Biomedical subjects

Petr Kuban

Publications and source records attributed to Petr Kuban.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2004

Durable microfabricated high-speed humidity sensors.

We describe a durable microfabricated humidity sensor made of interdigitated rhodium electrodes on a silicon substrate covered with a sensing film of Nafion perfluorosulfonate ionomer. Rhodium electrodes are much less prone to oxidative degradation compared to previously described gold electrode-based sensors. Even with dc excitation, Rh electrode sensors exhibit excellent long-term response stability. It has been found that low-amplitude (+/-1 V) square wave excitation can prolong the usability of gold electrode-based sensors to at least several months; however, this mode of interrogation cannot provide subsecond response times. Rhodium deposition on the microsensors is much more difficult than that of gold. We were able to attain crack-free Rh deposits by adaptation of pulsed electroplating techniques. At excitation voltages of >2 V dc, the Rh sensors respond to moisture with 10 <--> 90% rise and fall times of 30-50 ms. These are the fastest microfabricated water vapor sensors reported to date. We demonstrate applications as a breath monitor. Such sensors should also be of utility in atmospheric eddy measurements. Short-term repeatability is better than 0.6% RSD (n = 7).

Biosensing Techniques↗

PubMed2004

Capillary ion chromatography.

This review summarizes progress in capillary ion chromatography. Theoretical aspects and practical limitations of packed and open tubular capillary columns are considered. Applications of packed and open tubular capillary IC are described. Emerging technologies such chip-scale IC and the use of monolithic columns are discussed.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2003

A nanoinjector for microanalysis.

We describe a simple miniature injection device that can be used for introduction of nanoliter sample volumes in microfluidic systems. The hybrid microstructure consists of two hydraulically connected parts, a pulse micropump, and a multilevel cross-flow injector. Sample injection is accomplished by creating a transient pressure pulse in the sample line by means of the solenoid-based micropump. The sample line is aligned at right angles to the main carrier flow line. The two flow channels are located in two different parallel planes. The cross section of the two channels is defined by a self-sealing aperture in an elastomer. During the pressure pulse, the sample is introduced through this aperture directly into the main flow stream. Fast impulse-based injection causes rapid mixing of the injected sample with the main flow stream. This permits simple single-line manifold micro flow injection (MFI) systems. The deformation/relaxation of the elastomer is fast and repeatable; as such, rapid serial actuations essentially result in a larger injected sample volume without significantly affecting the peak shape. In the present form, 2-40-nL samples are easily injected by single injection, and the injected volume can be chosen by system parameters. The injection repeatability as observed by a photometric detector is better than 1.2% (n = 100).

Journal Article↗

PubMed2003

Vertically stratified flows in microchannels. Computational simulations and applications to solvent extraction and ion exchange.

In this paper, we describe the conditions under which two immiscible fluids flow atop one another (viewed perpendicular to the plane on which the channel is inscribed) in a shallow microfluidic channel. First, we predict the behavior of a two-phase system using fluid dynamic simulations with water-butanol and water-chloroform as model systems. We numerically model the effect of various physical parameters, such as interfacial surface tension, density, viscosity, wall contact angle, and flow velocity on the type of flow observed and find that interfacial surface tension and viscosity are the parameters responsible for formation of vertically stratified, side-by-side, or segmented flows. As predicted by numerical simulations, a water-chloroform system never assumes a vertically stratified configuration, but a water-butanol system does when the two liquids flow at sufficiently high flow velocities. In actual experiments, we test conditions under which potentially useful two-phase systems form stable vertically stratified flows. We also demonstrate that compared to side-by-side flow schemes, shorter diffusion paths are achievable, and thus, the system can be used at higher flow rates to obtain the same performance. We then apply such findings to practical analytical problems, such as solvent extraction and ion exchange.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2002

Microscale continuous ion exchanger.

A microscale continuous ion exchanger based on two liquid streams flowing in parallel is presented. The ion exchange reaction occurs through diffusional transfer of molecules between the ion exchanger phase and the eluent phase and is applied for conductivity suppression. Two approaches are demonstrated. In the first approach, a liquid ion exchanger (i.e. a strongly basic compound, e.g., tetraoctylammonium hydroxide, or a secondary amine, e.g., Amberlite IA-2) is dissolved in an organic solvent immiscible with the aqueous eluent. The system allows for sensitive suppressed conductivity detection of various inorganic cations. When the weakly basic secondary amine is used, conductometric detection of heavy metals is possible. In the second approach, a suspension of finely ground ion-exchange resin is used as the ion exchanger phase. In this case, the suspension need not involve an organic solvent. Theoretical models and computations are presented along with experimental results. The potential of such a system as a chip-scale post-separation suppressor/reactor is evident.

Cations↗