System and methods for moving objects individually and in parallel
Electro-osmosis is used to create droplets in order to easily, carefully, and quickly pick-and-place millions of objects (ranging in size from millimeters to nanometers) individually or in parallel. Droplets are formed within channels that are individually controlled in order to achieve a predetermined configuration of the selected objects.
1. An electro-osmosis system, comprising:
a printed circuit board having an array of fluidic passageways, wherein each fluidic passageway is plated with a conductive material and each fluidic passageway forms part of a channel with an input end and an output end,
an electro-osmosis pump disposed adjacent a bottom major surface of the printed circuit board and operatively associated with one or more channels at the input end,
a voltage source to drive the electro-osmosis pump,
a thermally insulated wire soldered to the output end of the channel and connected to the voltage source to achieve individual control of the channel, and
a fluid source reservoir from which a droplet is created at the output end of the channel when voltage is applied from the voltage source such that the droplet has a surface tension that creates adhesion in order to pick up an object.
2. The electro-osmosis system of claim 1 , wherein the conductive material is tin/lead.
3. The electro-osmosis system of claim 1 , wherein the electro-osmosis pump is a frit.
4. The electro-osmosis system of claim 3 , wherein frit is borosilicate glass.
5. An electro-osmosis system, comprising:
a printed circuit board having an array of fluidic passageways, wherein each fluidic passageway is plated with a tin; lead conductive material and each fluidic passageway forms part of a channel with an input end and an output end,
an electro-osmosis pump disposed adjacent a bottom major surface of the printed circuit board and operatively associated with one or more channels at the input end,
a voltage source to drive the electro-osmosis pump,
a thermally insulated wire soldered to the output end of the channel and connected to the voltage source to achieve individual control of the channel, and
a fluid source reservoir from which a droplet is created at the output end of the channel when voltage is applied from the voltage source such that the droplet has a surface tension that creates adhesion in order to pick up an object.
6. The electro-osmosis system of claim 5 , wherein the electro-osmosis pump is a frit.
7. The electro-osmosis system of claim 6 , wherein frit is borosilicate glass.
8. An electro-osmosis system, comprising:
a printed circuit board having an array of fluidic passageways, wherein each fluidic passageway is plated with a conductive material and each fluidic passageway forms part of a channel with an input end and an output end,
a borosilicate glass frit disposed adjacent a bottom major surface of the printed circuit board and operatively associated with one or more channels at the input end,
a voltage source to drive the borosilicate glass frit,
a thermally insulated wire soldered to the output end of the channel and connected to the voltage source to achieve individual control of the channel, and
a fluid source reservoir from which a droplet is created at the output end of the channel when voltage is applied from the voltage source such that the droplet has a surface tension that creates adhesion in order to pick up an object.
9. The electro-osmosis system of claim 8 , wherein the conductive material is tin/lead.
10. The electro-osmosis system of claim 1 , wherein the droplet is water.
11. The electro-osmosis system of claim 5 , wherein the droplet is water.
12. The electro-osmosis system of claim 8 , wherein the droplet is water.