Abstract: A class of designs is provided for a mixer in micro reactors where the design principle includes at least one injection zone in a continuous flow path where at least two fluids achieve initial upstream contact and an effective mixing zone (i.e. adequate flow of fluids and optimal pressure drop) containing a series of mixer elements in the path. Each mixer element is preferably designed with a chamber at each end in which an obstacle is placed (thereby reducing the typical inner dimension of the chamber) and with optional restrictions in the channel segments. The obstacles are preferably cylindrical pillars but can have any geometry within a range of dimensions and may be in series or parallel along the flow path to provide the desired flow-rate, mixing and pressure-drop. The injection zone may have two or more interfaces and may include one or more cores to control fluids before mixing.

Abstract: A membrane microstructure device is disclosed. The membrane microstructure device includes a first glass, ceramic or glass-ceramic plate defining a first recess, a second glass, ceramic or glass-ceramic plate defining a second recess, and a non-metallic porous membrane sandwiched between the first and second plates. The first plate, second plate and porous membrane are joined together and the porous membrane is arranged to cover the first and second recesses to define a first microchannel between the first plate and the porous membrane and a second microchannel in fluid communication with the first microchannel between the second plate and the porous membrane. A method of manufacturing a membrane microstructure device is also disclosed.

Abstract: A microfluidic device includes a thermal buffer fluid passage and a reactant passage having mixing and dwell time sub-passages all defined within an extended body, the dwell-time sub-passage having at least 1 ml volume, and the mixing sub-passage being in the form of a unitary mixer not requiring precise splitting of flows to provide good mixing. The device is desirably formed in glass or glass-ceramic. The unitary mixer is structured to generate secondary flows in the reactant fluid and is preferably closely thermally coupled to the buffer fluid passage by sharing one or more common walls.

Abstract: The present invention relates to microfluidic devices and to their method of manufacture. The microfluidic devices are original by their specific structure (of sandwich type) and by the materials from which they are made (mainly glasses, glass ceramics, ceramics), and also by their specific method of manufacture, which is based on a vacuum-forming operation. The microfluidic device includes a first assembly including a microstructure and a first substrate, wherein the microstructure is constructed and arranged on the substrate under vacuum. A second assembly includes a second substrate positioned on the microstructure after the first assembly is presintered and adhered thereto by heat treatment to form a one-piece microstructure defining at least one recess between the first and second substrates.

Abstract: A class of designs is provided for a mixer in micro reactors where the design principle includes at least one injection zone in a continuous flow path where at least two fluids achieve initial upstream contact and an effective mixing zone (i.e. adequate flow of fluids and optimal pressure drop) containing a series of mixer elements in the path. Each mixer element is preferably designed with a chamber at each end in which an obstacle is placed (thereby reducing the typical inner dimension of the chamber) and with optional restrictions in the channel segments. The obstacles are preferably cylindrical pillars but can have any geometry within a range of dimensions and may be in series or parallel along the flow path to provide the desired flow-rate, mixing and pressure-drop. The injection zone may have two or more interfaces and may include one or more cores to control fluids before mixing.

Abstract: A membrane microstructure device is disclosed. The membrane microstructure device includes a first glass, ceramic or glass-ceramic plate defining a first recess, a second glass, ceramic or glass-ceramic plate defining a second recess, and a non-metallic porous membrane sandwiched between the first and second plates. The first plate, second plate and porous membrane are joined together and the porous membrane is arranged to cover the first and second recesses to define a first microchannel between the first plate and the porous membrane and a second microchannel in fluid communication with the first microchannel between the second plate and the porous membrane. A method of manufacturing a membrane microstructure device is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to microfluidic devices and to their method of manufacture. The microfluidic devices are original by their specific structure (of sandwich type) and by the materials from which they are made (mainly glasses, glass ceramics, ceramics), and also by their specific method of manufacture, which is based on a vacuum-forming operation. The microfluidic device includes a first assembly including a microstructure and a first substrate, wherein the microstructure is constructed and arranged on the substrate under vacuum. A second assembly includes a second substrate positioned on the microstructure after the first assembly is presintered and adhered thereto by heat treatment to form a one-piece microstructure defining at least one recess between the first and second substrates.

Abstract: The present invention relates to microfluidic devices and to their method of manufacture. The microfluidic devices are original by their specific structure (of sandwich type) and by the materials from which they are made (mainly glasses, glass ceramics, ceramics), and also by their specific method of manufacture, which is based on a vacuum-forming operation. The microfluidic device includes a first assembly including a microstructure and a first substrate, wherein the microstructure is constructed and arranged on the substrate under vacuum. A second assembly includes a second substrate positioned on the microstructure after the first assembly is presintered and adhered thereto by heat treatment to form a one-piece microstructure defining at least one recess between the first and second substrates.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for performing biomolecular reactions using microvolumes of reagents are disclosed. The apparatus and methods include a chamber having a height less than 50 microns and means for mixing the extremely small volume of fluid in the chamber. The decreased volumes combined with mixing greatly improved microarray hybridization signal strength.

