Patent ID: 7332326
Filing Date: 2008-02-19
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A centripetally-motivated microsystems platform comprising: a) a rotatable platform comprising a substrate having a surface comprising one or a multiplicity of microchannels embedded therein and defining a longitudinal path across the surface of the platform; b) a sample input port comprising a depression in the surface having a volumetric capacity of about 1 to about 200/μL; c) a collection chamber comprising a depression in the surface having a volumetric capacity of about 1 to about 200/μL; wherein the sample input port and collection chamber are fluidly connected to the microchannels; d) one or a multiplicity of heating elements comprising at least one region of the platform surface; wherein at least a portion of the longitudinal path of the microchannels is in thermal contact with the one or multiplicity of heating elements; wherein a volume of a fluid within the microchannels of the rotatable platform is moved through said microchannels by centripetal force arising from rotational motion of the rotatable platform for a time and a rotational velocity sufficient to move the fluid through the microchannels, and wherein fluid in the microchannels is heated with the one or a multiplicity of heating elements to a temperature greater than the ambient temperature of the platform as said fluid moves through the portion of the microchannels in thermal contact with the heating element.