A Special Sticky Layer for Tiny Liquid Channels in Flow Cells
This patent describes a specific middle layer, called an interposer, for devices that handle tiny amounts of liquid (flow cells), featuring a black plastic base and two methyl acrylic adhesive layers, all pierced by microfluidic channels.
Original patent title: “Interposer with first and second adhesive layers”
This patent describes a specific middle layer, called an interposer, for devices that handle tiny amounts of liquid (flow cells), featuring a black plastic base and two methyl acrylic adhesive layers, all pierced by microfluidic channels. Granted in 2026.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent details an interposer designed for a flow cell, which is a device used to move and analyze very small amounts of liquid. The interposer has a base layer made of black polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which is a type of plastic. On both the top and bottom surfaces of this base layer, there are adhesive layers, each made from methyl acrylic adhesive. Crucially, a set of tiny channels, called microfluidic channels, are cut through all three layers: the black PET base and both adhesive layers. This design allows the interposer to precisely guide liquids within the flow cell, for example, in a DNA sequencing machine.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover interposers where the base layer is made of materials other than black polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
- Does not cover interposers using adhesive layers made from materials other than methyl acrylic adhesive.
- Does not cover interposers with only a single microfluidic channel, as the abstractabstractA short summary at the front of the patent describing the invention. Not legally binding.Read more → specifies 'a plurality' of channels.
- Does not cover interposers where the microfluidic channels do not extend through all three layers: the base layer and both adhesive layers.
- Does not cover interposers intended for applications other than flow cells.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The noveltynoveltyThe requirement that an invention be different from anything publicly known before its priority date.Read more → lies in the specific combination of materials: a black polyethylene terephthalate (PET) base layer with methyl acrylic adhesive on both sides, all integrated with microfluidic channels. The black PET likely serves an optical purpose, perhaps to prevent light interference or for specific detection methods, while the methyl acrylic adhesive ensures strong, reliable sealing for the tiny fluid channels.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
DNA sequencing instruments
Point-of-care diagnostic devices
Chemical analysis systems
Microfluidic lab-on-a-chip platforms
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Flow cells are essential components in many advanced scientific and medical instruments, including those used for DNA sequencing, drug discovery, and diagnostic testing. This interposer design provides a specific construction method for these critical components, potentially improving their manufacturing, sealing, or optical performance. By defining the materials and structure, it offers a standardized way to create reliable fluidic pathways in complex analytical systems.
Filed
July 31, 2024
Granted
September 15, 2026
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Companies specializing in life sciences and diagnostics, such as Illumina, Thermo Fisher Scientific, and Agilent Technologies, are continuously developing and refining flow cell technologies. These companies, along with specialized microfluidics manufacturers, would be interested in or building upon such material and structural innovations to improve their analytical instruments.
Market impact
This patent's subject matter contributes to the ongoing evolution of microfluidic devices, particularly flow cells. By specifying material choices and structural integration, it could enable the development of more robust, optically optimized, or cost-effective flow cells. This could lead to improvements in the performance and accessibility of high-throughput screening, genetic sequencing, and various diagnostic applications, impacting the broader biotechnology and medical device markets.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent details an interposer designed for a flow cell, which is a device used to move and analyze very small amounts of liquid. The interposer has a base layer made of black polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which is a type of plastic. On both the top and bottom surfaces of this base layer, there are adhesive layers, each made from methyl acrylic adhesive. Crucially, a set of tiny channels, called microfluidic channels, are cut through all three layers: the black PET base and both adhesive layers. This design allows the interposer to precisely guide liquids within the flow cell, for example, in a DNA sequencing machine.
The clever bit
The novelty lies in the specific combination of materials: a black polyethylene terephthalate (PET) base layer with methyl acrylic adhesive on both sides, all integrated with microfluidic channels. The black PET likely serves an optical purpose, perhaps to prevent light interference or for specific detection methods, while the methyl acrylic adhesive ensures strong, reliable sealing for the tiny fluid channels.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover interposers where the base layer is made of materials other than black polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
- Does not cover interposers using adhesive layers made from materials other than methyl acrylic adhesive.
- Does not cover interposers with only a single microfluidic channel, as the abstract specifies 'a plurality' of channels.
- Does not cover interposers where the microfluidic channels do not extend through all three layers: the base layer and both adhesive layers.
- Does not cover interposers intended for applications other than flow cells.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
0/20
Narrow claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$11K – $35K
Midpoint $22K · 17.8 yr remaining · industry ×0.9
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
Concepts involved
Cite this patent
(2026). A Special Sticky Layer for Tiny Liquid Channels in Flow Cells (U.S. Patent No. 12,734,520). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12734520/interposer-with-first-and-second-adhesive-layers
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does A Special Sticky Layer for Tiny Liquid Channels in Flow Cells cover?
This patent describes a specific middle layer, called an interposer, for devices that handle tiny amounts of liquid (flow cells), featuring a black plastic base and two methyl acrylic adhesive layers, all pierced by microfluidic channels.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on September 15, 2046, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
Flow cells are essential components in many advanced scientific and medical instruments, including those used for DNA sequencing, drug discovery, and diagnostic testing. This interposer design provides a specific construction method for these critical components, potentially improving their manufacturing, sealing, or optical performance. By defining the materials and structure, it offers a standardized way to create reliable fluidic pathways in complex analytical systems.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover interposers where the base layer is made of materials other than black polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
Patent monitoring