. Theconductive layer 112 can be deposited on the surface of thefirst substrate 111 by physical vapor deposition including sputtering and evaporation. Furthermore, the material of the firsthydrophobic layer 113 can be Teflon coated on the surface of theconductive layer 112 by spin coating. Besides the spun Teflon, the firsthydrophobic layer 113 may also be manufactured by other materials and other processes, including chemical or physical vapor deposition, self-assembled formation of lipid surface monolayer and so on. It must be mentioned that the firsthydrophobic layer 113 is optionally disposed on theconductive layer 112 to facilitate handling of the main drivenfluid 2 and produces a hydrophobic surface characteristic, thereby being convenient for driving the main drivenfluid 2. The formation of the virtual channel and fluid pumping phenomenon may also occur on avirtual channel platform 1 without the firsthydrophobic layer 113. Additionally, if the main drivenfluid 2 does not wet the surface of theconductive layer 112, the firsthydrophobic layer 113 may not necessary. - Further, it is worthy to mention that the material of the
conductive layer 112 is not limited to copper-chromium metal or Indium Tin Oxide, and it may be any one of conductive metal materials, conductive polymer materials or conductive oxide materials. - In addition, Please refer to
FIGS. 1C and 1D , theupper electrode plate 11 further includes a firstdielectric layer 114 disposed on a surface of theconductive layer 112. The firsthydrophobic layer 113 is disposed on a surface of thedielectric layer 114. The material of thefirst dielectric layer 114 may be parylene, a positive photoresist, a negative photoresist or a material with a high dielectric constant, or a material with a low dielectric constant, and the above material may be coated on theconductive layer 112 by spin coating, chemical or physical vapor deposition, sol-gel, or other thin film manufacturing technologies. It is worthy to mention that firstdielectric layer 114 is optionally disposed on theupper electrode plate 11 according to the electric characteristic of the main drivenfluid 2; that is, firstdielectric layer 114 may be disposed on theupper electrode plate 11; or firstdielectric layer 114 need not to be disposed on theupper electrode plate 11 since the electric characteristic of the main drivenfluid 2 can meet the demands of the user. - The
lower electrode plate 12 further includes asecond substrate 121, a patternedconductive electrode 122 disposed on a surface of thesecond substrate 121, asecond dielectric layer 123 disposed on the patternedconductive electrode 122 and thesecond substrate 121, and a secondhydrophobic layer 124 disposed on a surface of thesecond dielectric layer 123. Thesecond substrate 121 may be a substrate plate made of glass, silicon, poly-dimethylsiloxane (PDMS), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), a flexible polymer, and so on. The patternedconductive electrode 122, thesecond dielectric layer 123, and the secondhydrophobic layer 124 can be manufactured by semiconductor manufacturing technologies. - Furthermore, the patterned
conductive electrode 122 is not fixed in shape, which may be rectangle-shaped, strip-shaped, tapered, circular-shaped, meander-shaped, or formed in any other shapes. The shape of the patternedconductive electrode 122 is determined based on user's demands. Also, the patternedconductive electrode 122 may be made of copper-chromium metal or Indium Tin Oxide (ITO), deposited by physical vapor deposition, including sputtering and evaporation. The material of thesecond dielectric layer 123 may be parylene, a positive photoresist, a negative photoresist or a material with a high dielectric constant, or a material with a low dielectric constant, and the above material may be coated on the patternedconductive electrode 122 by spin coating, chemical or physical vapor deposition, sol-gel, or other thin film manufacturing technologies. It is worthy to mention that thesecond dielectric layer 123 is optionally disposed on thelower electrode plate 12 according to the electric characteristic of the main drivenfluid 2; that is, thesecond dielectric layer 123 may be disposed on thelower electrode plate 12; or thesecond dielectric layer 123 need not to be disposed on the lower electrode plate since the electric characteristic of the main drivenfluid 2 can meet the demands of the user. Furthermore, the material of the secondhydrophobic layer 124 is Teflon, and Teflon may also be coated on the surface of theconductive layer 112 by spin coating. Besides spin coating of Teflon, the secondhydrophobic layer 124 may also be manufactured by other materials with other processes, including chemical or physical vapor deposition, self-assembled monolayer, and so on. - It must be explained that the second
