Claims
- 1. An apparatus for separating molecules comprising:
a region for receiving the molecules to be separated; and a plurality of resistors connected to sides of the region for injecting currents into the region, the currents establishing the electric fields in the region for separating the molecules.
- 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electric fields separate the molecules according to size.
- 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the resistors comprise fluidic microchannels.
- 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of resistors are connected on each side of the region.
- 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the molecules are DNA molecules.
- 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of resistors have a resistance greater than a resistance of the region.
- 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the currents are constant.
- 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electric fields can be oriented at any angle for separating the molecules.
- 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of resistors control normal components of the currents.
- 10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one sample reservoir for storing the molecules prior to separation.
- 11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising at least one injection channel connected between the sample reservoir and the region for injecting the molecules into the region.
- 12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one buffer reservoir for storing the molecules after separation.
- 13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising at least one fluidic microchannel connected between the at least one buffer reservoir and the region for channeling the molecules to the at least one buffer reservoir after separation.
- 14. An apparatus for generating electric fields in a fluid for separating molecules comprising:
a region for receiving the molecules to be separated; and a plurality of fluidic channels connected to sides of the region for injecting currents into the region, the currents establishing the electric fields in the region and separating the molecules.
- 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the plurality of fluidic channels are connected on each side of the region.
- 16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the molecules are separated electrophoretically.
- 17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the molecules are DNA molecules.
- 18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the plurality of fluidic channels have at least one electric resistance.
- 19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the at least one electric resistance can be modified by altering a dimension of at least one of the plurality of fluidic channels.
- 20. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the plurality of fluidic channels have at least one fluidic resistance.
- 21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the at least one fluidic resistance can be modified by altering a dimension of at least one of the plurality of fluidic channels.
- 22. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the plurality of fluidic channels establishes a uniform flow distribution in the region.
- 23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the uniform flow distribution can be oriented at any angle.
- 24. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the currents are constant.
- 25. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the electric fields can be oriented at any angle for separating the molecules.
- 26. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the plurality of fluidic channels control normal components of the currents.
- 27. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising at least one sample reservoir for storing the molecules prior to separation.
- 28. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising at least one injection channel connected between the sample reservoir and the region for injecting the molecules into the region.
- 29. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising at least one buffer reservoir for storing the molecules after separation.
- 30. The apparatus of claim 29, further comprising at least one fluidic channel connected between the at least one buffer reservoir and the region for channeling the molecules to the at least one buffer reservoir after separation.
- 31. An apparatus for generating a flow distribution in a fluid comprising:
a region for receiving the fluid; and a plurality of fluidic channels connected to sides of the region for injecting fluid into the region, the injected fluid creating the flow distribution in the region.
- 32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the plurality of fluidic channels have pressure drops greater than pressure drops of the region so that pressure variations in the region do not affect pressure levels within the plurality of fluidic channels.
- 33. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein fluidic resistance of the plurality of fluidic channels can be varied.
- 34. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the plurality of fluidic channels have dimensions on the order of microns.
- 35. The apparatus of claim 31, further comprising means for controlling pressure levels of the plurality of fluidic channels.
- 36. A method of separating molecules comprising:
providing a region for receiving the molecules; injecting the molecules into the region; and injecting currents into the region, the currents generating electric fields in the region and separating the molecules.
- 37. The method of claim 36, further comprising controlling the currents to produce electric fields in the region at a desired angle for separating the molecules.
- 38. The method of claim 36, further comprising collecting the molecules in at least one buffer reservoir after separation.
- 39. The method of claim 36, further comprising modifying electric resistances of the plurality of fluidic microchannels by altering dimensions of at least one of the fluidic microchannels.
- 40. The method of claim 36, further comprising modifying fluidic resistances of the plurality of fluidic microchannels by altering dimensions of at least one of the fluidic microchannels.
- 41. The method of claim 36, further comprising creating a uniform flow distribution in the region by injecting microfluids through the plurality of fluidic microchannels and into the region.
- 42. The method of claim 36, wherein the step of injecting the molecules further comprises injecting the molecules into the region in a narrow band.
- 43. A method of fabricating a device for manipulating molecules comprising:
patterning a substrate to define a region for receiving the molecules; etching the substrate to form the region; drilling the substrate to provide access holes for external reservoirs; bonding the substrate to a glass cover slip; and attaching the external reservoirs to the access holes.
- 44. The method of claim 43, wherein the step of bonding the substrate further comprises bonding the substrate to the glass cover slip with a room-temperature vulcanized silicone.
- 45. The method of claim 43, further comprising attaching an injection channel to one of the access holes for delivering the molecules into the region.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/343,152 filed Oct. 19, 2001, and U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/343,150 filed Oct. 19, 2001, the entire disclosures of which are both expressly incorporated herein by reference.
STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT INTERESTS
[0002] This invention was made with government support under Contract No. MDA 972-00-1-0031. The government has certain rights in this invention.
Provisional Applications (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60343152 |
Oct 2001 |
US |
|
60343150 |
Oct 2001 |
US |