Patent ID: 6645432
Filing Date: 2003-11-11
Classification: B01F,B01L,B29C,B33Y,B81B,B81C,B82Y,Y10T

Abstract:
A microfluidic network comprising:a polymeric structure comprised of at least one discrete layer of polymeric material and including therein at least a first and a second non-fluidically interconnected fluid flow paths, with at least the first flow path comprising a series of interconnected channels within the polymeric structure, the series of interconnected channels including at least one first channel disposed within a first level of the structure, at least one second channel disposed within a second level of the structure, and at least one connecting channel fluidically interconnecting the first channel and the second channel, wherein the at least one discrete layer comprises a polymeric membrane including a first surface defining the first level of the structure and having the at least one first channel disposed therein, a second surface defining the second level of the structure and having the at least one second channel disposed therein, and a polymeric region intermediate the first surface and the second surface, the region including the at least one connecting channel therethrough fluidically interconnecting the first channel disposed in the first surface and the second channel disposed in the second surface of the membrane, wherein at least one channel within the structure has a cross-sectional dimension not exceeding about 500 &mgr;m, and wherein the structure includes at least one channel disposed within the first level of the structure that is non-parallel to at least one channel disposed within the second level of the structure.