Claims
- 1. A micro-fluidic device having a fluid flow path and at least one micro-valve comprising a phase reversible material stably associated with said micro-valve, wherein said phase reversible material goes from a first permeable state to a second impermeable state.
- 2. The micro-fluidic device according to claim 1, wherein said device comprises two intersecting flow paths, wherein one of said flow paths is substantially filled with said phase reversible material and said micro-valve is positioned at the intersection of said intersecting flow paths.
- 3. The micro-fluidic device according to claim 1, wherein said micro-valve comprises said phase reversible material stably associated with a high surface area component.
- 4. The micro-fluidic device according to claim 3, wherein said high surface area component is stably associated with at least one wall of said fluid flow path.
- 5. The micro-fluidic device according to claim 3, wherein said high surface area component is maintained in said flow path by a retaining means.
- 6. The micro-fluidic device according to claim 1, wherein said phase reversible material is a phase reversible polymer.
- 7. The micro-fluidic device according to claim 1, wherein said phase reversible material is thermo-reversible.
- 8. A micro-fluidic device comprising a micro-valve and two intersecting flow paths, wherein one of said intersecting flow paths is substantially filled with a phase reversible material stably associated with said micro-valve and said phase reversible material goes from a first permeable state to a second impermeable state, wherein said micro-valve is positioned at the intersection of said intersecting flow paths.
- 9. The micro-fluidic device according to claim 8, wherein said micro-fluidic device comprises at least one micro-compartment.
- 10. The micro-fluidic device according to claim 9, wherein said micro-compartment is a micro-channel.
- 11. The micro-fluidic device according to claim 8, wherein said phase reversible material is a phase reversible polymer.
- 12. The micro-fluidic device according to claim 11, wherein said phase reversible polymer is an N-isopropylacrylamide copolymer.
- 13. The micro-fluidic device according to claim 11, wherein said phase reversible polymer is a polyalkylene oxide.
- 14. The micro-fluidic device according to claim 8, wherein said phase reversible material is thermo-reversible.
- 15. A micro-fluidic device comprising a fluid flow path and at least one micro-valve, wherein said micro-valve comprises a phase reversible material stably associated with a high surface area component, and wherein said high surface area component is stably associated with at least one surface of said flow path, and said phase reversible material goes from a first permeable state to a second impermeable state.
- 16. The micro-fluidic device according to claim 15, wherein said high surface area component comprises an array of posts bonded to said at least one surface of said flow path.
- 17. The micro-fluidic device according to claim 15, wherein said micro-fluidic device comprises at least one micro-compartment.
- 18. The micro-fluidic device according to claim 17, wherein said micro-compartment is a micro-channel.
- 19. The micro-fluidic device according to claim 15, wherein said phase reversible material is a phase reversible polymer.
- 20. The micro-fluidic device according to claim 19, wherein said phase reversible polymer is an N-isopropylacrylamide copolymer.
- 21. The micro-fluidic device according to claim 19, wherein said phase reversible polymer is a polyalkylene oxide.
- 22. The micro-fluidic device according to claim 15, wherein said phase reversible material is thermo-reversible.
- 23. A micro-fluidic device comprising a fluid flow path and at least one micro-valve, wherein said micro-valve comprises a phase reversible material stably associated with a high surface area component maintained in said flow path by a retaining means, wherein said phase reversible material goes from a first permeable state to a second impermeable state.
- 24. The micro-fluidic device according to claim 23, wherein said retaining means comprises fluid permeable barriers positioned in said flow path on opposite sides of said high surface area component.
- 25. The micro-fluidic device according to claim 22, wherein said retaining means comprises constrictions in said flow path present on either side of said high surface area component.
- 26. The micro-fluidic device according to claim 23, wherein said high surface area component is selected from the group consisting of: a plurality of solid phase particles; a membrane; and a mesh structure.
- 27. The micro-fluidic device according to claim 23, wherein said micro-fluidic device comprises at least one micro-compartment.
- 28. The micro-fluidic device according to claim 27, wherein said micro-compartment is a micro-channel.
- 29. The micro-fluidic device according to claim 23, wherein said phase reversible material is a phase reversible polymer.
- 30. The micro-fluidic device according to claim 29, wherein said phase reversible polymer is an N-isopropylacrylamide copolymer.
- 31. The micro-fluidic device according to claim 29, wherein said phase reversible polymer is a polyalkylene oxide.
- 32. The micro-fluidic device according to claim 23, wherein said phase reversible material is thermo-reversible.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119 (e), this application claims priority to the filing date of the U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/091,093 filed Jun. 29, 1998, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference.
US Referenced Citations (23)
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60/091093 |
Jun 1998 |
US |