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US4908112A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Silicon semiconductor wafer for analyzing micronic biological samples

Assignee: Dade Behring Inc
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Filing: 1988-06-16
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Granted: 1990-03-13
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Expires: 2008-06-16
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Abstract

Abstract An analytical separation device in which a capillary sized conduit is formed by a channel in a semiconductor device and the channel is closed by a glass plate. Electrodes are positioned in the channel and to activate the motion of liquids through the conduit by electroosmosis.

Inventors

  • 👤 Salvatore J. Pace

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-29 06:56
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N30/00; G01N30/02; G01N30/04; G01N30/16; B; B01; B01L; B01L3/00; B01L3/50; B01L3/502; B01L3/5027; B01L3/502761; G01N27/00; G01N27/26; G01N27/416; G01N27/447; G01N27/44704; G01N27/44717; G01N27/44721; G01N27/44743; G01N27/44756; G01N27/44773; B01L2300/00; B01L2300/06; B01L2300/0627; B01L2300/0654; B01L2400/00; B01L2400/04; B01L2400/0403; B01L2400/0406; B01L2400/0415; B01L2400/0418; B01L2400/0421; G01N2030/162; G01N30/26; G01N30/28; G01N2030/285; G01N35/00; G01N2035/00178; G01N2035/00237; G01N30/60; G01N30/6052; G01N30/6082; G01N30/6095; G01N30/62; G01N30/74

