Flexible fiber-based micro and nanofluidics for probing liquids
| Title: | Flexible fiber-based micro and nanofluidics for probing liquids |
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| Patent Number: | 9,383,292 |
| Publication Date: | July 05, 2016 |
| Appl. No: | 13/611971 |
| Application Filed: | September 12, 2012 |
| Abstract: | A fluidic probe comprising a plurality of oriented fibers with individual fibers having nano-pores in the fiber bodies, the oriented fibers being twisted together, wherein the twisted oriented fibers form micro-pores between the individual fibers, is disclosed. The fluidic probe exhibits excellent flexibility, deployability and absorptive capacity. The enhanced absorptive capacity is due to the fluid absorption via capillary action of the nano-pores and fluid transport via the micro-pores. The probes can also be formed so as to be remotely controlled by electromagnetic fields and thus be used in a hands-free fashion. With these probes, the paradigm of a stationary microfluidic platform can be shifted to include flexible structures that can include multiple microfluidic sensors in a single fibrous probe. |
| Inventors: | Kornev, Konstantin G. (Clemson, SC, US); Tsai, Chen-Chih (New Taipei, TW); Lukas, David (Rochlice, CZ); Mikes, Petr (Liberce, CZ) |
| Assignees: | CLEMSON UNIVERSITY (Clemson, SC, US) |
| Claim: | 1. A fluidic probe comprising a plurality of oriented fibers, individual fibers of the plurality of oriented fibers including nano-sized pores in the fiber bodies, the fluidic probe including the plurality of oriented fibers twisted together, wherein the twisted plurality of fibers defines micro-sized pores between the individual twisted fibers, the fluidic probe exhibiting fluid absorption via the nano-sized pores and the micro-sized pores. |
| Claim: | 2. The fluidic probe of claim 1 , wherein the nano-sized pores have an average cross-sectional diameter of less than about 200 nanometers. |
| Claim: | 3. The fluidic probe of claim 1 , wherein the micro-sized pores have an average cross-sectional diameter of less than about 10 micrometers. |
| Claim: | 4. The fluidic probe of claim 1 , wherein the fibers are electrospun fibers. |
| Claim: | 5. The fluidic probe of claim 1 , wherein the fibers comprise an electroactive polymer. |
| Claim: | 6. The fluidic probe of claim 1 , wherein the fibers comprise polyvinylidene fluoride. |
| Claim: | 7. The fluidic probe of claim 1 , wherein the fibers comprise a polymeric blend. |
| Claim: | 8. The fluidic probe of claim 1 , wherein the fibers further comprise nano-sized particles. |
| Claim: | 9. The fluidic probe of claim 8 , wherein the particles comprise superparamagnetic particles. |
| Claim: | 10. The fluidic probe of claim 1 , wherein the probe further comprises one or more materials that exhibits an optically detectable response in the presence of a particular compound. |
| Patent References Cited: | 2008/0265469 October 2008 Li et al. 2011/0194304 August 2011 Han et al. |
| Other References: | Ali et al. “Direct electrospinning of highly twisted, continuous nanofiber yarns”, The Journal of the Textile Institute, Jan. 2012, v. 103, No. 1, pp. 80-88, published on-line Apr. 2011. cited by examiner Chung et al. “Control of Nanoparticles on Nanofiber via Magnetic Electrospinning”, NSTI-Nanotech 2009, 2009, v. 1, pp. 180-182. cited by examiner D. Monaenkova, M.S. Lehnert, T. Andrukh, C. E. Beard, B. Rubin, A. Tokarev, W.-K, Lee, P. H. Adler and K. G. Kornev, Butterfly proboscis: combining a drinking straw with a nanosponge facilitated diversification of feeding habits, J. R. Soc. Intelface, 2011, DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2011.0392. cited by applicant D. H. Reneker, A. L. Yarin, E. Zussman and H. Xu, Adv. Appl. Mech., 2007,41, 43-195. cited by applicant D. H. Reneker and A. L. Yarin, Polymer, 2008, 49, 2387-2425. cited by applicant Y. Dzenis, Science, 2008,319,419-420. cited by applicant G. C. Rutledge and S. V. Fridrikh, Adv. Drug Delivery Rev., 2007,59, 1384-1391. cited by applicant J. Fang, H. T. Niu, T. Lin and X. G. Wang, Chin. Sci. Bull., 2008,53, 2265-2286. cited by applicant E. M. Janle and J. E. Sojka, ContemporaiJl Top. Lab. Animal Sci., 2000, 39, 47-50. cited by applicant C. M. Huang, C. C. Wang, M. Kawai, S. Barnes and C. A. Elmets, J. Chromatogr., A, 2006, 1109, 144-151. cited by applicant V. Reukov, A Vertegel, O. Burtovyy, K. G. Kornev and I. Luzinov, Mater. Sci. Eng. C, 2009, 29, 669-673. cited by applicant D. Monaenkova and K. G. Kornev, J. Colloid Inte1jace Sci., 2010, 348, 240-249. cited by applicant G. Callegari, I. Tyomkin, K. G. Kornev, A. V. Neimark and Y. L. Hsieh, J. Colloid InteJface Sci., 2011, 353, 290-293. cited by applicant K. G. Kornev, X. Ren and Y. Dzenis, Journal of Engineered Fibers and Fabrics, 2009, 4, 14-23. cited by applicant A. M. Afifi, S. Nakano, H. Yamane and Y. Kimura, Macromol. Mater. Eng., 2010, 295, 660-665. cited by applicant K. Zhang, X. F. Wang, Y. Yang, L. L. Wang, M. F. Zhu, B.S. Hsiao and B. Chu, J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym, Phys., 2010,48, 1118-1125. cited by applicant F. Dabirian andS. A. H. Ravandi,Fib1 .es Text. Eastern Eur., 2009,17, 45-47. cited by applicant M. B. Bazbouz and G. K. Stylios, Ew'•Polym. J., 2008, 44, 1-12. cited by applicant A. Mondal, R. Borah, A. Mukherjee, S. Basu, M. Jassal and A. K. Agrawal, J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2008, 110, 603-607. cited by applicant F. L. Zhou and R. H. Gong, Polym. Int., 2008, 57, 837-845. cited by applicant S. Moon and R. J. Farris, Polym. Eng. Sci., 2007, 47, 1530-1535. cited by applicant E. Smit, U. Buttner and R. D. Sanderson, Polymer, 2005, 46, 2419-2423. cited by applicant W. E. Teo and S. Ramakrishna, Nanotechnology, 2006, 17, R89-RI06. cited by applicant |
| Primary Examiner: | Gakh, Yelena G |
| Attorney, Agent or Firm: | Dority & Manning, P.A. |
| Accession Number: | edspgr.09383292 |
| Database: | USPTO Patent Grants |
| Language: | English |
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