hydrophobic layer 124 is optionally disposed on thesecond dielectric layer 123 to facilitate liquid handling of the main drivenfluid 2. The formation of the virtual channel and fluid pumping phenomenon may also occur on avirtual channel platform 1 without the secondhydrophobic layer 124. Additionally, if the main drivenfluid 2 does not wet the surface of thesecond dielectric layer 123, the secondhydrophobic layer 124 may be not coated. Furthermore, if thesecond dielectric layer 123 is not necessary for the electric characteristic of the main drivenfluid 2 and the main drivenfluid 2 does not wet the surface of theconductive layer 122, the secondhydrophobic layer 124 and thesecond dielectric layer 123 may be not coated. - Furthermore, the material of the patterned
conductive electrode 122 is not limited to copper-chromium metal or Indium Tin Oxide, and it may be any one of conductive metal materials, conductive polymer materials, or conductive oxide materials. - The at least two
spacers 13 are disposed between theupper electrode plate 11 and thelower electrode plate 12. The at least twospacers 13 may be insulating gaskets so as to separate theupper electrode plate 11 from thelower electrode plate 12 for forming aplanar passageway 14 into which the main drivenfluid 2 is injected. A surroundingfluid 3 is also injected into theplanar passageway 14 for encompassing the main drivenfluid 2. - It is worthy to be mentioned that the surrounding
fluid 3 is immiscible with the main drivenfluid 2. The main drivenfluid 2 and the surroundingfluid 3 are selected according to dielectric constants, as long as the dielectric constant of the main drivenfluid 2 is greater than that of the surroundingfluid 3. So the main drivenfluid 2 may be aqueous solution (such as water) and the surroundingfluid 3 may be air or organic solution (such as silicone oil); alternatively, the main drivenfluid 2 may be organic solution (such as silicone oil) and the surroundingfluid 3 may be air. More specifically, the main drivenfluid 2 and the surroundingfluid 3 are not limited to the above descriptions, that is, the fluid of the two fluids selected by users having a higher dielectric constant is the main drivenfluid 2, and the other fluid of the two selected fluids is the surroundingfluid 3. - Please refer to
FIGS. 1A , 2A, 2B, and 2C. Avoltage source 4 is electrically connected to theconductive layer 112 and the patternedconductive electrode 122, so that theconductive layer 112 and the patternedconductive electrode 122 define avirtual reservoir 141 and avirtual channel 142 in communication with thevirtual reservoir 141. The main drivenfluid 2 is arranged in thevirtual reservoir 141. Said in detail, the patternedconductive electrode 122 has at least one strip-shaped electrode and at least one rectangle-shaped electrode. Theconductive layer 112 and the at least one rectangle-shaped electrode define thevirtual reservoir 141, and theconductive layer 112 and the at least one strip-shaped electrode define thevirtual channel 142. The length (L) of the strip-shaped electrode of the patternedconductive electrode 122 divided by the width (W) of the strip-shaped electrode of the patternedconductive electrode 122 is greater than 5.0. The distance (D) between the first and thesecond electrode plates conductive electrode 122 is approximately (but not limited to) 0.5 to 2.0. - When the
voltage source 4 supplies a voltage (V) between theconductive layer 112 and the patternedconductive electrode 122, the electric field generates a force (such as the dielectrophoretic force, the DEP force) that drives the main drivenfluid 2 from thevirtual reservoir 141 to thevirtual channel 142. Thereby, thevirtual channel 142 is filled fully with the main drivenfluid 2. In addition, the DEP force is proportional to WV2/D. - That is to say, when voltage of different frequencies is applied to the
conductive layer 112 of theupper electrode plate 11 and theconductive electrodes 122 of thelower electrode plate 12 to generate an electric field, a force is generated between the interface of the main drivenfluid 2 and the surroundingfluid 3 by dielectrophoresis. The force acts at the interface from the high dielectric constant main drivenfluid 2 to the low dielectricconstant surrounding fluid 3, so that the main drivenfluid 2 moves along the electric field towards the surroundingfluid 3. - In detail, under the influence of the electric field, the main driven
