Patent ID: 7442577

Claim:
A method for creating a patterned device comprising the steps of: a) selecting a substrate that is resistant to removal by at least one agent; b) forming at least one step on the substrate, the at least one step and the substrate having common resistance to removal by at least one agent; c) depositing a sacrificial layer along the at least one step and the substrate, the sacrificial layer being removable by an agent to which the at least one step and the substrate share common resistance; d) depositing a blocking layer on the sacrificial layer that is resistant to removal by an agent to which the substrate and the at least one step share common resistance; e) removing a user-definable portion of the blocking layer, wherein a portion of the blocking layer remains such that no gap exists between the blocking layer and the sacrificial layer and the remaining blocking layer is adhered to the substrate, the thickness of the remaining blocking layer being user-definable; f) removing a user-definable portion of the sacrificial layer, wherein a portion of the sacrificial layer remains such that the remaining blocking layer is adhered to the substrate and a gap is created between the remaining blocking layer and the at least one step; and g) processing the substrate beneath the gap created between the remaining blocking layer and at least one step adhered to the substrate.