University of Utah Research Foundation

A Bruno Frazier

John David Brazzle

Bruce Kent Gale

Joseph D Andrade

Richard D Rabbitt

Daniel A Bartholomeusz

H Edward Ayliffe

Karin D Caldwell

An active needle device for fluid injection or extraction includes at least one hollow elongated shaft defining at least one channel. The channel provides communication between at least one input port and at least one output port of the needle device. At least one active component such as a sensor or actuator is placed or integrated into the elongated shaft. The needle device can include a macroneedle, a microneedle, or an array of macroneedles or microneedles. The microneedles can be fabricated on a substrate which can remain attached to the microneedles or be subsequently removed. The active component can facilitate biochemical, optical, electrical, or physical measurements of a fluid injected or extracted by the needle device.

Active needle devices with integrated functionality

Surface micro-machined micro-needles () are formed as single needles () or in two-dimensional or three-dimensional micro-needle arrays (). The micro-needles () are fabricated on a substrate () which can remain attached to the micro-needles () or can be subsequently removed. The two-dimensional or three-dimensional micro-needle arrays () can have cross-coupling flow channels () which allow for pressure equalization, and balance of fluid flow within the micro-needle arrays (). Each of the micro-needles () has a micro-channel () therethrough that provides communication between at least one input port () at a proximal end of the micro-needles (), and at least on output port () at an opposite distal end.

Surface micromachined microneedles

A micro-electric detector provides conductivity or impedance based measurements of a test sample placed in a microchannel of a micro-analysis system. The detector includes a pair of electrodes disposed on opposing sidewalls of the microchannel to create a detection zone in the microchannel between and adjacent to the electrodes. A variety of test samples can be monitored by the detector, such as particulate-containing fluids and biological materials including living cells and subcellular structures. The detector can be integrated on-chip using micromachining techniques with a variety of micro-analysis systems.

Electrical detector for micro-analysis systems

A micromachined system for electrical field-flow fractionation of small test fluid samples is provided. The system includes a microchannel device comprising a first substrate having a planar inner surface with an electrode formed thereon. A second substrate having a planar inner surface with an electrode formed thereon is positioned over the first substrate so that the respective electrodes face each other. An insulating intermediate layer is interposed between the first and second substrates. The intermediate layer is patterned to form opposing sidewalls of at least one microchannel, with the electrodes on the substrates defining opposing continuous boundaries along the length of the microchannel. Inlet and outlet ports are formed in one or both substrates for allowing fluid flow into and out of the microchannel. The microchannel device can be fabricated with single or multiple microchannels therein for processing single or multiple test fluids. During operation, a voltage differential is applied to the electrodes in order to induce an electric field across the microchannel. This separates particles of different types present in a fluid injected into the microchannel. The separated particles in the fluid can be collected or further processed as desired.

Micromachined electrical field-flow fractionation system

The present invention is directed to methods for preparing devices having hollow metallic microchannels on a surface of a planar substrate. More specifically, the present invention is directed to methods for preparing devices having surface metallic microchannels with a range of widths and heights selected to provide efficient flow characteristics and having thick and, thus, strong and durable channel walls. In addition, the methods of the present invention are compatible with standard integrated circuit fabrication techniques and, because the microchannels are formed upon the surface of the substrate without degrading the surface planarity, these techniques can be used to incorporate electronic circuitry into the microchannel-containing devices. For purposes of this application, the term 'microchannel' refers to enclosed or partially enclosed channels having heights within the range from about 2 to about 200 micrometers (.mu.m) and widths within the range of about 10 micrometers to about 2 millimeters.

Growing community of inventors

Salt Lake City, UT, United States of America

A Bruno Frazier