Patent ID: 6803019
Filing Date: 2004-10-12
Classification: B01L,B81B,B81C,G01N

Abstract:
A method for microfluidic processing samples, the method comprising the steps of:providing a flexible elongate laminate having a plurality of microstructures arranged therein, the flexible elongate laminate comprising a first lamina having a first surface, a second lamina having a second surface, and a flexible circuit laminate adjacent to the first lamina, (i) wherein at least one of the first or second lamina has a plurality of openings so that whenever the first surface of the first lamina apposes the second surface of the second lamina each opening of the plurality of openings is in fluid communication with one of said plurality of microstructures, (ii) wherein the flexible circuit laminate comprises a plurality of electrodes, each electrode being in contact with an electroflow medium whenever the electroflow medium is suppled to said microstructures, and (iii) wherein each of said microstructures has a detection region; introducing a sample into each of said microstructures; conducting an assay on the sample in each of said microstructures to form one or more analytes in the electroflow medium; and electrophoretically separating the one or more analytes by creating a voltage differential between electrodes so that the one or more analytes are detected in the detection region in each of said microstructures.