Fluidic analysis and separation
AssigneeCambridge Enterprise Limited
InventorsTherese Herling, Thomas Mueller, Tuomas Knowles
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for analyzing a component is provided. The method includes the steps of: (iii) providing the electrophoretic or thermophoretic movement of the component into a second fluid flow; (iv) diverting a part of a first fluid flow, a part of the second fluid flow, or parts of the first fluid flow and the second fluid flow, wherein the diverted part is a third fluid flow which includes, the component; (v) contacting the third fluid flow with a fourth fluid flow, such as to form a laminar flow; (vi) providing the diffusion of the component into the fourth fluid flows.
Claims24
A method for analyzing a component, the method comprising the steps of:
- (i) providing the component in a first fluid flow;
- (ii) contacting the first fluid flow with a second fluid flow to generate a laminar flow,
- (iii) providing electrophoretic or thermophoretic movement of the component into the second fluid flow;
- (iv) diverting a part of the first fluid flow, a part of the second fluid flow, or parts of the first fluid flow and the second fluid flow, wherein the diverted part is a third fluid flow which comprises the component;
- (v) contacting the third fluid flow with a fourth fluid flow to generate a laminar flow;
- (vi) providing diffusion of the component into the fourth fluid flow;
- (vii) quantitatively determining a value of a first chemical or physical property of the component based on the electrophoretic or thermophoretic movement of the component into the second fluid flow;
- and
- (viii) quantitatively determining a value of a second chemical or physical property of the component based on the diffusion of the component into the fourth fluid flow.
A flow apparatus for analyzing a component, the apparatus comprising:
- a first separation channel for first and second flows in contact, wherein the separation channel is adapted to permit lateral movement of components between contacting first and second flows;
- a first flow separator, in fluid communication with and downstream of the first separation channel, the first flow separator being adapted to divert a part of the first fluid flow, a part of the second fluid flow, or parts of the first fluid flow and the second fluid flow, from the first separation channel, the diverted flow being a third flow;
- a second separation channel, in fluid communication with and downstream of the first flow separator, the second separation channel being for third and fourth flows in contact, wherein the separation channel is adapted to permit lateral movement of components between contacting third and fourth flows;
- wherein the apparatus further comprises a second flow separator, in fluid communication with and downstream of the second separation channel, the second flow separator being adapted to divert a part of the third fluid flow, a part of the fourth fluid flow, or parts of the third fluid flow and the fourth fluid flow, from the second separation channel, the diverted flow being a fifth flow;
- and
- a reagent flow channel for introducing a reagent to a component in the fifth diverted flow, wherein the reagent is a label or is capable of generating a detectable label upon reaction,
- wherein the flow apparatus is configured for quantitatively determining a value of a first chemical or physical property of the component based on the electrophoretic or thermophoretic movement of the component into the second fluid flow, and
- wherein the flow apparatus is configured for quantitatively determining a value of a second chemical or physical property of the component based on the diffusion of the component into the fourth fluid flow.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.