Patent ID: 7425276

Claim:
A method of forming a patterned microchannel network in a liquid crystal polymer substrate, the method comprising the steps of: applying a copper layer to a liquid crystal polymer layer to form a copper clad liquid crystal polymer substrate; applying a patterned photoresist to the copper clad liquid crystal polymer substrate, the patterned photoresist defining a desired microchannel network; exposing the patterned photoresist to a light source; developing the exposed patterned photoresist; etching away the copper layer of the copper clad liquid crystal polymer substrate, defined by the developed patterned photoresist, to expose the liquid crystal polymer layer of the substrate, wherein the exposed liquid crystal polymer layer defines the desired microchannel network; removing the patterned photoresist from the substrate; and etching into the exposed liquid crystal polymer layer of the substrate to a predetermined depth, whereby the etching results in at least a portion of the liquid crystal polymer layer remaining, thereby forming a patterned microchannel network in the substrate.