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:
Aug. 14, 2012
Filed:
Apr. 22, 2009
Thomas Hantschel, Menlo Park, CA (US);
David K. Fork, Los Altos, CA (US);
Eugene M. Chow, Mountain View, CA (US);
Dirk DE Bruyker, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Michel A. Rosa, Brisbane, AU;
Thomas Hantschel, Menlo Park, CA (US);
David K. Fork, Los Altos, CA (US);
Eugene M. Chow, Mountain View, CA (US);
Dirk De Bruyker, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Michel A. Rosa, Brisbane, AU;
Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Abstract
Fluidic conduits, which can be used in microarraying systems, dip pen nanolithography systems, fluidic circuits, and microfluidic systems, are disclosed that use channel spring probes that include at least one capillary channel. Formed from spring beams (e.g., stressy metal beams) that curve away from the substrate when released, channels can either be integrated into the spring beams or formed on the spring beams. Capillary forces produced by the narrow channels allow liquid to be gathered, held, and dispensed by the channel spring probes. Because the channel spring beams can be produced using conventional semiconductor processes, significant design flexibility and cost efficiencies can be achieved.