Abstract: Methods of forming plasma addressed liquid crystal display ribs are disclosed. An exemplary method includes introducing a glass paste which includes a curable medium into cavities formed in an intaglio collector to define rib structures, which are from the collector to a surface of the substrate, and removing the curable medium from the rib structures on the substrate surface to generate pores in the rib structures. The substrate having rib structures is then dipped into a solution containing an opaque pigment which is absorbed into the rib structure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to microfluidic devices and to their method of manufacture. The microfluidic devices are original by their specific structure (of sandwich type) and by the materials from which they are made (mainly glasses, glass ceramics, ceramics), and also by their specific method of manufacture, which is based on a vacuum-forming operation. The microfluidic device includes a first assembly including a microstructure and a first substrate, wherein the microstructure is constructed and arranged on the substrate under vacuum. A second assembly includes a second substrate positioned on the microstructure after the first assembly is presintered and adhered thereto by heat treatment to form a one-piece microstructure defining at least one recess between the first and second substrates.

Abstract: Plasma addressed liquid crystal display ribs are formed by a method which includes forming a temporary mask on portions of a surface of a substrate, depositing a layer of a glass paste having a curable medium and at least one pigment blended therein over the substrate and temporary mask, micro-molding rib structures from the glass paste on the substrate surface in areas between the masked sections, removing any residual layer of paste material present on the temporary mask, removing the temporary mask from the substrate, and firing the substrate with micro-molded rib structures thereon.

Abstract: The present invention relates to microfluidic devices and to their method of manufacture. The microfluidic devices are original by their specific structure (of sandwich type) and by the materials from which they are made (mainly glasses, glass ceramics, ceramics), and also by their specific method of manufacture, which is based on a vacuum-forming operation. The microfluidic device includes a first assembly including a microstructure and a first substrate, wherein the microstructure is constructed and arranged on the substrate under vacuum. A second assembly includes a second substrate positioned on the microstructure after the first assembly is presintered and adhered thereto by heat treatment to form a one-piece microstructure defining at least one recess between the first and second substrates.

Abstract: The present invention includes a tool (300) for positioning optical waveguide fibers (310) on an adhesive coated substrate (302) including a holder (301) and a pressure source. The holder (301) includes a chamber (314) coupled to the pressure source and multiple recesses (308) configured to position the optical waveguide fibers (310). Each recess (308) includes a reference surface (312) and is connected to the chamber (314) by a passageway (316). The pressure source is configured to selectively increase and decrease the pressure in the chamber (314). The invention also includes a method of making optical waveguide fiber array blocks using the tool (300).

Abstract: An assembly of rib structures sandwiched between a dielectric glass layer and a glass substrate for use in a flat panel display, such as plasma addressed liquid crystal (PALC) displays, is formed by a number of methods. One method includes molding thermoplastic glass frit containing paste into rib structures, transferring the rib structures to a thin transparent layer of a thermoplastic dielectric glass frit containing composition on a drum, and transferring the rib structures with the thin transparent dielectric glass layer to a glass substrate having metallic electrodes already formed thereon.

Abstract: The present invention relates to microfluidic devices and to their method of manufacture. The microfluidic devices are original by their specific structure (of sandwich type) and by the materials from which they are made (mainly glasses, glass ceramics, ceramics), and also by their specific method of manufacture, which is based on a vacuum-forming operation. The microfluidic device includes a first assembly including a microstructure and a first substrate, wherein the microstructure is constructed and arranged on the substrate under vacuum. A second assembly includes a second substrate positioned on the microstructure after the first assembly is presintered and adhered thereto by heat treatment to form a one-piece microstructure defining at least one recess between the first and second substrates.

Abstract: Methods of forming plasma addressed liquid crystal display ribs are disclosed. An exemplary method includes introducing a glass paste which includes a curable medium into cavities formed in an intaglio collector to define rib structures, which are from the collector to a surface of the substrate, and removing the curable medium from the rib structures on the substrate surface to generate pores in the rib structures. The substrate having rib structures is then dipped into a solution containing an opaque pigment which is absorbed into the rib structure.

Abstract: Methods of forming plasma addressed liquid crystal display ribs are disclosed. An exemplary method includes introducing a glass paste which includes a curable medium into cavities formed in an intaglio collector to define rib structures, which are from the collector to a surface of the substrate, and removing the curable medium from the rib structures on the substrate surface to generate pores in the rib structures. The substrate having rib structures is then dipped into a solution containing an opaque pigment which is absorbed into the rib structure.

Abstract: Plasma addressed liquid crystal display ribs are produced by introducing a glass paste which includes a curable medium into cavities formed in an intaglio collector to define rib structures, which are transferred from the collector to a surface of a substrate, and removing the curable medium from the rib structures on the substrate surface to generate pores in the rib structures. The substrate having rib structures is then dipped into a solution containing an opaque pigment which is absorbed into the rib structure.

Abstract: An assembly of rib structures sandwiched between a dielectric glass layer and a glass substrate for use in a flat panel display, such as plasma addressed liquid crystal (PALC) displays, is formed by a number of methods. One method includes molding thermoplastic glass frit containing paste into rib structures, transferring the rib structures to a thin transparent layer of a thermoplastic dielectric glass frit containing composition on a drum, and transferring the rib structures with the thin transparent dielectric glass layer to a glass substrate having metallic electrodes already formed thereon.