Patent ID: 6126765
Filing Date: 2000-10-03
Classification: B01L,B29C,B29L,B81B,B81C,C08J,C09J,G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of forming a microchannel and/or microcavity structure, comprising the steps of:providing a plane mould surface having an etching-derived relief structure corresponding to a desired microchannel and/or microcavity geometry;moulding a first element against said mould surface such that said first element obtains a plane surface with open microchannels and/or microcavities having a depth of about 100 .mu.m or less;providing a second element having a plane surface of the same or different material than said first element;applying to the plane surface of one or both of said first and second elements a thin layer of a solution of a dissolved thermoplastic material capable of fusing with and having a lower melting point than that of the material or materials of the two element surfaces in a solvent which substantially does not dissolve the element surface material or materials;removing the solvent;bringing said plane surfaces of said first and second elements together to define a closed microchannel and/or microcavity system between them; andheating to a temperature where the dissolved thermoplastic material is caused to melt but not the element surface material or materials to bond said first and second elements together, whereby the first and second elements are bonded together substantially without obstructing the microchannel and/or microcavity system.