fluid 2 and the surroundingfluid 3 are electrically polarized in different degrees, so the molecules of the main drivenfluid 2 and the surroundingfluid 3 tend to be aligned in the direction of the electric field. Further, if the electric field is spatially non-uniform generated by the shape of the patternedconductive electrodes 122 of thelower electrode plate 12, the electrically polarized main drivenfluid 2 and surroundingfluid 3 under the influence of resultant (referred to as the DEP force) generate drift movements in different degrees, thereby the main drivenfluid 2 can move in thevirtual channel 142 of theplanar passageway 14 without a pump. Additionally, the main drivenfluid 2 may move in thevirtual channel 142 of theplanar passageway 14 in the form of liquid columns (as shown inFIG. 2C ). Thus, thevirtual channel platform 1 of the instant disclosure can be used for guiding light via the main drivenfluid 2. - Furthermore, the patterned
conductive electrode 122 may has a tapered electrode, so that thevirtual channel 142 can be tapered, and thevirtual channel 142 is full of the main driven fluid 2 (as shown inFIG. 3A ). Alternatively, the patternedconductive electrode 122 may has a meander-shaped electrode, so that thevirtual channel 142 can be meander-shaped, and thevirtual channel 142 is full of the main driven fluid 2 (as shown inFIG. 3B ). In summary, the patternedconductive electrode 122 may has at least one of the strip-shaped electrode, the rectangle-shaped electrode, the tapered electrode, and the meander-shaped electrode. - The operating frequency of the said voltage is greater than the cutoff frequency of the
virtual channel platform 1. Specifically, the operating frequency of the voltage is approximately 8-12 times to the cutoff frequency of thevirtual channel platform 1. For example, the cutoff frequency of such two parallel plates device (not shown) is 11.6 kHz when the distance between the parallel plates is 25 μm. However, the operating frequency of the instant disclosure is 100 kHz when D is 25 μm, which is sufficient to neglect the voltage drop across the second dielectric layer 123 (if there is any) causing electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD). - Consequently, the virtual channel platform of the instant disclosure has the beneficial effects as follows:
- 1. The
virtual channel platform 1 of the instant disclosure has a simple structure, has no movable component and can be programmably operated and controlled. - 2. The
virtual channel platform 1 of the instant disclosure may be manufactured via a simple semiconductor process (lithography process) and applies the voltage of different frequencies to the twoelectrode plates fluid 2, so that the main drivenfluid 2 can move without a substantial flow channel and an outer pump. - 3. The
virtual channel platform 1 of the instant disclosure does not need a close substantial flow channel, and instead of using a moving component (valve or pump) to drive the main drivenfluid 2, thevirtual channel platform 1 flexibly controls and projects the conveying path of the main drivenfluid 2 based on the electric field. - 4. The
virtual channel platform 1 of the instant disclosure can drive the main drivenfluid 2 to move in the way of liquid columns (continuous way). - 5. The
virtual channel platform 1 of the instant disclosure can save sample fluid and avoid waste. - What are disclosed above are only the specification and the drawings of the preferred embodiment of the instant disclosure and it is therefore not intended that the instant disclosure be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various equivalent changes may be made depending on the specification and the drawings of the instant disclosure without departing from the scope of the instant disclosure.
Claims (19)
1. A virtual channel platform, comprising:
a first and a second electrode plates spaced for forming an electric field, the first electrode plate having a first substrate and a conductive layer disposed on the first substrate, the second electrode plate having a second substrate and a patterned conductive electrode disposed on the second substrate, wherein the conductive layer and the patterned conductive electrode define a virtual reservoir and a virtual channel in communication with the virtual reservoir;
a voltage source electrically connected to the conductive layer and the patterned conductive electrode; and
a main driven fluid and a surrounding fluid arranged between in the first and the second electrode plates, wherein the surrounding fluid is immiscible with the main driven fluid, and the main driven fluid is arranged in the virtual reservoir;
wherein when the voltage source provides a voltage between the conductive layer and the patterned conductive electrode, the electric field generates a force in driving the main driven fluid from the virtual reservoir to the virtual channel, allowing the virtual channel to be filled with the main driven fluid fully.
