Patent ID: 7553393
Filing Date: 2009-06-30
Classification: B01J,B01L,B29C,B29L,B32B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method for the manufacture of a microfluidic device by covering a set of open microchannel structures which are fabricated in the surface of a planar substrate, wherein the method comprises the steps of: (a) providing the planar substrate comprising a set of microchannel structures, wherein the planar substrate is made of plastic and comprises a microchannel having two or more part areas where a first part area has the surface characteristic that it is more hydrophilic than the second part area; (b) providing a lid-forming material having on one side an even layer of a thermoglue; (c) applying the side of the lid-forming material having the thermoglue against a surface carrying the microchannel structures to thereby cover said microchannel structures creating an assembly; (d) heating the assembly created in step (c), at least to a temperature that selectively liquefies the thermoglue but less than the heat deflection temperature of the planar substrate, for less than about 5 minutes while at the same time pressing a sheet material and the planar surface of the substrate together; and (e) permitting the resulting assembly to cool below the liquefying temperature of the thermoglue wherein the first part area retains the surface characteristic that it is more hydrophobic than the second part area.