The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 16, 2003
Filed:
Oct. 05, 2001
Tihiro Ohkawa, La Jolla, CA (US);
Toyo Technologies, Inc., La Jolla, CA (US);
Abstract
An electro-osmotic pump, for transporting aqueous solutions in micro-fluidics, has a tubular-shaped pumping section which includes a pump tube that is connected in fluid communication with an extension tube. A thread of silica fibers is positioned in the lumen of the pump tube, and an aqueous solution that will interact with the thread is introduced into the pump tube lumen to charge the aqueous solution. In operation, a voltage potential is selectively applied between the pump tube and the extension tube to establish a ground-potential-ground electric field along the pumping section. This creates a force on the charged aqueous solution that moves it through the pump tube and, consequently, also moves fluid through the extension tube. Various embodiments of the electro-osmotic pump are envisioned, including the serial connection of several pumping sections, for use as valves, switches or pumps.