Patent ID: 6500323
Filing Date: 2002-12-31
Classification: B01L,G01N,G06F

Abstract:
A method of making a microfluidic device incorporating at least one external capillary element for performing a given analysis comprising:providing a microfluidic device including at least one capillary element having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end of said capillary element intersects a channel network of said microfluidic device at a first intersection, said channel network comprising at least first, second and third channel segments; providing a material transport system comprising one or more of a pressure, vacuum or electrokinetic driving force for moving fluidic materials through the channel network of the microfluidic device; and choosing a length, cross-section, or combination thereof of the first, second and third channel segments and the driving force to satisfy at least two analysis requirements for the given analysis, the first analysis requirement including minimizing an effect of spontaneous injection at the first intersection, and the second analysis requirement being selected from one or more of reaction time, separation time, reagent concentration, reagent volume, separation resolution, mixing ratio, and reaction temperature.