Abstract: A disposable tube includes an inlet end and an outlet end, wherein the inlet end of a first tube is self-locking, self-aligning, self-mating, self-sealing and adapted to detachably engage an outlet end of a second tube. The tube may be filled with separation material. The tubes may be used for micro fluidic separation and fluid transfer. Also included is a tube array having a plurality of tube holders adjacent to one another. Each tube holder has a passageway configured to receive a tube. Each passageway constrains the movement of a tube in the array: allowing free movement of the tube along the tube axis, while allowing limited sideways movement of the tube, so that the tube is held in alignment with a corresponding input port of, for example, a sample transfer device.

Abstract: A method for improving the etch uniformity of features of a device and etch profiles for devices made, for example, by deep reactive ion etching, by patterning sacrificial features or devices adjacent target features or devices. The method for providing etch depth uniformity for plasma etching, includes adding sacrificial features to a substrate containing a plurality of target features, etching the sacrificial and target features and separating the substrate into a plurality of pieces, wherein at least one piece contains at least one target feature.

Abstract: A release agent for producing sintered metal parts using the release agent. The method includes applying a release agent to contacting surfaces of at least two green metal parts, forming an assembly of the parts, sintering the assembly, and separating the parts which are in contact with the release agent. The release agent is a mixture of alumina and a vehicle having a vaporization temperature of less than about 100.degree. C. at atmospheric pressure, and is nonreactive with the alumina and the green metal parts. When at least one of the parts having a contacting surface is a honeycomb structure, the median particle diameter of the alumina is no greater than about 3 micrometers.