# US 11,110,385 B2 · Fluidic devices and methods using them > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,110,385 B2 - Document ID: US11110385B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/558,228 - Filed: 2019-09-02 - Published: 2020-04-16 - Granted: 2021-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2010-06-14 - Assignees: PerkinElmer Health Sciences, Inc. - Applicants: Perkinelmer Health Sciences, Inc. - Inventors: Andrew Tipler - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11110385B2 ## CPC - B01D 53/0446: {Means for feeding or distributing gases} - G01N 30/463: {for multidimensional chromatography} - G01N 30/465: {with specially adapted interfaces between the columns} - G01N 30/62: Detectors specially adapted therefor - G01N 30/72: Mass spectrometers {(mass spectrometers per se H01J49/00)} - G01N 30/6095: {Micromachined or nanomachined, e.g. micro- or nanosize} - G01N 2030/328: {valves, e.g. check valves of pumps} - Y10T 137/877: With flow control means for branched passages - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A laminated microfluidic device is described that includes an internal microchannel formed from laminating individual layers of the laminated microfluidic device to each other. The laminated microfluidic device also includes a first port, a second port, a third port, and a fourth port each fluidically coupled to the internal microchannel. The laminated microfluidic device permits flow of sample into the laminated microfluidic device through the first port. The laminated microfluidic device fluidically couples to an external pressure source through the second port. The laminated microfluidic device permits the flow of the sample to a first component fluidically coupled to the third port and to a second component fluidically coupled to the fourth port depending on pressure within the internal microchannel of the laminated microfluidic device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A laminated microfluidic device comprising: an internal microchannel formed from laminating individual layers of the laminated microfluidic device to each other, the laminated microfluidic device further comprising: a first port, a second port, a third port, and a fourth port each fluidically coupled to the internal microchannel, wherein each of the first port, the second port, the third port and the fourth port permits fluid flow into and out of the internal microchannel of the laminated microfluidic device, wherein the laminated microfluidic device is configured to permit flow of sample into the laminated microfluidic device through the first port, wherein the laminated microfluidic device is configured to fluidically couple to an external pressure source through the second port to provide pressure within the internal microchannel of the laminated microfluidic device, and wherein the laminated microfluidic device is configured to permit the flow of the sample to a first component fluidically coupled to the third port and to a second component fluidically coupled to the fourth port depending on the pressure within the internal microchannel of the laminated microfluidic device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The laminated microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein the first port is configured to fluidically couple to an injector to provide sample from the injector into the internal microchannel of the laminated microfluidic device through the first port of the laminated microfluidic device at a first pressure provided through the second port. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The laminated microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein the first port is configured to fluidically couple to an injector through a first chromatography column between the first port and the injector to provide sample from the injector through the first chromatography column and into the internal microchannel of the laminated microfluidic device through the first port of the laminated microfluidic device at a first pressure provided through the second port. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The laminated microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein the first port is configured to fluidically couple to an injector through a first chromatography column between the injector and the first port to receive sample through the first port at a first pressure provided through the second port, and wherein the third port is configured to fluidically couple to a second chromatography column. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The laminated microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein the first port is configured to fluidically couple to an injector through a first chromatography column between the first port and the injector to receive sample through the first port at a first pressure provided through the second port, and wherein the third port is configured to fluidically couple to a detector. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The laminated microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein the first port is configured to fluidically couple to an injector through a first chromatography column between the injector and the first port to receive sample through the first port at a first pressure provided through the second port, wherein the third port is configured to fluidically couple to a second chromatography column, and wherein the fourth port is configured to fluidically couple to a detector. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The laminated microfluidic device of claim 6, wherein the fourth port is configured to fluidically couple to a flame ionization detector, and wherein the third port is configured to fluidically couple to a mass spectrometer through the second chromatography column. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The laminated microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein the first port is configured to fluidically couple to an injector to receive sample through the first port at a first pressure provided through the second port, wherein the third port is configured to fluidically couple to a first detector, and wherein the fourth port is configured to fluidically couple to a second detector. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The laminated microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein the first port is configured to fluidically couple to an injector through a first chromatography column between the injector and the first port to receive sample through the first port at a first pressure provided through the second port, wherein the third port is configured to fluidically couple to a second chromatography column, and wherein the fourth port is configured to fluidically couple to a detector through a first restrictor to restrict fluid flow between the fourth port and the detector. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The laminated microfluidic device of claim 1, further comprising a fifth port, wherein the fifth port is configured to fluidically couple to a second pressure source. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The laminated microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein each individual layer of the laminated microfluidic device comprises stainless steel. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The laminated microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein each individual layer of the laminated microfluidic device comprises an inert material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The laminated microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein the internal microchannel comprises an internal restrictor. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A chromatography system comprising: an injector; and the laminated microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein the first port of the microfluidic device is fluidically coupled to the injector. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The chromatography system of claim 14, further comprising a first chromatography column between the injector and the first port. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The chromatography system of claim 15, further comprising a pressure source fluidically coupled to the second port, and a second chromatography column fluidically coupled to the third port. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The chromatography system of claim 16, further comprising a mass spectrometer fluidically coupled to the second chromatography column. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The chromatography system of claim 14, further comprising a detector, wherein the third port is fluidically coupled to the detector. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The chromatography system of claim 18, wherein the detector is a mass spectrometer or a flame ionization detector. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The chromatography system of claim 14, further comprising a second chromatography column and a detector, wherein the third port is fluidically coupled to the second chromatography column and the fourth port is fluidically coupled to the detector.