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim 84 words
An improved separation device, comprising a capillary sized, closed conduit adapted to be filled with liquid or solid materials for electrophoretic and/or chromatographic separations, means to introduce a sample to be processed into the conduit, the device characterized by a semiconductor slab having a channel in one face and a cover plate attached to the one slab to form the closed conduit, adapted to receive an ionizable liquid, and means for applying an electric potential along the length of the interior of the conduit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 84 words
An improved separation device, comprising a capillary sized, closed conduit adapted to be filled with liquid or solid materials for electrophoretic and/or chromatographic separations, means to introduce a sample to be processed into the conduit, the device characterized by a semiconductor slab having a channel in one face and a cover plate attached to the one slab to form the closed conduit, adapted to receive an ionizable liquid, and means for applying an electric potential along the length of the interior of the conduit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 43 words
The device set forth in claim 1 further characterized by the conduit being rectangular, ellipsoidal, triangular, or trapezoidal in cross-section, the slab being silicon, and the plate being glass, at least one interior dimension transverse to the conduit being less than 100 μ.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 34 words
The device set forth in claim 1 further characterized by the conduit having a rectangular cross-section with height and width dimensions, the height to width aspect ratio of the conduit being greater than 10:1.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 35 words
The device set forth in claim 2 wherein the means for applying a potential comprises at least one electrode disposed in the channel on the slab and at least one electrode disposed in a reservoir.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 24 words
The device set forth in claim 4 further characterized by the slab and cover plate defining a reservoir at each end of the channel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 24 words
The device set forth in claim 4 further characterized by the slab and cover plate defining a second conduit intersecting with the first conduit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 55 words
The device set forth in claim 6 further characterized by a detector associated with the conduit adapted to detect any sample passing through the conduit, the detector having a laser and a photo detector, the laser beam being directed transversely of and through the interior of the conduit, the photodetector positioned to view the conduit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 56 words
The device set forth in claim 2 wherein the means for applying a potential comprises at least one electrode disposed in the channel on the slab and at least one electrode disposed in one reservoir, and means to vary the electrical potential of each such electrode to control the flow of the ionizable liquid by electroosmosis.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 24 words
The device set forth in claim 8 further characterized by the slab and cover plate defining a second conduit intersecting with the first conduit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 52 words
The device set forth in claim 9 further characterized by a detector positioned to recognize particles of interest in ionizable liquid of at least one point in the conduit, the detector having a laser and a photo detector, the laser beam being directed transversely of and through the interior of the conduit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 57 words
The device set forth in claim 3 wherein the means for applying a potential comprises at least one electrode disposed in the channel on the slab and at least one electrode disposed in a reservoir, and means to vary the electrical potential of each such electrode to control he electroosmatic flow of the ionizable liquid by electro-osmosis.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 24 words
The device set forth in claim 11 further characterized by the slab and cover plate defining a second conduit intersecting with the first conduit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 48 words
The device set forth in claim 12 further characterized by a detector associated with the conduit adapted to detect the ionizable liquid exiting the conduit, the detector having a laser and a photo detector, the laser beam being directed transversely of and through the interior of the conduit.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 55 words
The device set forth in claim 2 further characterized by a detector associated with the conduit to detect the ionizable liquid exiting the conduit, the detector having a laser and a photo detector, the laser beam being directed transversely of said through the interior of the conduit, the photo detector positioned to view the conduit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 26 words
The device set forth in claim 1 further characterized by the depth to width aspect ratio of the interior of the conduit is greater than 1.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 90 words
An improved gel electrophoresis device with a first conduit having an inlet and an outlet, the conduit being filled with an electrophoretic gel, means for applying an electric potential along the length of the interior of the conduit inlet, and a detector positioned along the conduit, the device characterized by all dimensions transverse to the conduit being greater than 100 μm, and the conduit being defined by a silicon slab having a channel in one face and a cover plate attached to the one slab face to form the conduit.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 90 words
An improved gel electrophoresis device with a first conduit having an inlet and an outlet, the conduit being filled with an electrophoretic gel, means for applying an electric potential along the length of the interior of the conduit inlet, and a detector positioned along the conduit, the device characterized by all dimensions transverse to the conduit being greater than 100 μm, and the conduit being defined by a silicon slab having a channel in one face and a cover plate attached to the one slab face to form the conduit.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 57 words
The device set forth in claim 16 further characterized by the means for applying a potential comprising at least one electrode in the channel of the slab and at least one electrode in a reservoir, and means to adjust independently the electrical potential of each electrode to control the migration rate of the electrically charged sample molecules.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 80 words
The device set forth in claim 16 wherein the sample includes a fluorescing dye and the device is further characterized by the detector being positioned to recognize particles of interest in a sample at least one point in the conduit, the detector having a laser and a photo detector, the laser beam being directed transversely through the interior of the conduit to provide such energy that will cause excitation of the fluorescing dye molecules attached to the electrically charged molecules.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 63 words
The device set forth in claim 17 further characterized by the conduit being trapezoidal in cross-section, with the sides of the trapezoid forming 54.7° exterior angles with the base, the laser beam being directed through the plate to one side to be reflected through the conduit and back out of the conduit by the second side and the plate to the photo detector.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 81 words
The device set forth in claim 16 wherein the sample includes a fluorescing dye and the device is further characterized by a detector system being positioned to recognize particles of interest in a sample at least one point in the conduit, the detector having a laser and a photo detector, the laser beam being directed transversely through the interior of the conduit to provide such energy that will cause excitation of the fluorescing dye molecules attached to the electrically charged molecules.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 58 words
The device set forth in claim 16 further characterized by the means for applying a potential comprising at least one electrode disposed in the channel of the slab and at least one electrode in a reservoir, and means to adjust independently the electrical potential of each electrode to control the migration rate of the electrically charged sample molecules.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 67 words
The device set forth in claim 18 further characterized by the means to introduce a sample comprises a second channel formed by the slab and plate defining an inlet conduit connected to the first conduit, the inlet conduit having electrodes disposed therein in the channel, and means to vary the electrical potential of each electrode to direct the sample from the inlet conduit to the first conduit.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 67 words
The device set forth in claim 16 further characterized by the means to introduce a sample comprises a second channel formed by the slab and plate defining an inlet conduit connected to the first conduit, the inlet conduit having electrodes disposed therein in the channel, and means to vary the electrical potential of each electrode to direct the sample from the inlet conduit to the first conduit.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

FR1458257A Cited
US3798152A Cited
US4547071A Cited
US4652757A Cited
US4675300A Cited
GB2191110A Cited
EP0268406A2 Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1993-03-12 1993-09-11 1994-03-13 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1997-03-12 1997-09-11 1998-03-13 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2001-03-12 2001-09-11 2002-03-13 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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