2. The virtual channel platform as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the patterned conductive electrode has at least one of a strip-shaped electrode, a rectangle-shaped electrode, a tapered electrode, and a meander-shaped electrode.
3. The virtual channel platform as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the patterned conductive electrode has at least one strip-shaped electrode, and the conductive layer and the at least one strip-shaped electrode define the virtual channel.
4. The virtual channel platform as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the length of the strip-shaped electrode divided by the width of the strip-shaped electrode is greater than 5.0.
5. The virtual channel platform as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the patterned conductive electrode has at least one rectangle-shaped electrode, and the conductive layer and the rectangle-shaped electrode define the virtual reservoir.
6. The virtual channel platform as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the operating frequency of the voltage is greater than the cutoff frequency of the virtual channel platform.
7. The virtual channel platform as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a dielectric constant of the main driven fluid is greater than that of the surrounding fluid.
8. The virtual channel platform as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the main driven fluid is an aqueous solution and the surrounding fluid is an air.
9. The virtual channel platform as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the main driven fluid is an aqueous solution and the surrounding fluid is an organic solution.
10. The virtual channel platform as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the main driven fluid is an organic solution and the surrounding fluid is an air.
11. The virtual channel platform as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first electrode plate has a first hydrophobic layer coated on the conductive layer.
12. The virtual channel platform as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the second electrode plate has a second hydrophobic layer.
13. The virtual channel platform as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the second electrode plate has a second dielectric layer coated on the patterned conductive electrode and the second substrate.
14. The virtual channel platform as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the second electrode plate has a second dielectric layer and a second hydrophobic layer, wherein the second dielectric layer is coated on the patterned conductive electrode and the second substrate, and the second hydrophobic layer is coated on the second dielectric layer.
15. The virtual channel platform as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first electrode plate has a first dielectric layer coated on the conductive layer and a first hydrophobic layer coated on the first dielectric layer.
16. The virtual channel platform as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the second electrode plate has a second hydrophobic layer.
17. The virtual channel platform as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the second electrode plate has a second dielectric layer coated on the patterned conductive electrode and the second substrate.
18. The virtual channel platform as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the second electrode plate has a second dielectric layer and a second hydrophobic layer, wherein the second dielectric layer is coated on the patterned conductive electrode and the second substrate, and the second hydrophobic layer is coated on the second dielectric layer.
19. The virtual channel platform as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first electrode plate has a first dielectric layer coated on the conductive layer and the second electrode plate has a second dielectric layer coated on the patterned conductive electrode and the second substrate.
Priority Applications (1)
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US13/214,390 US20110297547A1 (en) | 2009-01-14 | 2011-08-22 | Virtual channel platform |
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TW098101187 | 2009-01-14 | ||
TW098101187A TWI365849B (en) | 2009-01-14 | 2009-01-14 | A virtual channel platform |
US12/385,771 US20100175998A1 (en) | 2009-01-14 | 2009-04-20 | Virtual channel platform |
US13/214,390 US20110297547A1 (en) | 2009-01-14 | 2011-08-22 | Virtual channel platform |
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US12/385,771 Continuation-In-Part US20100175998A1 (en) | 2009-01-14 | 2009-04-20 | Virtual channel platform |
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US6977033B2 (en) * | 1999-02-12 | 2005-12-20 | Board Of Regents, The University Of Texas System | Method and apparatus for programmable fluidic processing |
US20060054503A1 (en) * | 2002-09-24 | 2006-03-16 | Duke University | Methods for manipulating droplets by electrowetting-based techniques |
US20060254933A1 (en) * | 2005-05-13 | 2006-11-16 | Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation | Device for transporting liquid and system for analyzing |
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